Attention wine lovers, below you will find the best wine bars and restaurants in Paris.
It took me a while to truly appreciate Paris. I didn't understand everyone's praise for the French capital, but now I know: it just takes time. You have to get to know Paris. And sometimes you just have to bite the bullet. One moment it's beautiful and you're amazed, the next you'd rather walk around with your eyes closed.
It must be said, and it probably comes as no surprise: as a wine lover, Paris is fantastic. There are so many great wine bars and restaurants to be found, from wine bars serving only natural wine to quintessential French bistros with 100-page wine lists. From Rotterdam, you can reach the heart of the city in 2.5 hours. Rent a bike (or electric bike) and you can zip around.
Below you'll find my tips for a weekend in Paris. It's helpful to book everything in advance to avoid disappointment.
Fun to read on the go, and even more tips can be found in Maria Grimm's new book: Bon Appétit Paris .
TL ; DR – View the map with all the tips in Google Maps and also check this post on Instagram for an impression of the atmosphere.
Restaurants
Parcelles
At Parcelles, we had a delicious meal: sweetbreads, gnocchi, and clams. The sommelier was very friendly and knew exactly what we were craving. Just look for a "rich champagne with crisp, fresh acidity." It was the Salima & Alain Cordeuil Altitude 350m Champagne from 2017. Never heard of it before. The vineyards are at the highest point of the region, 350 meters above sea level. Afterward, we opted for a Jura trousseau from Les Granges Paquenesses, a tiny estate run by Loreline Laborde, who was looking for peace, purity, and regularity and found it in the Jura.
Parcelles can be found at Rue Chapon 13.
Le Bon Georges
As a wine lover in Paris, you simply can't miss Le Bon Georges. You could easily spend an entire afternoon here, as you'll need at least an hour to wade through the wine list. At Le Bon Georges, you'll find over 3,000 wines. They employ seven sommeliers, three of whom are on the floor daily. It's a typical French bistro with top-quality, unpretentious food. The steak tartare is probably the best, and above all, the purest, I've ever tasted. We started lunch with a Chablis from Alice & Olivier de Moor and then gave the sommelier carte blanche. He returned with a Beaune 1er Cru from Georges Noëllat, and it was absolutely superb (fruit-driven, generous ripe fruit, finely balanced with juicy acidity, and a touch of sweet spice—Rianne described the wine as "graceful"—and I couldn't agree more).
Le Bon Georges can be found at Rue Saint Georges 45.
Vantre
You should always follow local tips, and that's how we ended up at Vantre on a Thursday evening. A cozy restaurant where food and wine are once again paramount. It took a while, too, as it moved rather quickly, but that didn't spoil the fun. We drank Jerome Bretaudeau's Gaïa from Muscadet-Sevre et Maine. It blows many a melon de bourgogne away. Delicious with the lobster appetizer.
Vantre can be found at Rue de la Fontaine au Roi 19 .
Paul Bert
Paul Bert is a Parisian classic. Another typical bistro with almost exclusively (older) men serving. We ordered a rib-eye steak to share and wanted to pair it with a generous Rhône (Domaine Rostaing Ampodium 2017). The waiter suggested something else, three times cheaper. What happened next is nothing short of a rollercoaster of emotions. Skeptical, surprised, overstimulated—what do we do now? We followed the suggestion, but felt a little regretful. Then the waiter told us he doesn't drink alcohol. Haha, huh? We finished the evening with an Oloroso 30 anos from Bodegas Tradición, and I wouldn't have missed that for anything.
You will find Paul Bert at 18 Rue Paul Bert.
Cedric Grolet
Paris's best pastry shop, the kind of place where you can easily wait in line for a few hours for your croissant. But you'll get the best one. You can eat your pastry (or rather, a work of art) there or take it to go and relax in a cozy park. Whether you're a wine lover or a foodie, you simply have to try this croissant.
Cedric Grolet can be found at Avenue de l'Opéra 35.
Hotels
Finding an affordable hotel in Paris isn't easy. At least, one that's both affordable and comfortable. It can be a challenge. Because we were on our way to Bordeaux, where Rianne Ogink—who also regularly writes for Le Club des Vins—will be living and studying, we had a heavily loaded car that we ideally wanted to lock up somewhere. We managed to do that. The Boutique Hotel Just inside the ring road. Not an idyllic setting, but the hotel is fine. They even have a rooftop terrace with views of the Sacré Coeur and the Eiffel Tower. From the hotel, you can reach City Centre in about 25 minutes by bike (electric bike).
No car to park, but are you going with the Thalys? Then I can tell you the hotel The New Republic Highly recommended. A bit more centrally located, nice rooms, and yes, a bit more expensive. Get there early, and you'll pay less. And best of all: there's a hammam, and you can book a massage. Loved it.
Finally: La Carte des Vins
We stumbled upon La Carte des Vins. We were walking past and were curious. It turned out to be some kind of happy hour among the staff (three of them), who were happily enjoying a glass of bubbly behind the counter. Bottle after bottle was opened, and soon we were handed a glass. I bought, among other things, André Heucq, a Champagne winemaker I'd met on a previous Champagne trip. He makes, among other things, a lovely 100% Pinot Meunier. The bottles were no longer available in the Netherlands, so it was fantastic to find them here. Oh yes, and we also bought Château Simone 2016 for €45 and Guilia Negri Barolo 2015 for €70. Great prices, delicious!
La Carte des Vins can be found at Bd Beaumarchais 26.
More tips?
Le Club is constantly busy and has even more fun wine tours in store for you. Paris is a great place to combine a trip to the Champagne region . And if you have a must-see wine stop of your own, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear about it!
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