Quai de Bourbon

Top choice in Paris


With its worn petrol-blue facade and decorative vintage ironwork (look for the bunch of grapes), Quai de Bourbon appears to be just another quintessential Parisian neighbourhood bar. But enter the fashionably minimalist interior lit by two giant naked lightbulbs, and descend to the basement to uncover the island's coolest music and cocktail bar.

There are live gigs most nights, and the roster ticks off most music genres. The cocktail menu includes a detailed history of each cocktail (€10) and smoked beef, black-truffle-spiked ham and mixed cheese platters are among the tasty morsels served alongside.


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