The Little Red Door


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They say good things come in small packages, and this tiny speakeasy is a little slice of cocktail heaven. Voted onto the 50 Best Bars In The World list back in 2015, it still packs a punch after all those years, and delights on arrival every time.

Perfectly suited to its name, the first thing you’ll see as you sidle up to this spot in the heart of the Marais is a little red door on the street where the bar located, deceiving passers by — the real entrance is camouflaged as a wall, just near the pretty, painted decoy.

Once you’re inside try to get a place at the bar, so you can see the bartenders working their magic. It’s totally worth it — even if you have to get there early to beat the chic & thirsty locals.

Besides the drinks, the thing that makes this place unique is their menu. It looks like a book with paintings inside and features cocktails that play on human emotion. The illustrations with no ingredients or names make each selection a bit of a mystery — and, of course, you can pull out a section with the cocktail’s recipes, but it’s not as interesting, so take a tiny risk on your choice if you dare.

Perfect for: A weekend cocktail experience.

What to order: There are approximately 12 drinks on the menu, ranging from 12 to 15 euros. The menu usually changes twice a year, but these guys know exactly what they’re doing, so don’t stress about it — and order anything that strikes your fancy.

Address: 60 rue Charlot 75003 Paris (Google Maps)

Trading hours: Sun-Thu 6pm–2am (last entry 1:00am) // Fri-Sat 6pm–3am (last entry 2am)

They don’t take reservations but recommend coming down as early as possible because they sometimes have a queue, but don’t worry their doorman is lovely and usually has some tea…