When you were sixteen, you bought what the French call « piquette », some cheap wine you threw up right after you finished it. But your days of waking up with a killer headache are over. One day you actually started to enjoy a nice glass of wine. You stopped drinking it because it was cheap and easy to get drunk on and now, it tastes good and feels right—and you’re right to think so.
Wine—like baguette and cheese—is a staple of French culture and one of the Parisians’ lovers. It comforts them when they’re sad, they hide in caves together when it’s raining outside and dance all day long during the summer.
Here’s a top 5 of the (many) places to drink wine in Paris.
La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels: Get intimate
Behind black curtains hides this eccentric wine bar founded by the owners of Experimental Cocktail Club, Prescription, and Curio Parlor. Its name (in English, the Company of Supernatural Wines) doesn’t lie. Both amateurs and experts, thick and small wallets, will find their happiness here. The wine menu offers a wide price range, from 20 to 4000€, and even the cheapest bottles will charm your palate. The list is long (more than 300 bottles), so don’t hesitate to ask questions about the wines; the staff will be thrilled to answer. If you’re a little bit hungry, order some terrine or the creamy burrata, it’s a bit pricey but you won’t regret it. The subdued atmosphere, the unconventional décor and the great playlist make this wine bar the ideal place to warm up with a cute date during a rough winter night or to chill with some friends before partying at the Montana.
7 Rue Lobineau / 75006 Paris
09 54 90 20 20
Metro: Mabillon, Odeon
Open everyday 6pm-2am
http://www.compagniedesvinssurnaturels.com/
Frenchie Bar à vins: After-Shopping
You already know Frenchie, that fancy French bistro you’ve never managed to book. Well, Chef Gregory Marchand opened a wine bar across the street so that you can taste his cooking while enjoying a fantastic glass of wine—or many. Frenchie’s affordable wines come from all over the world although they are mainly French. The wine list evolves regularly, which keeps wine aficionados coming back. The menu offers some intriguing dishes inspired by French (a great Pyrénées milk-fed lamb shoulder to share), Spanish (Jamon Iberico from Extremadura) and American (try the smoky pulled pork sandwich!) cuisines. The décor itself is kind of exotic: a cross between a chalet – with its exposed beams and brick walls—and a loft in Soho. Enter this Rue du Nil bar, it will make you forget about your exhausting day of shopping for sure. Be careful though, the place is often crowded and you can’t make any reservations, so be there at 7pm if you want a seat.
6 Rue du Nil / 75002 Paris
01 40 39 96 19
Metro: Sentier, Réamur-Sébastopol
Open on weekdays 7pm-11pm
http://www.frenchie-restaurant.com/
frenchie bar a vin
La Trinquette: Between friends
If the Frenchie BAV is crowded and you desperately need great wine just walk over to La Trinquette. The décor is traditional but the wine list is one of the most original we’ve seen in the capital: wines are separated neither by robes nor by regions but by ambiances: between girlfriends for a night of gossiping, date, after-work, between guys to talk about sports, or when you’re feeling down (layoff, break-up…). The dishes—all regional specialties—are generous and will make you feel like you’re having a bountiful picnic in the South of France. La Trinquette has an especially friendly atmosphere and we weren’t surprised to learn that the owners are actually three buddies who moved together from the South to Paris.
67 Rue des Gravilliers / 75003 Paris
09 52 07 80 60
Metro: Arts et Métiers, Rambuteau
Open Monday-Friday 7pm-2am, Saturday 7pm-midnight.
L’Albion: The Gentleman’s cave
How ironic is that one of our five best places to drink wine in Paris is actually owned by an Englishman? Haydon Clout loves French wines and built the Albion to share his passion. An impressive collection of bottles is exposed on wooden shelves, and you have the choice of tasting the wines in the bar or bringing your bottle home since it’s also a great wine shop. The English-friendly staff will answer all your questions and advise you about the best combinations between your wine and the inventive food concocted by Kiwi Chef, Matt Ong. You even get to see what’s going on in the kitchen thanks to a large porthole. And if you’re tired of French cuisine but loved the English ambiance, just take the Eurostar afterwards, because Albion is conveniently located in the Gare du Nord neighborhood.
80 Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière / 75010 Paris
01 42 46 02 44
Metro: Poissonnière
Open on weekdays 12 :15 – 14 :00 and 19 :00-22 :00
http://restaurantalbion.com/
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Caroline, la cave vagabonde: Summer loving
Last week you met a girl at Le Baron and actually got her to agree to go on a date with you… but only in broad daylight (you never know, you could be some perv, after all). Too bad for your usual date idea in a dark corner at the Prescription. Don’t worry, Ten Days in Paris has a solution for you: introduce your date to Caroline. Not your mom, not your ex, Caroline is a floating cavist. Owners Martin and Elio sail along the route of l’Yonne and along the Seine to bring the best wines from the Burgundy region to Paris. You can taste some wines on the boat or buy the bottle and drink it on the banks. Be careful, those bottles from independent wineries are so cheap that you’ll be tempted to stock up! This concept developed by Philippe Testut is original and kind of romantic for a summer afternoon. You even may bring your date home—that is, if she doesn’t leave you for the handsome captains.
65 Quai de Valmy / 75010 on Wednesday 4pm-8pm.
Bassin de la Villette : 32 Quai de la Loire / 75019 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday 4pm- 8pm.
Pantin : 24 Quai de l’Aisne / 93500 on Saturday from 11am to 1.30pm
Marché de Joinville : 3 Quai de l’Oise / 75019 on Sunday 10.30am to 2.30pm
http://www.lacavevagabonde.com/
Bonus
Le verre volé
54 Rue de la Folie Méricourt / 75011 Paris.
Verjus
47 Rue de Montpensier / 75001 Paris.
Vivant Table
43 Rue des Petites Ecuries / 75010 Paris.
La Buvette
67 Rue Saint Maur / 75011 Paris.
Inaro
38 Rue René Boulanger / 75010 Paris.
Septime la cave
3, rue Basfroi / 75011 Paris.
Spring
6 Rue Bailleul / 75001 Paris.
Article: Manon Klein
