We’re celebrating our arrival in this gorgeous European capital with a 5-part blog series. Read about our favorite ways to experience Paris through all the senses: what we love to taste, smell, feel and see in the City of Light.
HEAR the Clinking of Wine Glasses and Cocktail Shakers
Still longing for some terrace time? Generally, even house wine is good wine so pull up a chair at any one of the city’s outdoor spots, where the clinking of glasses can be heard round the clock, alongside the French “cheers”—a santé (“to your health!”).
Further afield, and usually inside after-hours, the sound of the city’s joie de vivre can also be heard at its cocktail bars, where bartenders are shaking up booze with fresh herbs and local liqueurs like Calvados from Normandy.
Newer, highly-designed drink dens such as Gravity and Tiger offer architectural elements worthy of an “oh la la”, while unassuming bars like Lulu White and Copper Bay tap into cheeky themes of New Orleans and nautical vibes, respectively.

Housemade spirits, like Copper Bay’s two flavors of gin – Le Gin Original and Le Gin Navy Strength – are worth seeking out. (Photo credit: Copper Bay)
Some, like Lavomatic and Mabel, are hidden behind the guise of a mysterious exterior (such as a laundromat and a grilled cheese cafe).
But head up a set of stairs behind a washing machine, or past the scent of melted cheddar, and you’ll be treated to the sound of imbibers toasting the good life.
— Sara Lieberman