The Best Paris Hotel Bars for an After-Work Apéro

29 October 2018 by Nicola Leigh Stewart    3094  
The Best Paris Hotel Bars for an After-Work Apéro
Nicola Leigh Stewart
By Nicola Leigh Stewart
La rentrée is behind us, the Indian summer is finally finished, and the next holiday is still weeks away. It’s time for an apéro, non? Here is a selection of the best hotel bars for winding down after work with a cocktail in hand. Le Bar at L’Hotel L’Hotel might be the smallest 5-star hotel in Paris, but thanks to Head Barman Clément Lepage, it boasts some of the city’s finest cocktails. Since joining the hotel after his time at Buddha Bar, Clément has revamped the menu with Food and Beverage Manager Alexandre, who cut his teeth in the luxury New York hotel scene. Since the hotel is famously known as the final home of Oscar Wilde, the signature “Into The Wilde” is not to be missed, with the rest of the menu set to change seasonally. Or if you prefer, simply tell Clément what’s your preferred poison and he will shake and stir something to your taste. The first Thursday of each month is a particularly good night to visit as the hotel hosts a free jazz evening, with many of the street’s local business owners flocking to the bar for an after-work drink themselves. 3 Rue des Beaux Arts, 6th. Tel: +33 1 44 41 99 00 Le Bar Long at Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris Philippe Starck design, food by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and an informal, vibrant atmosphere make Le Bar Long a contemporary and fashionable address for post-work drinks. Popular with local Parisians and not just hotel guests, it’s advisable to head over early as a queue can quickly form for a table. If the weather is good guests can also spill out onto the outdoor terrace, which also serves up food from the hotel’s fabulous restaurants. 37 Avenue Hoche, 8th. Tel: +33 1 42 99 88 00 Le Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel George V With its velvet seating, wood panelling, period paintings, and display of fine whiskies and Baccarat crystal, the luxurious comfort of Le Bar brings to mind an exclusive private members club. The service is also impeccable, and many of the team have been working together for years learning the ways of the Four Seasons, and the preferences of the clientele. Adept at predicting trends and tastes, each member designs his or her own cocktail for the menu, creating a diverse, collaborative carte which changes every six months. And with a hotel so famous for its Michelin-starred restaurants, it comes as no surprise that the bar menu is one of the best in Paris. 31 Avenue George V, 8th. Tel: +33 1 49 52 70 00 Bar Josephine at the Lutetia The long-awaited reopening of the grand Lutetia finally arrived over the summer, and the spectacular Bar Joséphine is one of the best ways to experience the iconic Paris hotel. Paying tribute to Joséphine Baker, a regular guest at the Lutetia, the bar aims to recreates the jazz atmosphere of Baker’s days with a bon vivant crowd and live music every evening. In the latest chapter of the hotel’s design history, architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte has updated the bar with a contemporary mirrored ceiling, keeping the historical fresco which makes a stunning impression upon entry. In addition to champagne and cocktails, the menu also boasts an impressive eight pages of spirits and liqueurs from around the world. 45 Boulevard Raspail, 6th. Tel: +33 1 49 54 46 00 Les Ambassadeurs at Hôtel de Crillon After its lavish four-year refurbishment, the Hôtel de Crillon returned last year with one of the most elegant bars in the city. High ceilings, a fresco ceiling, and gilded gold make this a bar truly fit for a palace hotel, and an impressive location if your after-work drink includes entertaining. The menu offers a small but carefully curated selection of signature cocktails, whose names pay homage to the hotel’s history, with the bar also known for its extensive champagne menu ranging from small producers to famous luxury labels. There is live music every night, usually from 7 pm to 10 pm and ranging from piano solos to singers to DJ sets, depending on the evening. 10 Place de la Concorde, 8th. Tel: +33 1 44 71 15 00 Skyline Bar at Melia Paris La Defense If you don’t work in Paris, you can still enjoy the city from afar thanks to the spectacular view at Melia Paris La Defense. Head up to the 18th floor for drinks at the Skyline Bar with floor to ceiling windows and a large terrace balcony to take in the sights such as the Sacré-Cœur, Eiffel Tour, and Fondation Louis Vuitton. The menu was also recently re-launched to included a selection of tapas-style sharing dishes, perfect for after-work snacking. 3 Boulevard de Neuilly, 92400 Courbevoie. Tel: +33 1 75 57 99 00 Jacques Bar at The Hoxton Paris The Hoxton Paris has become the place to be for millennial Parisians since its opening last year, popular with freelancers looking for coffee and Wi-Fi during the day, and a well-deserved after-work drink come cocktail hour. However, many don’t know that in addition…
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Lead photo credit : courtesy of L'Hotel

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By Nicola Leigh Stewart

Nicola Leigh Stewart is a travel journalist who after living in London and Madrid has finally settled in Paris. She now spends her weekends exploring France to report on the best luxury hotels and must-visit destinations. You can follow her travels and experiences on Instagram @nicolaleighstewart.