The Ultimate Pub Crawl: A Guide to Irish and British Bars in Paris

Paris isn’t just about croissants and cathedrals. By night, the city transforms into a lively hub for expats, tourists, and locals who crave a proper pint, a good chat, and the kind of atmosphere you can’t find in a typical French bistro. If you’ve ever walked down a quiet street in the 6th or 11th arrondissement and suddenly heard the sound of a fiddle playing Whiskey in the Jar or the clink of Guinness glasses, you’ve stumbled into one of Paris’s hidden gems: authentic Irish and British pubs.

Why Irish and British Pubs Thrive in Paris

There are over 40 dedicated Irish and British-style pubs in Paris today - more than in any other European city outside the UK and Ireland. Why? It’s not just nostalgia. These places fill a real gap. French bars are great for wine and conversation, but they don’t serve cask ales, don’t have dartboards, and rarely let you order a whiskey neat without asking if you want it with ice. Irish and British pubs do. They offer comfort, familiarity, and a sense of community that many expats and travelers miss.

The first real Irish pub in Paris opened in 1978 - The Dubliner on Rue de la Huchette. It wasn’t fancy. It had sticky floors, mismatched stools, and a landlord who knew every regular by name. Today, that same spot still draws crowds. The formula hasn’t changed: good beer, loud music, and zero pretension.

Top 5 Irish Pubs in Paris You Can’t Miss

• The Dubliner (5 Rue de la Huchette, 5th) - The OG. Open since 1978, it’s still the most authentic. They pour Guinness the old way - two-part pour, 119 seconds, perfect head. Live trad music every Friday and Saturday. No TVs. Just fiddles, bodhráns, and singing.
• Patrick’s Irish Pub (12 Rue du Faubourg du Temple, 11th) - A favorite among British expats and rugby fans. Has 12 rotating craft beers on tap, including Dublin’s O’Hara’s and Belfast’s Dark Horse. The burger here - dry-aged beef, cheddar, caramelized onions - is better than most in London.
• The Black Sheep (24 Rue des Martyrs, 9th) - Run by a former London bartender, this place feels like a cross between a Camden pub and a Dublin backroom. They serve proper Scotch eggs, have a 100+ bottle whiskey collection, and host quiz nights every Wednesday. The staff remembers your name after one visit.
• St. Patrick’s Pub (11 Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, 11th) - Smaller, quieter, and packed with locals. The owner is from County Clare. They import their own stout from Cork. The jukebox has only Irish folk songs - no pop, no rock, no exceptions.
• The Red Lion (10 Rue des Rosiers, 4th) - A little off the beaten path, but worth it. Has a real fireplace, wooden beams, and a menu that changes daily based on what’s fresh from the UK. Try the beef and ale pie. It’s been voted best in Europe by Good Beer Guide readers.

Where to Find the Best British Pubs

British pubs in Paris don’t just copy the Irish model - they bring their own flavor. Think proper ales, pub grub that tastes like home, and a vibe that’s more pub quiz than party.

• The British Pub (14 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 12th) - This is the closest thing to a London pub you’ll find. They serve Wadworth 6X, Fuller’s London Pride, and a selection of real ciders. The bar staff are all from Manchester or Leeds. They even have a dartboard that’s been used in local leagues.
• The Globe (27 Rue des Martyrs, 9th) - A classic English pub with a twist: they host monthly Afternoon Tea with Gin events. Yes, you read that right. Earl Grey, scones, and Hendrick’s gin. It’s weird, but it works.
• The Hound (11 Rue des Rosiers, 4th) - Not flashy, not loud. Just a tiny room with a few tables, a fireplace, and a man behind the bar who’s been pouring bitter since 1998. They don’t take reservations. Walk in, grab a seat, and order a pint of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord. You’ll feel like you’re in Leeds.
• The Red Lion (again, but different) (18 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 10th) - Don’t confuse this with the one in Le Marais. This one has a dedicated beer garden, a real Yorkshire terrier named Bertie, and a menu of British pies baked daily. Their pork and apple pie is legendary.

What Makes These Pubs Different from French Bars

French bars are social, but they’re also formal. You order at the bar, you stand, you sip, you leave. Irish and British pubs invite you to stay. They have:

• Real ales and ciders - Not filtered, not pasteurized. These are living beers. You taste the yeast, the hops, the character.
• Pub food that’s actually good - Fish and chips with mushy peas, bangers and mash, ploughman’s lunch. No fancy names, no fusion nonsense.
• Live music - Not DJs. Not electronic. Fiddles, accordions, acoustic guitars. Sometimes just one guy with a guitar and a tin whistle.
• Pub quizzes - Every Wednesday. Teams of four. Prizes are usually free pints. Questions range from British TV to Irish history. You don’t need to be an expert - just willing to guess.
• No dress code - Jeans, boots, even sweaters with holes. No one cares. You’re here for the drink, not the look.

French bars don’t do any of this. They don’t have dartboards. They don’t serve Guinness in a 20-ounce glass. They don’t let you sit for three hours with one pint. And they definitely don’t have a dog named Bertie.

How to Do a Real Pub Crawl in Paris

Here’s a proven route that takes you through the best of both worlds - starting in Saint-Germain and ending in the 11th.

1. Start at The Dubliner - 7:30 PM. Order a Guinness. Let it settle. Talk to the barman. He’ll tell you which pub to hit next.
2. Walk to The Black Sheep - 15 minutes. Try their 10-year-old Irish whiskey. Ask for a dram with a drop of water.
3. Head to The British Pub - 20 minutes. Order a cask ale. Ask for the pub’s seasonal beer. It’s always something you won’t find elsewhere.
4. Finish at Patrick’s - 10 minutes. Eat the burger. Drink a stout. If it’s Friday, stay for the music. If it’s Wednesday, join the quiz.

Pro tip: Don’t rush. Each pub should take at least 45 minutes. The point isn’t to get drunk - it’s to feel the difference between each place. The Dubliner is raw and loud. The Black Sheep is cozy and smart. The British Pub is quiet and traditional. Patrick’s is warm and welcoming.

What to Order - Beyond Guinness

Yes, Guinness is the star. But here’s what else you should try:

• Smithwick’s - Ireland’s oldest red ale. Smoother than Guinness, with a hint of caramel.
• Fuller’s London Pride - The classic English bitter. Balanced, hoppy, not too strong.
• Timothy Taylor’s Landlord - A West Yorkshire favorite. Rich, malty, with a citrus finish.
• Whiskey neat - Any Irish whiskey from Bushmills, Jameson, or Redbreast. Ask for it in a Glencairn glass. No ice. Just the spirit.
• Stout and oyster - Yes, it’s a thing here. Some pubs serve fresh oysters from Brittany with a pint of Guinness. The salt and the bitterness? Perfect.

When to Go - Avoiding the Crowds

Weekends are packed. Especially Friday and Saturday nights. If you want to actually sit down and talk, go on a Tuesday or Wednesday. That’s when the locals come. The music is better. The staff has time to chat. The beer’s fresher because they’re not pouring 50 pints an hour.

Also, avoid tourist traps. If the pub has a sign in five languages and a menu with “Irish Nachos,” walk away. Real Irish and British pubs don’t need to advertise. They’re full because they’re good.

Final Thoughts - It’s Not About the Drink

These pubs aren’t just places to drink. They’re communities. They’re where people from Belfast, Cork, Manchester, and Edinburgh come together in a city that doesn’t always feel like home. They’re where you’ll meet a French student who learned English by watching Coronation Street. Where a retired Londoner tells you about the old pubs on the Thames. Where a Canadian expat plays the tin whistle and no one thinks it’s odd.

Go for the beer. Stay for the stories.