Quai de Bourbon

You can't really tell when you walk by it, but this little bar actually has a downstairs basement where they hold regular jam sessions, mostly jazz. They also host art openings and other things that go well with natural wines, beer and cocktails. The address is like hitting a Bull's Eye in Paris. The Quai de Bourbon is named after, of course, the Bourbon lineage of French aristocracy. It's this family line of which King Louis XIV, the famous Sun King, was a descendant. This little island in the center of Paris, Ile St.-Louis, is named after the first King Louis (the 14th's great great great ancestor), later beatified by the Holy Roman Church, hence Saint Louis. In any case, if it's a bit of centuries-old-history or just a good cocktail you're looking for, you'll find it here. They also serve chef-inspired small verrines of chicken morsels, worthy of a gourmet. Most nights attract a pretty nice crowd, so best to stop in early otherwise it's likely standing room only.