5 Best Bars in Les Grands Boulevards, Paris

An authentic survivor from the 19th century, Au Lapin Agile considers itself the doyen of cabarets. Founded in 1860, it inhabits the same modest house that was a favorite subject of painter Maurice Utrillo. It became the home-away-from-home for Braque, Modigliani, Apollinaire, and Picasso—who once paid for a meal with one of his paintings, then promptly exited and painted another that he named after this place. There are no topless dancers; this is a genuine French cabaret with songs, poetry, and humor (in French) in a publike setting. Entry—with one drink included—is €40, and it's cash only at the door (online prepayment by credit card is available).

An updated version of the classic tiki lounge, this stylish option in the hip South Pigalle (SoPi) neighborhood comes complete with lurid lighting, life-size totems, and retro rattan furniture. All the exotic drinks you'd expect at a Polynesian beach hut (or '60s motel lounge) are here—including fruity cocktails, a range of rums, and punch bowls with names like Amazombie.

Tucked away beyond a cobbled courtyard and up a winding back stairway, this cozy (only 24 seats) bar achieves an intimate, parloresque ambience thanks to floral chintz wallpaper, plush armchairs and poufs, and Asian rugs. For a hotel bar, it has well-priced Moroccan-inspired cocktails and small plates, making settling in for the evening a tempting option. Considering the Hoxton Hotel's other bustling spaces, this is a nice little getaway. It gets crowded, so arrive early.

At New Morning—the premier spot for serious fans of avant-garde jazz, folk, and world music—the look is spartan, and the mood reverential.

Parisian cocktail lovers squeeze into this beautiful, intimate space—the beating heart of the Hôtel des Grands Boulevards—to imbibe some of the city's most ingenious and delicious cocktails concocted by a trailblazing mixologist. But the innovation doesn't end there. The Shell specializes in "mocktails" and lets drinkers watching their intake choose their dosage of alcohol, with commensurate prices, starting at €9. Anyone can get behind The Shell's motto: "No more hangovers."