Paris isn’t just about wine anymore
For decades, Paris was known for its wine bars, cozy cafés, and brasseries. But if you’ve been here in the last five years, you’ve seen the shift. Craft beer isn’t a trend here-it’s a movement. From hidden basements in Le Marais to industrial lofts in Belleville, Paris now has over 200 independent breweries and nearly 150 dedicated craft beer bars. The city’s beer scene is alive, loud, and surprisingly authentic. You don’t need to go to Brussels or Berlin to find great beer. The best spots are right here, tucked between old stone buildings and under flickering neon signs.
La Bièrerie
Open since 2012, La Bièrerie in the 10th arrondissement is where Parisians go when they want real beer, not gimmicks. The bar has no menu board-just a chalkboard listing 40 rotating taps, mostly from French and Belgian brewers. Their focus is on small-batch, unfiltered, and unpasteurized beers. You’ll find hazy IPAs from Lyon, sour ales from Normandy, and dark stouts brewed with local chestnut honey. The staff doesn’t push brands. They ask what you like: fruity? bitter? funky? Then they pour you something you didn’t know you needed. It’s not a tourist trap. Locals line up here after work. The bar is small, loud, and always busy. Go early, or wait 20 minutes at the counter with a group of strangers who’ll become your beer buddies by the third pint.
Le Comptoir Général
If you want atmosphere with your beer, Le Comptoir Général in the 10th is the place. It’s part bar, part museum, part jungle. Think reclaimed wood, hanging plants, vintage suitcases, and a giant crocodile skeleton in the corner. The beer list changes weekly, but you’ll always find at least 12 Belgian and French craft options. Their house IPA, brewed with Saaz hops and local wheat, is a favorite. They also serve beer flights with tasting notes written by hand on recycled paper. The vibe is laid-back, artsy, and never pretentious. It’s the kind of place where you’ll end up talking to a brewer from Toulouse who just moved to Paris for the scene. Open until 2 a.m. on weekends, it’s perfect for late-night sipping after dinner or a show.
Brasserie des Frères
This isn’t your grandpa’s brasserie. Brasserie des Frères, opened in 2020 by two brothers who trained in Oregon, turned a former auto repair shop in the 11th into a temple of hop-forward beer. They brew their own on-site in a 10-hectoliter system, and their flagship beer, Frères IPA, has won three national awards since 2022. The beer here is bold: 7% ABV, citrusy, with a dry finish. They also serve barrel-aged sours and a seasonal pumpkin ale that sells out every October. The food is simple-pretzels with mustard, charcuterie boards, and cheese from the Loire Valley-but it’s made to pair with beer, not distract from it. The bar is long, the stools are wooden, and the lights are dim. It’s the kind of place where you’ll stay for three hours, order two more rounds, and leave with a new favorite beer.
Le Bar à Bière
Le Bar à Bière in the 12th arrondissement is a no-frills, no-nonsense beer bar with 60 taps and zero pretense. The walls are painted gray. The floors are concrete. The only decoration is a wall of beer caps from breweries around the world. This is where serious beer drinkers come. The owner, Jean-Luc, has been sourcing craft beer from France, Germany, and the U.S. since 1998. He doesn’t care about Instagrammable cocktails or themed nights. He cares about freshness. Every keg is delivered within 48 hours of being tapped. Their sour saison from Alsace, brewed with wild yeast and elderflower, is legendary. So is their Belgian quad, aged in cognac barrels for 14 months. If you want to taste the depth of French craft beer, this is your lab. The bar closes at midnight, but the regulars never leave before 1 a.m.
La Dernière Goutte
Translated as “The Last Drop,” this tiny bar in the 9th is a hidden gem. You’ll miss it if you’re not looking. No sign. Just a red door with a small beer glass painted on it. Inside, there are 12 seats, a counter, and a fridge stocked with 80 different bottles. The owner, Marie, hand-selects every bottle-mostly from microbreweries in Brittany, Provence, and Switzerland. She doesn’t have a website. No social media. You find her through word of mouth. Her specialty? Rare, limited-run beers you won’t find anywhere else. Think a 2023 barrel-aged barleywine from a brewery in Lyon that only made 300 bottles. Or a spontaneously fermented lambic from a farmhouse in Wallonia that’s been aging since 2021. Prices range from €8 to €25. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth it. Come on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Weekends are packed with tourists who don’t know what they’re missing.
La Cave à Bière
Located under the historic Galerie Vivienne, La Cave à Bière is Paris’s first dedicated craft beer cellar. The space is cool, dark, and quiet-perfect for slow sipping. The shelves hold over 300 bottles from 50 countries, and the staff can guide you through tasting notes like a sommelier. Their beer flights are curated by style: hoppy, sour, dark, and experimental. One popular flight includes a Japanese rice lager, a Finnish forest berry sour, and a French farmhouse ale brewed with wild thyme. They also host monthly beer tastings with visiting brewers. It’s not a party spot, but it’s the best place to learn about beer in Paris. Open until 1 a.m. on weekends, it’s ideal for those who want to taste more than just one beer.
What to expect when you go
Craft beer bars in Paris aren’t like American brewpubs. There’s no sports on TV. No happy hour deals. No $5 pints. The focus is on quality, not quantity. Prices range from €7 to €12 per pint, depending on the bar and the beer. Most places don’t take reservations-walk in, stand at the bar, and order. Many bars serve food, but it’s simple: cheese, charcuterie, fries, or pretzels. The real draw is the beer. Parisians take their beer seriously. You’ll see engineers, artists, teachers, and chefs all gathered around the same counter, talking about yeast strains and hop varieties. It’s not about being cool. It’s about knowing what you’re drinking.
Best time to visit
Weekdays after 6 p.m. are ideal. Bars are quieter, staff have more time to talk, and you’re more likely to get a seat. Weekends are packed, especially in Le Marais and Saint-Germain. If you’re visiting in summer, check out the Paris Beer Festival in July-it’s the biggest in France, with over 150 breweries and 50,000 visitors. But even outside festival season, the scene is strong. The best bars don’t rely on tourists. They’re built by locals who care about flavor, not fame.
How to drink like a local
- Ask for a verre de bière instead of a pinte-it’s the standard 330ml glass, not a giant 500ml mug.
- Don’t ask for ice. It dilutes the beer. French brewers don’t serve it cold enough to need ice.
- Try a flight before committing to a pint. You’ll discover new styles.
- Look for beers with the Brasserie Artisanale label-it means it’s brewed in France, not imported.
- Don’t rush. Beer is meant to be tasted, not downed.
Final tip: Skip the tourist traps
There are plenty of bars in Paris that call themselves “craft beer” but serve only Heineken, Guinness, and a few Belgian imports. Avoid places with English menus, neon signs saying “Brewpub,” or beer lists with more American brands than French ones. The real scene is quiet, local, and often hard to find. But once you’re in, you’ll understand why Paris is one of the most exciting beer cities in Europe right now.
Are craft beer bars in Paris expensive?
Pints typically cost between €7 and €12, which is comparable to wine in most Paris bars. Some rare or barrel-aged beers can go up to €15-25, but most places offer flights for €10-18 so you can sample multiple styles without spending too much. You’re paying for quality, not branding.
Do I need to speak French to order beer?
Not at all. Most staff in craft beer bars speak English, especially in areas like Le Marais, Belleville, and the 10th arrondissement. But learning a few phrases like "Un verre de bière, s’il vous plaît" (A glass of beer, please) goes a long way. Many brewers are passionate about sharing their story-they’ll appreciate the effort.
Can I buy craft beer to take home in Paris?
Yes. Many craft beer bars sell bottles to go. La Dernière Goutte, La Cave à Bière, and Le Comptoir Général all have a small retail section. You can also visit specialized shops like La Bièrerie’s shop next door or Le Comptoir du Bière in the 13th, which carries over 500 labels. Just check French customs rules if you’re flying out-alcohol limits apply.
What’s the difference between a Belgian beer and a French craft beer?
Belgian beers are often more complex, with added spices, fruit, or wild yeast, and they’ve been perfected over centuries. French craft beer is newer, more experimental, and often hop-forward-think American-style IPAs but made with local ingredients like chestnut honey, wild thyme, or apple cider. French brewers are pushing boundaries, while Belgians stick to tradition. Both are excellent-just different.
Are there any craft beer bars open late in Paris?
Yes. Le Comptoir Général, Brasserie des Frères, and La Bièrerie stay open until 2 a.m. on weekends. Le Bar à Bière closes at midnight, but it’s worth arriving before then. Most bars close earlier on weekdays, so plan ahead if you’re out late.
