Experimental Cocktail Club

Our Take on Experimental Cocktail Club

The ECC opened in Paris in 2007 and helped define what contemporary cocktail culture looked like in France. Nearly two decades later, it remains one of the most reliable bars in the city, which is a harder thing to say than it sounds. The founding group (Romee de Gorianoff, Pierre-Charles Cros, and Olivier Bon) went on to open bars across London, New York, and Ibiza, but the original Paris location on Rue Saint-Sauveur retains its soul.

The bar is deliberately unmarked from the street. You push a heavy door, descend, and find a room of exposed brick, candlelight, and music that starts low and builds as the night moves. The cocktail list runs around 20 drinks, divided by spirit category. The whisky based drinks are the strongest section. The ECC Old Fashioned has been on the menu since opening and earns its place every time.

Come late, come ready to stay. If you want a reservation-friendly alternative in the same arrondissement, Danico beneath Brasserie Lazare offers the same serious cocktail credentials with the option to book ahead. For more on Paris cocktail bars, check our Paris bar guide. Interested in other hidden gems? Explore our best cocktail bars in Paris editorial.