Paris is a city full of life and love, with so much to see and do that it’d take a lifetime to see it all– what better way to explore such a place than through its food and drink? Of course, there’s a lot to try with its French gastronomy (and wine, obviously), but a lesser-known option is to indulge in its speakeasy scene. Although it’s an American concept, Paris has an abundance of them (many in the 3ème arrondissement) that rivals those in its land of origin.

Speakeasies fascinate me: besides enjoying a good cocktail, I also love the fun of finding my way to these bars, some of them very hidden. And to be rewarded with a drink afterwards makes it all the more satisfying. I’ve had my fair share of trying out several speakeasies all throughout Paris over the years, and I want to share them with you. Given that my list of places I’ve tried is rather long (and ever growing), I’m breaking this up to include some of the earlier ones I’ve been to in this post. Hope you enjoy! 🙂

Paris Speakeasy Bars You Need to Try (Part 1)

1. Lavomatic (10ème arrondissement)

As the name implies, this speakeasy is located inside an actual laundromat, with one of its washing machines an actual door into the bar. It’s one of the coolest concepts I’ve seen, and the interior is nice and cozy, with a few swing seats (often all occupied, so go early!). The drinks are pricey and a bit too sweet for my taste. But for a solid introduction to Paris speakeasies, Lavomatic is a good one.

20190322_193715Door is second one from the left

2. La Mezcaleria (3ème arrondissement)

A speakeasy dedicated to all things mezcal, La Mezcaleria has your back! It’s inside of a hotel-restaurant, and you need to go through its kitchen and through a door that looks like the entrance to its storage room to reach the bar. Inside is one of the most-spacious speakeasies I’ve been to, and I came here on my birthday weekend– I ordered a mezcal drink that the bartender lit on fire, so that was awesome!

20190324_201003My drink is on fire!

3. Moonshiner (11ème arrondissement)

Moonshiner is a nod to the actual Prohibition era of the United States, with its 1920’s theme and décor. It’s inside an Italian pizza joint, and you need to walk past its storage cellar to get to it. I found the drinks to be a bit cheaper than other speakeasies I’ve gone to. The drink I got was just-okay, but there was a friendly bartender who gave me recommendations to other speakeasies, which was nice.

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4. Candeleria (3ème arrondissement)

This was the first speakeasy I’ve ever been to in Paris, and I came across it by accident! I discovered it during my study abroad days in college, when I went with my friends for tacos– little did I know that there was a hidden bar– Candelaria– just past the kitchen, where I got some of the strongest margaritas ever. It was still a pretty-local joint then, but I can imagine it’s super popular now!

Week 3 Watermelon margarita and pork taco from Candelaria 7-13-14The only (blurry) photo I have from Candelaria

5. Le Très Particulier (18ème arrondissement)

Located in the bohemian Montmartre quartier, Le Très Particulier is one of the most-beautiful speakeasies I’ve seen. It’s one of the hardest to find, as it’s behind a closed gate to a hôtel particulier (i.e. townhouse). The only indication is an intercom, which you’ll need to buzz to be let in, before walking down a cobblestone path to the hôtel. Gorgeous garden seating outdoors, and a swanky, dimly-lit bar indoors. The drinks are strong, so be warned!

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Thanks for reading, and expect more of this Paris speakeasy mini-series to come soon! 🙂

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

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45 thoughts on “Best Speakeasy Bars in Paris (Part 1)”

    1. The Prohibition era was definitely a dark time without fun! Lavomatic is a clever concept, and one of the most fun speakeasies I’ve been to! Thanks for reading, Rebecca. 🙂

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  4. I finally Googled the history of speakeasies today after hearing you mention them several times. I guess alcohol was never illegal in Jamaica so we never had to go through the trouble of hiding it, but the Prohibition led to a bar concept in so many other places which seems really fun. Thanks for sharing 🙂

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    1. Yes, the Prohibition was such a big part of US history that it created speakeasies, which have now become a trend for cool bars all over the world. Thanks for reading, Elle!

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    1. Haha, the speakeasy isn’t in the laundromat directly, but rather a hidden room past the laundromat. I think it’d be fun to have a drink while waiting for your laundry to be done! 😆

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  8. Mezcal, my favourite drink, young and smokey”. However, not too easy to find in Lima. What a very enjoyable subject to research. Presently working on a post of Lima “watering holes” in Lima ….but my research requires another ten visits to each one before publishing.

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    1. Mezcal has been getting increasingly popular at such bars; I don’t recall it was such a big deal a few years ago (at least, in France)! Looking forward to reading about Lima’s bars should you write about them soon!

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  9. This is such a fantastic post, Rebecca – the speakeasies in Paris are an experience that you won’t want to miss out on as they transport you back in time to the prohibition era. While I’ve never been to one in Paris, I’ve explored a good few while living in Edinburgh and been to secret bars with some of them masquerading as fortune tellers, hairdressers, and even detective agencies. There is one that I loved the most – called Panda and Sons – that resembles a vintage barbershop, but once inside, you’ll discover hidden stairs concealed behind a bookshelf, how cool is that? Thanks for sharing and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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    1. Sounds like Edinburgh’s are elaborate! I’ve not been to a speakeasy in Edinburgh, but now that you’ve mentioned a few of them, I’ll have to check them out! Thanks for reading and the suggestions. 😊

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    1. Speakeasies are bars which are hidden and require a bit of hunting to find them; some even have secret codes or passwords to get in. They’re reminiscent of the Prohibition era in the US, when alcohol was forbidden and so illegal bars opened up to serve the banned drinks. Today, speakeasies are a lot of fun!

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  18. I remember going to les Caves aux Hauchettes in the Latin Quarter back in the ‘90’s. Probably not considered a speakeasy, but cool underground bar where they did some incredible retro swing dancing.

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    1. Speakeasies are from the US, but I guess France took that concept and made it into dozens of speakeasies, especially in Paris! It’s a lot of fun searching for them all. 😊

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