Paris

Just 24 years younger than the Eiffel Tower, Harry's New York Bar is as much a Paris landmark as the big metal one. Hidden on a quiet street between the Opéra Garnier and Place Vendôme, it has been serving classic cocktails since 1911. The mahogany bar, dark woodwork, stained-glass windows, and tin ceiling—imported from New York before Prohibition—have all been carefully preserved, while the walls display university banners and banknotes collected by generations of patrons. Step inside and you’re transported to a bygone era, complete with stylishly dressed bartenders and an intimate piano bar in the cellar. This is where legends were born: the Bloody Mary (allegedly made for Ernest Hemingway), the Sidecar, and the French 75. Over the decades, Harry’s has welcomed Coco Chanel, Humphrey Bogart, and Ian Fleming, whose 'Sank Roo Doe Noo' instructions for James Bond are inscribed on the large mirror behind the bar. Today, the menu still mixes timeless classics with contemporary additions, offering cocktails that honour its legendary past while staying inventive.

Rex Club is a cornerstone of Parisian nightlife, legendary for its dedication to electronic music since the 1990s. The club has hosted internationally acclaimed DJs and remains a hub for dance music enthusiasts. With its cutting-edge sound system, packed dance floor, and electric atmosphere, Rex Club continues to define the city’s underground club scene.

Tucked behind a graffiti-covered façade in Paris’s 10th arrondissement, Le Syndicat is a speakeasy with an urban, hip-hop-infused vibe. Since 2014, it has been shaking up the local scene with inventive cocktails that champion French spirits, all served in a dimly lit, industrial setting. Menus change seasonally, highlighting local ingredients and unexpected flavour pairings. From bright, herbaceous blends to daring combinations featuring Calvados, Armagnac, or lavender, each drink feels playful, creative, and unmistakably French.

Just off Place de la Concorde in the 8th arrondissement, Buddha-Bar feels like a cinematic escape—three levels wrapped around a four-metre Buddha, bathed in soft lighting, rich mahogany, and intricate Asian art. A dragon-shaped mezzanine bar curls above the floor, offering a perch for cocktails under candlelight. The menu blends Pacific-Rim influences — Asian, Hawaiian, Californian, and European — with dishes designed for sharing and presentation, from sushi and duck to creative small plates. When the sun sets, the space shifts into a lounge as resident DJs spin ethno-house and downtempo beats, carrying the Buddha-Bar brand’s signature music style.