Les Nautes
Rosé, beer, music — and the occasional mojito — flow freely at this breezy summer-set bar just stone’s away from the Seine, which is our favourite for chilled sundowner drinks with the city at your feet.
Originally a pop-up, hosted in a floating container that made its way up and down the banks of the Seine, Les Nautes has since come to rest permanently in the sweet spot between the Pont-Marie and Sully-Morland metro stations, just a few steps away from Saint-Paul — giving it a perfect location in the heart of Paris, yet away from the hustle and bustle of crowds.
Here, at Nicolas Lefèbre’s stunning river-side bar, you’re able to bask in that rare trio of beauty that most locals in this city search for in the summer months, but is notoriously difficult to find — space, sun and reasonably-priced beverages — with a unique view of the Seine and the 17th century facades of St-Louis Island to boot. Not bad for what used to be a creaky barge.
The site takes in two areas at the level of the river, covering an inside bar area — with wooden picnic chairs and tables — and an outdoor concert space when weather permits. From July to September, when Paris Plages is in full swing, Les Nautes spreads its wings to the water’s edge, where you can enjoy slices of takeaway pizza, hot dogs and in-house pâtés to share, and knock back beers, wine or cocktails for less that 5€ a piece (*cocktails are sometimes a tiny bit more depending on the mix).
The vibe here is always merry and you’ll find a cool mix of locals and expats mingling freely without any judgements, all smiles and drinks in hand, enjoying the sunshine with gusto. As the sun sets, the ambience turns more festive, as people start to dance to salsa, jazz or any other music on offer — sometimes it’s not even organised by the bar, it’s just a local getting musical! Usually though, concerts cover genres from Parisian rock groups to American jazz trios.
Perfect for: Breezy, al-fresco drinks and street-food in the sunshine to bask in all the city’s glory, before a fun summer night out on the town.
What to order: Rosé, beer or a mojito, depending on your poison; and a pizza slice to go if you’re peckish.
Address: 1 Quai des Célestins, 75004 Paris, France (Google Maps)
Trading hours: Open Monday/Tuesday 2pm-12am; Wednesday-Friday 2pm-2am; Saturday 12pm-2am; Sunday 10am-12am.
