The Paris Wine Bars Locals Actually Go To
Paris has no shortage of wine bars. Walk down any street in the 6th or the 11th and you’ll find a chalkboard menu, a zinc counter, and a sommelier who looks like he’d rather be somewhere else.
But the good ones? Those take a little more effort to find.
I put this list together based on evenings out, recommendations from Parisian friends, and a few happy accidents. These are bars where the wine is taken seriously but the vibe isn’t – and where you’re more likely to be sitting next to a local than a tour group.
1. Willis Wine Bar (1er arrondissement)
Willis Wine Bar opened in 1980 and is generally credited as the first real wine bar in Paris. That’s not a marketing claim – it genuinely changed how the city thought about drinking wine outside of restaurants.
The list runs to around 250 references, with a strong focus on Rhône and Languedoc producers. Lunch is popular here, and the fixed-price formula (around €25 for two courses) is a solid deal for the location – right off the Palais-Royal.
13 Rue des Petits Champs, 75001
2. L’Avant Comptoir du Marché (6ème)
Two tiny bars side by side in Saint-Germain, both run by chef Yves Camdeborde. One focuses on charcuterie and cheese, the other on seafood. You eat standing up at the counter. There are no reservations. The natural wines by the glass start around €5.
It gets packed by 7 PM. Go early or be ready to wait on the sidewalk with a glass in hand, which honestly isn’t the worst way to spend an evening.
14 Rue Lobineau, 75006
3. Le Baron Rouge (12ème)
This is the closest thing Paris has to a dive bar, and that’s a compliment. Barrels line the walls. The wines are poured directly from the cask and cost almost nothing – think €3 to €5 a glass.
On weekend mornings, they set up oysters outside on the sidewalk next to the Aligre market. It’s a very specific Paris experience that most tourists completely miss. The bar closes around 9 PM, so it’s best for a mid-afternoon stop or an early evening.
1 Rue Théophile Roussel, 75012
4. La Grande Crèmerie (6ème)
A small wine bar in the 6th that specializes in natural and biodynamic bottles. The staff are genuinely knowledgeable and will walk you through the list if you ask – without the attitude you sometimes get at more prestigious addresses.
The tapas are good. The space is tight. It’s exactly the kind of place you’d never find without someone pointing you toward it.
8 Rue Grégoire de Tours, 75006
5. Septime La Cave (11ème)
The cave attached to the Septime restaurant group, which holds one of the most coveted restaurant reservations in Paris. The wine bar itself is walk-in, which is the easier way to access their world-class list.
It focuses entirely on small producers and organic or natural wines. Snacks are simple – olives, charcuterie, cheese. The point is the wine, and the wine is exceptional.
3 Rue Basfroi, 75011
6. Frenchie Bar à Vins (2ème)
Connected to the Frenchie restaurant on Rue du Nil, this is a more upmarket option. The small plates are creative and well-executed – this is chef Gregory Marchand’s operation, so the food standards are high.
It works well as an alternative if you couldn’t get a table at the main restaurant, which is booked out months in advance.
6 Rue du Nil, 75002
7. Vantre (11ème)
Vantre has one of the most serious wine lists of any bar on this list – hundreds of references, many from small or rare producers. The staff know the list cold.
The food is seasonal and unfussy. It draws a local crowd from the neighborhood, which in the 11th means it’s on the younger side and consistently lively.
19 Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, 75011
8. Les Darons (18ème)
Up in Montmartre, away from the tourist corridor near the Sacré-Coeur. Les Darons is run by a guy named Eddy who is famously welcoming and seems to know every regular by name.
The natural wines skew toward smaller producers. The food is hearty and bistro-style. If you’re spending a day in Montmartre, this is where you stop at the end of it.
104 Rue Caulaincourt, 75018
9. La Cave du Paul Bert (11ème)
A loyal local crowd, a rotating list of natural wines, and charcuterie and cheese to go with it. No frills, no pretense.
The 11th has more good wine bars per block than almost anywhere else in Paris, and La Cave du Paul Bert is one of the main reasons why.
16 Rue Paul Bert, 75011
10. La Cave des Galeries Lafayette (9ème)
This one surprises people. Inside Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, tucked away from the shopping floors, is a wine bar that serves serious bottles – including a Château Margaux 1997 by the glass.
It’s a good stop if you’re already in the area, and the contrast between the department store crowds upstairs and the calm of the bar is genuinely pleasant.
35 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009
Bonus: Le Verre Volé (10ème)
An essential stop for natural wine lovers, Le Verre Volé combines a wine bar and a restaurant. It has earned a reputation for its strong wine list and simple, high-quality food offerings.
67 Rue de Lancry, 75010