8 Best Bars in Around the Louvre, Paris

Literature lovers, cocktail connoisseurs, and other drink-swilling devotees flock to these two iconic bars within the Ritz Hotel. The wood-paneled, tiny Bar Hemingway offers a surprisingly chill vibe and serves up cocktails that are nothing short of legendary. Try the Serendipity, the bar's most popular drink, combining Champagne with Calvados and mint. Across the elegant corridor, the more spacious Ritz Bar is an astrologically themed experience. In a style evoking Belle Époque Paris, the space's circular bar is topped by a monumental lantern whose projection of stars and constellations begins each evening at 5:30 exactly. Ephemeral cocktails from head bartender Romain de Courcy are built around one ingredient, like Corn made with Mexican corn whisky, ancestral corn liqueur, freeze-dried corn, and popcorn, or Cherry made with wild cherry eau de vie, Morello cherry juice, black and sweet cherry, cherry vinegar, and maraschino liqueur.

Fashioned as a speakeasy on a tiny brick-paved street, this was one of the first bars to bring the cocktail revolution to Paris. Colorful, innovative, and ever-changing drinks are mixed with aplomb by friendly (and attractive) bartenders. By 11 pm, the bar is always packed with a mix of locals, professionals, and fashionistas.

At this gracious bar and tea salon in the Hôtel Castille (Coco Chanel's old stomping grounds), enjoy a selection of French and Italian wines or a glass of champagne alongside an all-day menu of Italian-accented nibbles.

Hôtel Le Meurice converted its ground-floor Fontainebleau library into the intimate Bar 228, with wood paneling and huge murals depicting the royal hunting forests of Fontainebleau. Its loyal fashion crowd is continually wooed by Philippe Starck's decor updates and lubricated with the bar's famous Bellinis. Try the Meurice Millennium cocktail, made with champagne, rose liqueur, and Cointreau.

The monolithic marble bar at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel offers an extensive champagne list and a menu of international street food–inspired bar snacks. The outdoor terrace is especially busy during Fashion Weeks.

Behind a nondescript facade, you'll find a 1930s-style bar-club-restaurant arranged like a private home, with a series of rooms on three floors and lots of corners where the casually stylish cool cats of Paris get cozy until the wee hours. The bar notably hosts live music events every Wednesday.

Despite years on the scene, the bar at Hôtel Costes still draws big names—and not just during fashion weeks. Expect to cross paths with anyone from Rihanna to Leonardo DiCaprio (as long as you make it past the chilly greeting of the statuesque hostess) to enjoy classic cocktails and down-tempo music from an ever-changing roster of DJs. Dressing to kill is strongly advised, especially for newcomers; otherwise, expect all the tables to be suddenly reserved.

Parisians from bobos (bourgeois-bohemians) to pompiers (firefighters) are lured to Le Café Noir's elegantly worn digs for organic coffee during the day or a glass of natural wine come evening. In addition to cool drinks and friendly staff, the place features a pipe-smoking papier-mâché fish and a vintage leopard-print-covered motorbike. (The restaurant with the same name is unrelated.)