Paris is a magical city. There is something so perfectly picturesque about Paris that it is impossible not to feel swept up by its sophisticated and stylish atmosphere as you admire the iconic monuments, the awe-inspiring cathedrals, and the galleries and museums in which you can lose yourself for days. Of course Paris is also justifiably renowned for its restaurants and nightlife, with each of its different arrondissements offering something slightly different. In this article we take a look at some of our favourite places to grab a cocktail or three.

St-Germain-des-Prés

If you were ever going to live in Paris, and money was no object, then St-Germain-des-Prés is probably the area that you would choose. Centrally located and with a great mix of shops and restaurants, this area has somehow retained a strong sense of its residential neighbourhood feel. There are a lot of great cafes and bars in this area. The tourists flock to Les Deux Magots to drink expensive Kir Royales, or the locals tend to favour Cafe de Flore which is nice but expensive. My favourite is La Palette that occupies a prime corner position just near the Beaux-Arts. There are a lot of tables and seats available outside on the pavement, but if the weather is good then these are incredibly popular and you will probably have to queue unless you are friends with one of the waiters. Inside is pretty spectacular though with a faded old-world glamour that hasn’t changed much since Hemingway and Picasso frequented here. I like to drink pastis and water while people watching and contemplating the meaning of life.

Le Marais

If you are looking for a night out in Paris then the best place to start is Le Marais. Lots of restaurants with all kinds of food and plenty of small little bars where everyone drinks out on the street, meeting friends and planning the night ahead. If you want something sophisticated and fancy then head to Murano Resort where there is a huge menu of vodka to choose from (vodka martinis are hard to beat), but I love the relaxed energy of Cafe Cox, and also the Open Cafe where most people seem to ask for a “Despe” which is a Desperado lager flavoured with Tequila and then topped with fresh lime juice.

Montmartre

Effortlessly arty and cool, the narrow, twisted streets that create the Montmartre neighbourhood in the shadow of the majestic Sacre Coeur cathedral contain a wealth of fantastic cafes, restaurants and bars. Le Mansart has a very cool hipster vibe and a young crowd, Le Glass takes its cocktails very seriously and serves them American style with hot dogs and pickles (their Pisco Sours are pretty amazing), but then at the other extreme is Le Kremlin which a bit of a temple to all things Russian – especially vodka, try their Negroni Lenin which is a total winner.

There are a lot of reasons to love Paris. Their commitment to a cafe culture and serving great booze is just a bonus.

Photo Credit: Gabriel Amadeus under Creative Commons license