VIBE

Opened by three globetrotting French bartenders, the Experimental Cocktail Club has shaken up the wine-guzzling Parisian scene with a cool speakeasy where hip New York sensibilities, refreshing Asian-inspired cocktail creations, and a dash of Brit eccentricity are expertly blended. The rustic Parisian space, all ancient bricks and thick beams, is updated with sharp black leather loungers and a très Nouveau York zinc bar (unsurprising, given the designer hails from the Big Apple). The staff and crowd are much more laidback than the high-maintenance types you typically find in the hip Montorgueil district, though in keeping with the party spirit of the neighborhood, there’s a DJ spinning most nights.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

Something hip but with a bit of funk; this would be a good spot to sport that outlandish accessory you picked up while boutique-trawling; on weekends, definitely dress to impress or you might not make it through the door.

GO HERE WITH

Friends; a date

CROWD

Young, trendy, and very well dressed. That said, there’s a convivial community vibe that you often encounter among old timers at corner cafés–many of the regulars know each other, and they’re happy to welcome you into their festive circles.

WHY WE LIKE IT

Well-made cocktails in Paris tend to be the exclusive domain of ritzy hotel bars, so it’s a treat to be able to sip these inventive concoctions in a chill, trendy setting. (One of our favorite drinks is the Thai-accented house specialty, Experience #1, which includes everything from lemongrass to elderflower liqueur.) We also dig how the DJ keeps things relaxed but festive on weeknights so we can still carry on our conversation.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

The bouncers can be a touch fickle: bizarrely picky on quiet nights yet too lax on weekends when it often gets overcrowded. (That being said, weekends are generally tougher to get into.)

GOOD TO KNOW

The door is barely marked so it’s a little hard to find. (Although if you’re coming on a weekend, the line outside will be a big tip-off.)

OTHER LOCATIONS

Curio Parlor Cocktail Club, 5th Arr. (Paris); Le Prescription Cocktail Club, 6th Arr. (Paris); London

CLOSEST COMPS

Death & Co. (New York); Milk & Honey (London, New York)

Read more about Experimental Cocktail Club in The Diary

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to Paris