Editorial
France's bar scene is engineered around two traditions: the Parisian cocktail bar (which since Experimental Cocktail Club opened in 2007 has gone from sleepy to globally significant) and the French wine bar, which still leads the world. The 10 below run from Little Red Door's conceptual menus to Septime La Cave's natural wine to Marseille's Vieux-Port view. Lyon, Bordeaux, Nice, and Strasbourg all add regional weight — but Paris remains the centre of gravity.
Each entry below is a a look at the best 10 bars in that city — picked by editors who live there.
Forget the Champs-Élysées. The best French bars work because they earn their place — through cocktail precision (Little Red Door, Experimental Cocktail Club), wine seriousness (Septime La Cave), or regional confidence (Vertigo, La Caravelle). The 10 above all do that. Pick the city that matches the night you want.
European Editor — based in London. Twelve years across Soho, Marais and Mitte. Strong opinions about ice.