The Best Bar in Paris, France

Background Illustration for Nightlife

You haven't seen the City of Lights until you've seen the city at night. Throngs pour into popular streets, filling the air with the melody of engaged conversation and clinking glasses. This is when locals let down their hair and reveal their true bonhomie, laughing and dancing, flirting and talking. Parisians love to savor life together: they dine out, drink endless espressos, offer innumerable toasts, and are often so reluctant to separate that they party all night.

Parisians go out weekends and weeknights, late and early. They tend to frequent the same places once they've found spots they like: it could be a wine bar, a corner café, a hip music club, or, more and more, a chic cocktail bar in an out-of-the-way neighborhood. A wise way to spend an evening is to pick an area in a neighborhood that interests you, then give yourself time to browse. Parisians also love to bar-hop, and the energy shifts throughout the evening, so be prepared to follow the crowds.

Les Ambassadeurs

Louvre Fodor's choice

Located within the magnificent Hôtel de Crillon, Les Ambassadeurs is perhaps the closest you'll come to experiencing the royal treatment in a real palace—it was built by order of Louis XV in 1758. Sink into one of the cozy armchairs and enjoy a coupe of Champagne from a list as long as the marble walls are high, or select one of a curated list of signature cocktails. All the right touches are preserved, including a frescoed ceiling adorned with twinkling chandeliers and gilt—lots of it. Live music accompanies your evening Tuesday through Saturday starting at 8 pm.