Harry's bar

A favourite haunt of Americans in the capital, this legendary address, hidden away on a small street between the Opéra Garnier and Place Vendôme, has become one of the most famous cocktail bars in the world.

Ernest Hemingway, Rita Hayworth, Humphrey Bogart, George Gershwin and Ian Fleming were all regulars. It is behind this very mahogany bar that many classics were invented, including the Bloody Mary (legend has it that it was first made for Ernest Hemingway), the Sidecar and the French 75. The menu continues to expand with new additions such as Açaï Caipiroska (Absolut Açaï vodka, lime and sugar).

Sank Roo Doe Noo

The dark woodwork, stained-glass windows and tin-plated ceiling imported from New York before the Prohibition have all been left untouched. The collection of university banners and banknotes from around the world has been built upon by generations of customers. The phonetic address for Anglophones “Sank Roo Doe Noo” is inscribed on the large mirror behind the bar, a reference to James Bond’s instructions to his taxi driver in the Ian Fleming short story “A View to a Kill”. All of this creates a timeless atmosphere, accentuated by the ballet of the barmen in their white jackets.

A note for music lovers: the piano bar in the basement holds live jazz piano concerts from 10 PM.

More ideas for your next outings in Paris Region!