Quai de Bourbon
Type: Bar, Live Music, Local Picks, Wine Bar
10Best Says
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... Read More
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.
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EXPERT TIPS BY:
Paige Donner
Paris Local Expert
- Bars: "For most people, an ice cream cone is the best excuse to come to Ile St.-Louis, the little island in the center of the city. But a cocktail at this bar, which recently changed ownership, qualifies as another good one. One thing is certain, this little cocktail bar that also serves natural wines is full of local color."
- Best for Bars Because: You'd never guess that this small space serves as an Ile St.-Louis' defacto cultural gathering point.