Sure there are a number of wine bars to choose from in Paris and each has its distinct character but you will have to try out a number of them before you find anything close to as charming and inviting as this one. The bar stools number less than a dozen and they give you a good view onto the bartendar/ small-plates cook as he whips up mouth-watering appetizer nibbles. Or, facing outward, you have that lovely view onto the Passage du Grand Cerf, one of the lovely covered passageways of Paris, with all its old-world regal charm. Here the wines you choose from will be overwhelmingly natural wines, or "vin nature" as the French call them. It's oh so tempting to unleash your appetite on these delicious small plates and with the upstairs seating it is easy enough to settle in and get comfy.
Recommended for 2nd Arrondissement - Montorgueil's Best Nightlife because: Just next door to the trending restaurant of the same name, this bar à vin nonetheless enjoys a distinct space. It's a standout.
Paige's expert tip: This is a great spot to stop in at on your way home from work or when meeting friends. The way the toasts and tapenades and the fine cheeses are spread out on the counter just beg you to nibble them. The wine list is predominantly natural wines with a few bio-dynamic wines thrown in for good measure.
Harmony and happiness flows here. That is the motto of the young owner and wine lover, Martin P�lissier who opened this wine and tapas bar in an old 16th c. mansion in one of Paris' oldest quarters, known for centuries as the "Belly"of Paris. Located on a charming little street leading off from the boisterous and exuberantly lively rue Montorgeuil, here you will leave the nearby happy hour clamor behind as you sip your fine glass of wine from France, Argentina, Chile and many other regions of the world. The man who opened this wine bar did so after spending years abroad and his mission is to present wines by the glass or bottle from around the world in an unpretentious way. His chef pairs the small plates in a just-right way with your wine choices.
Recommended for 2nd Arrondissement - Montorgueil's Best Nightlife because: On a quiet(er) sidestreet, this wine bar enjoys a comfortable following. It's a nice sit-down place where you can hear your companion talk.
Paige's expert tip: One of the enticing things about coming to this wine bar is the area it's in — rue Montorgeuil, known today as the foodie's street. This wine bar is on a quiet(er) sidestreet just steps off the boisterous pedestrian street.
True to its name, this café and bar sits right in the middle as you walk the length of rue Montorgueil, the pedestrian only street. It stays open late so it's a good place to end the day, after dinner, with a digestive, an espresso or a glass of wine. This is the classic kind of French café-bar where the waiters wear their white apron tied around their black uniforms. Here is where you can order a pastis, kir or a pint of beer. There are snacks served here, such as the common café fare such as croque monsiuer (a grilled ham and cheese sandwich) and other light fare. It's the kind of place that Paris has been famous for for centuries. And this one here on rue Montorgueil doesn't get any more authentic.
Recommended for 2nd Arrondissement - Montorgueil's Best Nightlife because: This up-and-coming neighborhood still has a few of its old-time gems and this is one of them.
Paige's expert tip: Don't expect fancy or chic or modern here. This is the classic kind of French café-bar where the waiters wear their white apron tied around their black uniforms. Here is where you can order a pastis, kir or a pint of beer. That will be served with peanuts.
Nightlife doesn't have to be all about boozing... it can also be all about working out and taking care of yourself. This exclusive, state-of-the-art gym, fitness center and spa will thicken your blood with all the right endorphins and adrenals that a good workout, followed by a sauna and steam bath, can give you. A high-end luxury gym with a spa and restaurant on premise, Le Klay is the sure-fire guarantee that says this neighborhood has now come of age. The only other gym of this high calibre, for years, was far off in the 16th arrondissement, where all the rich folk used to live. Now, the young professionals all want convenience, hence this state-of-the-art gym with weights, yoga classes, pilates and the works caters exactly to that demographic. What's more, once you're done serving your body, you can relax in the sauna and follow that with a steam bath.
Recommended for 2nd Arrondissement - Montorgueil's Best Nightlife because: There are a lot of night owls who prefer to do their workouts in the evenings, showing their body-temple some love.
Paige's expert tip: Once you're done serving your body with the weights and other workout acoutrement, you can relax in the sauna and follow that with a steam bath. Then just steps outside the exit you'll be surrounded by craft cocktail bars in which to continue relaxing.
This bar greets you as you enter the rue Montorgueil district from the Les Halles direction. It's not fancy and there's no need to get dressed up to come in and have a beer or a glass of house wine here. Unlike many of the other venues in the neighborhood, it is neither a café doubling as a bar nor a craft cocktail bar. This is one of those old-school, quasi hole-in-the-walls that is simply a place to stop in for a pint and listen to some loud music with a bunch of college buddies. Jeans, t's and leather jackets are the de facto dress code here. A mainstay here in the Montorgueil district, this bar stays open 'til 2am.
Recommended for 2nd Arrondissement - Montorgueil's Best Nightlife because: A mainstay here in the Montorgueil district, this bar stays open 'til 2am.
Paige's expert tip: It's good to know a place to go to, just outside Les Halles, where you can still find that dressed down, beer vibe that goes so well with loud rock-n-roll music.
This café/bar is just as good in the afternoon as it is at night. In the evenings it draws a more rowdy crowd, naturally, who come for a cold beer or a soothing glass of wine after work. The location, perching on the fringes of Les Halles and just next to the imposing St. Eustache church means that it's achingly easy to find thus making it a great place for a meet-up or launch pad from which to discover the Montorgueil district. It's a pretty standard fare French café-bar which qualifiesit as a great choice for when you're in Paris.
Recommended for 2nd Arrondissement - Montorgueil's Best Nightlife because: You can't miss the place sitting right at the beginning of this pedestrian street as you leave Les Halles area.
Paige's expert tip: Aptly named, this is a good meeting point for gathering the group together after your first day of exploring this neighborhood. This café and bar perches just next to the enormous church of St. Eustache, so it's impossible not to easily find.
When this opened several years ago, it was notable the location they chose: just across the street from another craft cocktail bar. What's nice is that the ambiance here is très lounge so if you are looking for a quiet place to gather and sip a cocktail while listening to subdued music, this is it. The upstairs seating is the place where you can relax and the cocktails here get creative, but not overly so. The ground floor is where the bar is and if you enjoy watching the bartender (oops! Mixologist!) put together his concoctions, this is the place to hover.
Recommended for 2nd Arrondissement - Montorgueil's Best Nightlife because: An early adherent to the cocktail club trend in Paris, Jefrey's remains a class-act. It's also convenient to get to.
Paige's expert tip: This is a lounge-y craft cocktail bar that offers a subdued atmosphere in which to sit and sip. It's location makes cocktail bar hopping within the one block stretch super convenient, too.
In its few short years since opening, this place has become the cocktail institution. The founders, a group of buddies, have since gone on to open to several more clubs and even one in NYC. They are often credited (accurately or inaccurately) with bringing the modern day craft cocktail movement to Paris. Nonetheless, the cocktails here are creative and easily downable. The ambiance is more a rocker vibe and it's the kind of place where the music is so loud you can't hear what the person next to you is saying. Sometimes that can be a good thing. Of course, though, that's for you to decide.
Recommended for 2nd Arrondissement - Montorgueil's Best Nightlife because: The craft cocktail bar in Paris that was founded at the beginning of the city's cocktail trend.
Paige's expert tip: The cocktail club that (re)launched the modern cocktail craze here in Paris, the ECC is worth a visit and because it's still serving up crazy delicious cocktails.
Not missing a beat, this coffee house that serves craft coffees brewed from the Belleville coffee roasters by day, turns into a sort of basement speakeasy by night. It is a bit just-off the rue Montorgueil area meaning you have to cross a major street and turn a corner to find it, but it's worth it. The coffee house by day, serving pastries and light snacks, hints nothing at the expansive cellar-turned-cocktail speakeasy below. The cocktails here are all blended with fresh ingredients and a look through their menu is advised as you'll get some good ideas about what you can order here.
Recommended for 2nd Arrondissement - Montorgueil's Best Nightlife because: This is the newer evolution of the craft cocktail bar in Paris and its posing as a coffee house by day is a smart business move.
Paige's expert tip: Humble coffeehouse by day, raging cocktail lounge speakeasy downstairs by night, Lockwood is one of those transformers you love to play with.