The Best Bars in Bastille and Oberkampf

A destination cocktail bar operating out of a converted space on Rue du Grand Prieuré. The bar team works with genuine precision — every drink proportioned carefully, every garnish chosen with purpose. The seasonal menu changes every few months but the quality never wavers. Book a seat at the bar if you want to watch the process up close. Worth planning an evening around.

Order: Whatever is currently on their seasonal cocktail menu

Literally a wine cave, accessed via a narrow staircase from the street-level épicerie. Stone walls, flickering candles, and a chalkboard of natural producers changed daily. The owner sources almost exclusively from small Loire and Beaujolais domaines, and the prices are honest. Wednesday evenings fill with neighbourhood regulars who treat it like their living room.

Order: Glass of Gamay from whatever Morgon domaine is open that night

The terrasse on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine is one of the finest in the 11th — wide, properly heated in autumn, populated by a crowd that orders a second bottle without consulting phones. Inside is darker and more intimate, with worn zinc counters and a jukebox that someone actually uses. Arrive before 8pm to secure a terrasse seat on weekends.

Order: Kir Breton or a carafe of house Côtes du Rhône

The grand dame of the strip, occupying a restored Belle Époque dancehall with original zinc counters and painted ceilings. It draws a mixed crowd from 18 to 50, gets reliably loud by midnight, and the kitchen stays open late enough to be genuinely useful. Come for the atmosphere and the pression — not the cocktail list.

Order: Draft beer and something from the late-night charcuterie board

The bar annex attached to Nouveau Casino is accessible on non-concert nights and offers a stripped-back atmosphere that feels genuinely underground. Low lighting, a workable cocktail list, and a sound system that hints at what happens next door on weekends. It fills quickly after 11pm — arrive early or accept the crowd.

Order: Whisky sour or Aperol spritz

Technically on the Belleville side of the border, but the crowd crosses freely. The restored Art Deco interior — mosaic floors, original fittings, a bar that wraps the full length of the room — is the main draw. It hosts music nights and comedy, but the bar is open and worth a visit even when nothing is scheduled.

Order: One of the rotating craft beers on tap

A neighbourhood bar that has resisted reinventing itself. The crowd is genuinely local, the wine list is short and well-chosen, and the owner knows most customers by name. It peaks on Thursday evenings when the nearby markets have packed up. Arrive without a plan and stay longer than you intended.

Order: Côtes de Gascogne white by the glass

The wine bar sibling of Septime restaurant, two doors down on Rue de Charonne. Smaller, more informal, and significantly easier to access than the restaurant. The list is almost entirely biodynamic and natural producers, with excellent small plates that arrive quickly. Our pick for a pre-dinner glass that turns into three bottles.

Order: Whatever they are pouring from Jura or Savoie producers

A champagne and pétillant naturel bar that never takes itself too seriously. The selection runs from grower-producer Champagnes to Crémants and Pet-Nats from independent Loire producers, most available by the glass. The room fits perhaps 20 people, which means it fills fast on Friday evenings. Worth the squeeze.

Order: Grower Champagne by the glass — ask the staff what arrived that week

The 11th's most serious craft beer address, carrying over 200 references and rotating a dozen taps with focus on French, Belgian, and US craft producers. The staff know their stock deeply — ask for a recommendation and expect a conversation. One of the better places in Paris to work through the Belgian Trappist range.

Order: A guided tasting flight, or whatever Brasserie de la Senne is currently on tap