BEST PUBS IN PARIS
Paris has ton of excellent British and Irish pubs. You just have to know where to go as many are tucked away on side streets and in residential areas. Of course, you can always pop into a French brasserie (French equivalent of a pub) but sometimes there’s just something about a good ole pub that hits the spot. Many of these were established decades ago by British and Irish expats and are now institutions in Paris. So here are the best pubs in Paris that are worth your time!
Note that if you’re after more of a sports bar/pub there are also plenty of good options. And if you’re after some tasty craft beer, there are some excellent microbreweries to try as well.
1) CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC HOUSE
While a new kid on the block, Cambridge Public House does everything right and has been consistent over the past several years. They not only have good service and maintain the place well but the pub food is excellent: British classics made with local ingredients and made almost entirely from scratch. If you’re with someone who doesn’t love beer than this place is ideal in that they offer excellent cocktails including classics like Pimms.
Cambridge Public House website
2) THE HIGHLANDER
The Highlander is a charming pub smack dab in central Paris and located by the Seine river near the Pont Neuf (a few hop away from Notre Dame Cathedral). They host live music and other events in their cellar, including open mic every Wednesday. It’s popular among expats and tourists, which makes for an interesting and eclectic scene. Some come to sip on a pint while others come for some revelry. They offer reasonably priced cocktails during happy hour, which is a bonus.
3) THE BOWLER
Located in a residential area just north of the Champs Elysees, this classic British pub caters to both expats and locals. They are always organising fun events and it’s a fun venue for game watching so check out their website to see what’s on. While it lacks in size, the Bowler makes up for it with a great atmosphere, loyal patrons, and great banter.
4) EDEN PARK PUB
Eden Park is a small and cosy, “gentleman’s” pub located in central Paris near Mabillon station. It’s owned by the same owners of the eponymous French rugby clothing brand (in turn named after famous stadium in New Zealand) hence this a solid pub for rugbymen and fans alike. The pub is a gem in terms of decor and atmosphere, and they also show major rugby and football (soccer) matches. They have a nice selection of beer as well as good quality food which also helps. NB: Eden Park Pub is also listed on our Best Sports Bars short list
5) LITTLE TEMPLE BAR
Little Temple is a classic Irish pub with a cosy atmosphere. It didn’t make our cut as a sports bar since there are too few screens but it’s a lovely pub on a quiet street in the heart of Paris’s Latin quarter. As the name suggests, it’s a rather small pub so is an excellent place to warm up on a cold day and have a chat with friends, or perhaps even a date. We don’t recommend coming here when a game is on unless you enjoy being packed like a sardine (good spot for Irish fans no doubt!).
6) GUINNESS TAVERN
The self-proclaimed ‘temple of Rock n Roll’ in Paris, Guinness Tavern is a great pub for catching live music. It’s a tad run down but charming and in a fun area (Les Halles). Bands of course vary but you can sometimes catch a great local band or visiting group from the UK, North America, etc. During the day, this place is like a library so good if you just want to pop in for a pint and relax.
La Guinness Tavern Facebook page
7) AULD ALLIANCE
As the name suggests, this is a Scottish pub is well known among Scots and French alike. Besides being a welcoming and friendly pub, you can find a grand variety of fine Scotch and Scottish beers on tap. It’s a lovely, classic pub where you can relax, play darts, watch sports on the telly, and oh yes, they do have haggis!
8) BOMBARDIER
Walking into Bombardier is like being transported into the 5th dimension and walking straight into a pub in England. You may have to look outside to make sure you’re still in Paris! It does what it says on the tin. Pub. Beer (plenty of English varieties of course, and you can even watch football, rugby and cricket. If you enjoy quiz nights this is the place!
9) FROG PUBS
Frog pubs have taken over Paris by storm. They are comfortable, spacious and offer their own quality brews. There are 8 Frog pubs in Paris and they all have “Frog” plus the location in their names. They all offer a great selection of their own locally brewed beer and offer every variety of beer: quality ale, stout, lager and IPAs. Recently they’ve started spicing things up with ginger, apricot and other flavours but you will have all the basics covered. You are in good hands when you step into any Frog pub as their service is always on point and they have good food too. We personally love the Frog in Bercy Village as it’s massive as well as Frog Hope House as it’s just a charming locale, but you can’t really go wrong with any. You can also catch football (soccer) and other sports since most have TV screens. NB: Frog Pubs is also listed on our Best Craft Beer short list.
Besides the above British and Irish pubs, Paris has a bunch of excellent gastro pubs, which of course serve beer along with some very tasty food. These are not brasseries nor restaurants which serve beer. They are true gastro pubs in the sense that beer comes first, then food.
And if you’re up for some hard French cider paired with savoury crepes, you have to a try an authentic creperie! Paris has many creperies and as a general rule, only the Breton make the best, but there are also some more modern creperies which take the best of old and new. Either way, if you haven’t had a proper, savoury crepe (galettes), you cant leave Paris without trying so have a look at our shortlist of the best crepes in Paris.
Finally, if you’re looking for a good deal, you can purchase the Paris City Card which includes a cruise along the seine via Bateaux Parisiens, Louvre museum access plus access to the Eiffel Tower and an audio guide (app). And if you have a kids or just looking for something a bit more relaxed, the Paris Family Fun Pass, which includes access to the Paris Zoo (world class and not to be missed!), Gallerie D’Evolution at the Natural History Museum (skip the line) and the Grevin Wax museum. Click below for more details!