For an evening that’ll make you feel like a celebrity, have drinks at Bar Les Ambassadeurs. It’s in a hotel previously owned by a count, and built to host actual ambassadors. You'll find original 18th-century frescos, low lighting, and chic velvet couches, which perfectly set the mood for date night—so bring your best, fashion-wise, and try not to freak out if Madonna walks past.

The Saint-Germain-des-Prés bar from Moët Hennessy feels like you’re drinking in your rich friend’s impeccably decorated townhouse with multiple levels and rooms with different themes. Prepare to have more than one round: start on the ground floor, which looks like a Parisian brasserie and serves an impressive variety of long, short, royals, and classic drinks, then grab another in the above room with velvet stools and a green marble bar.

Bar Nouveau may be new, but it feels like it’s been around forever. The two-level Art Nouveau-inspired cocktail spot has a menu that’s short and straight to the point, so stop here when you’re overstimulated by all the art, shopping, and crowds in the Marais and don’t want to make any tough decisions. Old-school cocktails and spirits are the focus, whether you sit in the intimate upstairs or moody downstairs den. While you can always walk in, you should go on the earlier side.

Bar Joséphine, located inside the Hotel Lutetia, is for the get-dressed-up date night, birthday, or special Left Bank celebration. It’s the romantic version of Paris often depicted in movies, with its high ceilings and frescos, which is nice as there aren’t many places with that “typical Paris feel” anymore. Cozy up to your date on the cushioned banquettes or get comfortable in the brown leather chairs with the piano view—there’s live music Thursday-Sunday (and sometimes Tuesday and Wednesday).

You think you’re walking up to this taqueria in the Marais for simple tacos and frozen margaritas at the counter. But shimmy past the barstools, and through the white door into Candelaria. It’s a dimly lit speakeasy that’s full of comfy banquettes and bar stools, and focuses on agave cocktails that may sound weird at first but work, like the Stay Puft with tequila, marshmallow, and absinthe. Because you can’t live on tequila alone, there are solid small bites, as well.

If the line is too long at Pink Mamma, put your name on the waitlist, head to the basement, and walk through the refrigerator into their speakeasy. The layout looks like a sexy chemistry lab with jarred concoctions and infusions in demijohns all along the walls. Those herbal elixirs are what you’re here for, like the Tropical Loveland cocktail with sweet potato-infused rhum or the coffee-scented vermouth Boulevardier.

If you’re wondering where the who’s who of 1920s Paris came to drink and see and be seen, head to this institution inside the Ritz. Bar Hemingway looks like a cross between a smoker’s lounge and a fancy chateau library with photos of its namesake author, old fishing poles, and boxing gloves. Classic cocktails (€25-€36), heavy on whisky, are what you should order here. Thanks to its history, this place attracts a multigenerational mix of tourists, business people, and gray-haired folks.

In an area changing from industrial and warehouses to bobo chic, Gravity stands out—the small cocktail bar near Canal Saint-Martin looks sort of futuristic with its curved counter and wavy ceiling. It’s also the happy medium between a dive bar and a fancy drinking spot, so you’ll find good drinks, natural wines, and seasonal tapas like scallop sashimi and duck confit. And since you’ve already made your way here for date nights or casual cocktails, you’ll want to stay for the ‘90s and 2000s R&B.

The city’s answer to the Prohibition-style speakeasy is Moonshiner. At this hidden spot in the 11th (push the metal door of the walk-in fridge in the back of pizzeria Da Vito), there’s 1920s jazz playing, Belle Epoque wallpaper, and exposed brick. Snag a table with the leather booths or sit at the bar. The drink list is heavy on whisky cocktails, and very fancy old whiskies you can order neat. Continuing with the times, there’s even an indoor smoking room.

At Le Syndicat, you’ll never forget you’re in France, since this bar in the 10th only serves French spirits, mixers, herbs, and juices. There’s also no pretense, no fancy seating, or wall decorations—there’s not even a sign from the outside. But in a bold decorating move, copper centimes and various types of currency are stuck to the ceiling. The low lighting can pose a bit of a problem when you’re trying to read the drink menu, but just sit at the bar and chat with the bartender.

Copperbay is your best option for cocktails near Strasbourg Saint-Denis station, partially because there aren’t many bars in the area. But this stylish, laid-back spot could be anywhere, and we’d still flock here for the drinks alone. The menu keeps things interesting, and is based on concepts like “mouthfeel” and fabric samples—yes, you actually can choose a drink by touching suede, silk, or leather.

Even if you don’t know anyone when you walk into this neighborhood bar, you somehow feel like you do. At Abricot, bartenders greet you with a bartender’s choice shot as soon as you sit down, which will likely make you want to order a cocktail faster. The nature-inspired colors, lots of natural light, and open space play into a “Cali-style” vibe that'll make you want to linger. Pop in for the tiniest martini ever and the vegan cornbread with maple butter, a family recipe from one of the owners.

If you want to drink where the bartenders on this guide drink, come to Bluebird. It’s an energetic, retro-ish cocktail lounge in the 11th that looks like the deck of a cruise ship from the ‘60s, with wood paneling, multi-colored light fixtures, and an aquarium in the back. The drinks on the menu change every month, and are categorized as savory, salty, bitter, etc., which helps when you don’t exactly know what you have a taste for.

This unstuffy Prohibition-like bar near Rue Montorgueil toes the line between a casual walk-in spot and a cocktail lounge that can get a bit clubby. You’ll find a progressive menu (think drinks made with ramen mix and egg yolk), and a rare liquor collection featuring older whiskies and some chartreuses. At a certain point in the evening, the crowd will shift to the side to “make” a dance floor, so expect the music to get loud and the room cramped.

Down the street from Jefrey’s, Experimental Cocktail Club (ECC) is the place that jump-started the city’s cocktail scene when it opened in Montorgueil in 2007. It’s still a staple and a cozy spot for a great drink made with new flavor combinations. You should chill with friends with a tequila and kombucha or a pistachio-infused apple brandy on the velvet couches pushed against the exposed brick walls, or make new ones at the bar. Just don’t come hungry since they don’t serve food.

This women-owned bar co-created by an ECC alum is your neighborhood gathering spot in Belleville. It’s laid-back-cool without even trying, hence why you can come as you are, whether you stop by after lounging at a nearby park or before heading to a concert—very rarely is Combat overly crowded. In the summer, outdoor seating spills onto the sidewalk, and people ordering and receiving drinks at the window add to the lively atmosphere.

If you need a daiquiri—not the frozen version from a machine where you only taste ice and alcohol, but one that’s a shaken, well-balanced mix of rum, sugar, and lime—Dirty Dick is your spot. The tiki bar in Pigalle has mainly rum-based drinks and punches, including some involving fire, and it can get pretty loud and crazy with all the shot-taking and screaming bartenders. While this isn’t a first-date spot, it is a great place for impromptu dancing between the tables.

Think taps are just for beers? Think again. The Honey Moon is a spacious, all-tap cocktail bar near Place de la Bastille, with over 38 taps pouring manhattans, cosmos, and more. Sure, drinks are served with a hint of fizz, but once it settles, the tasty, well-crafted beverage shines through. And because bartenders aren’t shaking and stirring each cocktail, you have more time to spend with friends in the retro-y setting with neon lights, diner-like booths, and disco music in the background.

Castor Club is unmarked, but you’ll recognize the cocktail bar tucked on a side street in Saint-Germain-des-Prés by the large wooden doors and bouncer standing out front. Once inside, you’ll feel like you’re in a country cabin or hunting lodge. The walls and ceilings are covered in wood, country music usually plays, and high velvet booths built into the walls add a cozy feel, whether you’re here for after-work drinks or date night.

Tiger is a gin lover’s paradise, and that’s not just because there are over 100 different bottles on the menu and 1,000 combinations of the classic gin and tonic. This Saint-Germain-des-Prés bar feels like an actual paradise, thanks to the palm frond wallpaper, teal tiles everywhere, and festive vibes that give off summer even on the darkest Paris days. Order an Oh My Dog (the “Tiger” emblazoned into the ice cube is a nice touch), and a cheese and charcuterie plate from the menu of bar snacks.

Danico isn’t quite a speakeasy, but it’s a bit hidden inside the Italian restaurant Daroco, and accessible through the historic covered Galerie Vivienne mall. The space was formerly a Jean Paul Gaultier store and the bartenders wear striped shirts as a nod to that, and, yes, it’s all really French. The menu of 12 cocktails changes every few months and is centered around a specific country and its spirits, like sake and whisky from Japan.