I am taking my husband to Paris for the first time and I think he'll need some alcohol to help him acclamate. We are staying in the Marais area. I'm wondering if there are any bars in that area where English speaking patrons hang out so he can have a few beers and shoot the s**t while I shop. Any ideas???

It's a Canadian bar, but try The Beaver at 19 rue Deux Ponts on Ile St. Louis, 4th district which is right next to the Marais.

He's never been to Europe before so knowing him it will take a day or two to "acclamate" and again, knowing him, I think alcohol will be the key. Once I've got him loosened up, the games can begin!

I don't know of any bars with a siginificant American clientele in the Marais but any large hotel with an American name such as the Hilton would have plenty of fellow countrymen at the bar. You might also try Harry's Bar in the 2nd at 5 Rue Daunou. It's not too far. I find solice at such bars from time to time.

Or Starbucks for coffee
Or Breakfast In America for pancakes and burgers -

www.breakfast-in-america.com/

Not sure of the names, but there are a bunch of Irish bars in the 6th and one really tasty mexican reataurant.

Thanks everyone (but JandaO) for actually answering the question.

To some degree, I agree with JandaO. Why go to Paris and look for an "American" bar?

Some of our best memories of Paris was stopping at a sidewalk cafe when tired or thirsty, ordering a Kronenbourg 1664 and taking a break. The people watching is fantastic. Order a crepe or two, some pomme frites, whatever snack you want.

You may be surprised at how much hubby may enjoy spending time out of his comfort zone.

Just a thought, of course...

There are zillions of "Irish" pubs and bars in Paris with English-speaking customers. If you want something that speaks English but still has a Parisian flavor, try Harry's New York Bar, near the Opéra.

It just takes him a few days to get into a new comfort zone. I'm not trying to imply that he will be blitzed the whole time, but I also realize he is not going to want to shop as much as I do and I think for the first few days at least he will feel more comfortable if I leave him in a somewhat "American/English" environment, until he gets the hang of it.

Go to the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz. Fantastic Martinis at E24, but what the heck!

I've been on this site about 6 months and never stick my two cents in when some Fodorites get nasty but this is ridiculous. Why do you care if the OP wants to go to an American bar with her husband. It's her choice. She asked a simple question and a few of you think it's your right to attack her. CHILL OUT! This is a site for useful info. not for bashing the poster. If you can't be nice, don't answer the freakin question. It's as simple as that.

So what, it's her husband, give a recommendation or not and let her deal with him and how they vacation in Paris. Everyones relationships and vacations are different. It's not fair to judge them by our own. That's the last I have to say.

laartista is absolutely right.

OP asked for ideas about bars, not marriage encounters. It's nobody's damn business how they live their lives.

Bless your heart...

Did anyone mention Willi's Wine Bar?
13 Rue de Petits Champs 2nd
Telephone 01 42 61 05 09. Métro Palais Royal.

English, but might suit if you cannot find anything American..he can play darts

If pubs will work -

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs...l/el/Paris%3B/

Not in the Marais, but The Bombardier, facing the Pantheon, is an English style pub with an English speaking bartender and lots of young French people as well as English speakers. My husband stopped there for a Guiness a couple times when we stayed in the neighborhood and enjoyed the atmosphere. The first night we walked by it, they were having some kind of quiz night and it was quite lively.

I also noticed several Irish bars throughout Paris that would probably fit the bill.

thanks Scarlett - I was also going to mention Willi's Wine Bar. It's a favorite of ours - we go everytime we're in Paris.

To my French (and male) eyes, this thread offers a nice piece of cultural anthropology. In anglo-saxon cultures, which tend to draw a sharp line between what is considered the "male" and "female" universes, the enjoyment of Paris seems to be a female thing.

I can't understand why the appreciation of an European capital, of art in general, should be gender-based, the wife and daughter exploring and macaroon-hunting, the husband and son being left inebriating themselves in their beer-fuelled capsule.

Are beer and sports the only socially acceptable areas of interest for anglo-saxon males?