The Best Speakeasies and Hidden Bars in Paris for an Unforgettable Night Out

Paris isn’t just about the Eiffel Tower and croissants at dawn. By night, the city transforms into a labyrinth of hidden doors, whispered passwords, and dimly lit rooms where cocktails are crafted like art and the music stays low enough to keep the neighbors quiet. If you’ve ever walked past a seemingly ordinary bookstore or a bakery with no sign and wondered what’s behind it-you’re not alone. The real Paris nightlife doesn’t advertise itself. It waits for you to find it.

How to Find a Speakeasy in Paris

You won’t find these places on Google Maps. No flashy neon signs, no Instagram influencers posing with glittery cocktails. The best hidden bars in Paris operate like old-school clubs: you need to know where to look, or better yet, who to ask. Most don’t have websites. Some don’t even have phones. The trick? Look for subtle clues. A door tucked between two cafes. A red lantern above a staircase. A barista who smiles just a little too knowingly when you say, ‘I’m looking for something quiet.’

Many require a reservation, but not through Booking.com or Resy. You’ll need to email them directly, sometimes with a password. Others operate on a first-come, first-served basis, opening their doors only after 9 p.m. And yes, some still ask for a secret phrase-like ‘The moon is out’ or ‘I’m here for the jazz.’ Don’t worry if you forget it. A confident smile and a genuine interest in their story usually gets you in.

Le Comptoir Général

Don’t let the name fool you. Le Comptoir Général isn’t a general store-it’s a surreal, jungle-themed hideout tucked into a 19th-century warehouse in the 10th arrondissement. The entrance is behind a green metal door, barely noticeable next to a laundromat. Inside, you’ll find mismatched armchairs, hanging vines, and shelves lined with vintage books and African artifacts. The bar serves rum-based cocktails with names like ‘Marron Glacé’ and ‘Bamako Sunrise,’ made with house-infused syrups and fresh herbs.

It’s not fancy. It’s not quiet. But it’s alive. Locals come here to play board games, listen to live Afrobeat, or just sit in silence with a drink under a hanging lantern. The vibe is casual, curious, and completely unpretentious. If you’re looking for a bar that feels like stepping into someone’s eccentric dream, this is it.

Experimental Cocktail Bar

Hidden behind a refrigerator door in a tiny apartment building near Place de la République, Experimental Cocktail Bar opened in 2009 and helped kickstart Paris’s hidden bar revolution. You’ll need to ring the bell and say your name. Once inside, you’re greeted by a small, intimate space with copper counters and a wall of bottles that looks like a chemistry lab crossed with a jazz club.

They don’t have a menu. Instead, the bartender asks you three questions: What’s your favorite spirit? Do you like sweet or sour? And what mood are you in? Then they mix you something unique-maybe a gin cocktail with lavender honey and smoked salt, or a whiskey sour with black sesame foam. Their signature drink, the ‘Parisian Mule,’ uses a house-made ginger syrup aged in oak barrels and is served in a copper mug chilled with liquid nitrogen.

It’s not cheap-cocktails start at €18-but it’s one of the most respected spots in the city. Bartenders here train for years. Some have worked in Tokyo, New York, or London before landing in Paris. They treat cocktails like science, and you’re their lab partner.

Le Perchoir

If you want a hidden bar with a view, Le Perchoir is your spot. There are actually three locations, but the original-one on a rooftop above a former textile factory in the 11th arrondissement-is the most iconic. To get there, you climb a narrow staircase behind a nondescript door on Rue de la Fontaine au Roi. At the top, you’re rewarded with a sprawling terrace overlooking the city lights, strings of fairy lights, and a bar that looks like it was built from reclaimed wood and salvaged metal.

They serve classic cocktails with a twist: a Negroni with orange blossom water, a Martini with a spritz of absinthe mist. The crowd is a mix of artists, designers, and expats who come here after work to unwind. On weekends, live DJs spin vinyl, and the energy is electric but never loud. It’s the kind of place where you’ll end up talking to a stranger who turns out to be a painter from Lyon or a former chef from Marseille.

Arrive before 9 p.m. if you want a seat. After that, it’s standing room only-and worth every elbow bump.

Bar à Vins

Not every hidden bar needs to be fancy. Bar à Vins, tucked under a staircase in the 6th arrondissement, feels like the kind of place your French aunt would take you after dinner. No sign. Just a small wooden door with a brass handle. Inside, it’s dim, cozy, and smells like oak barrels and dried cherries. The walls are lined with bottles of natural wine-no labels, just handwritten names like ‘Cuvée des Vignes Sauvages’ or ‘Vin de la Colline.’

There’s no menu. You tell the bartender what you like-light? Bold? Fizzy?-and they pour you a taste. If you like it, they’ll pour you a full glass. Most bottles cost between €8 and €15. The cheese plate is simple: goat cheese, walnuts, and a slice of baguette. The wine is unfiltered, unfiltered, and unforgettable.

This isn’t a place for Instagram. It’s a place for quiet conversation, slow sips, and the kind of wine that makes you pause and say, ‘I’ve never tasted anything like this.’

Le Secret

True to its name, Le Secret is one of the most elusive spots in Paris. It’s located beneath a 1920s-style apothecary on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis. The entrance is disguised as a medicine cabinet-you pull a vial labeled ‘Tonic for the Soul,’ and the wall swings open. Inside, it’s like being inside a vintage library, with leather-bound books, brass lamps, and a long mahogany bar that looks like it’s been there since the Prohibition.

The cocktails are named after old French poets: ‘Apollinaire’s Whisper,’ ‘Verlaine’s Rain,’ ‘Rimbaud’s Midnight.’ Each one comes with a small card explaining the inspiration. The ‘Apollinaire’s Whisper’ is a blend of cognac, pear liqueur, and black tea tincture, served in a crystal coupe with a single edible gold leaf. It’s elegant. It’s quiet. And it costs €22.

Reservations are required, and they only take emails. You’ll get a reply with a password and the time. Show up five minutes late, and you’ll be turned away. No exceptions. It’s strict, but that’s part of the charm. This isn’t just a bar-it’s an experience you have to earn.

What to Expect When You Go

These places don’t serve cheap drinks. Cocktails range from €16 to €25. You won’t find draft beer or happy hour specials. What you get is craftsmanship. Bartenders here spend months perfecting a single syrup. Some grow their own herbs on balconies. Others age spirits in small oak barrels for over a year.

Don’t expect loud music or dancing. Most of these bars are designed for conversation, not clubbing. The lighting is low. The chairs are deep. The ice is hand-carved. You’ll leave with a full glass, not a full stomach-and you’ll remember it for years.

Pro Tips for Visiting

• Go early. Many of these spots fill up fast. Arrive by 8:30 p.m. if you want a seat.
• Dress smart casual. No sneakers, no tank tops. Think dark jeans, a nice shirt, or a simple dress. You don’t need a suit, but you should look like you care.
• Bring cash. Many don’t take cards. Have €50-€100 on you.
• Ask questions. Bartenders love sharing stories. Ask how they make their syrups. Ask where they got the bottle of gin. They’ll tell you.
• Don’t take photos. These places value privacy. If you snap a picture, someone might ask you to leave.

Why Paris Still Has the Best Hidden Bars

Paris didn’t invent the speakeasy. But it perfected it. While New York and London turned hidden bars into tourist attractions, Paris kept them intimate. These places aren’t about being seen. They’re about being felt. They’re about the quiet clink of ice, the scent of bergamot in a gin cocktail, the way the light hits a glass just right at 11 p.m.

They survive because they don’t chase trends. They don’t need to. The people who find them? They come back. And they bring friends. And slowly, quietly, the legend grows.

If you want to taste the real Paris at night, skip the rooftop bars with the overpriced champagne. Skip the crowded bistros. Go find the door that doesn’t have a name. Ring the bell. Say the phrase. Step inside.

The city’s best night is waiting.