The Ultimate Pub Crawl: A Guide to Irish and British Bars in Paris
Discover the best Irish and British pubs in Paris, from authentic Guinness pours to live folk music and real ales. A local's guide to the city's most genuine UK-style bars.
UK-Style Bars in Paris
When you think of UK-style bars in Paris, authentic British pubs that replicate the cozy, no-frills atmosphere of London or Dublin. Also known as British pubs in France, they offer more than just beer—they bring a slice of home for expats and a rare escape for travelers tired of overpriced wine bars. These aren’t the kind of places with neon signs and English-language menus plastered everywhere. The real ones are quiet, tucked into backstreets of the 6th or 11th arrondissement, with wooden floors worn smooth by decades of boots, dartboards that actually get used, and bartenders who remember your name after one visit.
What makes these spots stand out isn’t just the real ales, cask-conditioned beers served at cellar temperature, brewed by British or Belgian-style microbreweries. Also known as cask ale, it’s the kind of drink you sip slowly, not chug for Instagram. You’ll find Irish bars, warm, loud, and full of live music—often featuring traditional folk tunes or rugby matches on big screens. Also known as pubs with live sessions, they’re where you’ll hear someone sing "The Wild Rover" at 11 p.m. on a Tuesday. Then there’s the food: thick beef pies, bangers and mash, fish and chips with proper mushy peas—not the soggy, greasy version you get at airport kiosks. These places serve food that tastes like your gran’s kitchen, not a Michelin-starred reinterpretation.
It’s not about pretending to be London. It’s about bringing the soul of a British pub to Paris—and doing it right. The best ones have no website, no Instagram page, and no fancy branding. You find them by asking a local, or by following the smell of roasted nuts and Guinness. They’re where expats unwind after a long week, where French locals discover a new kind of nightlife, and where visitors get a real taste of something that doesn’t come in a guidebook.
Below, you’ll find real stories from people who’ve hunted down these spots, tips on how to spot a fake British pub from a mile away, and the exact addresses of the ones that actually matter. No fluff. No tourist traps. Just the bars where the beer’s cold, the company’s good, and the pint never feels overpriced.
