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

Paris isn’t just about wine and cheese. If you’re looking for a pint of Guinness, a cold cider, or a proper pub quiz with locals who actually know what "real ale" means, you’ll find it tucked away in the backstreets of Le Marais, Saint-Germain, and even near the Canal Saint-Martin. The city has a surprising number of authentic Irish and British pubs - not the kind with fake Union Jacks and karaoke nights, but real ones where the bartenders know your name, the Guinness flows just right, and the jukebox plays The Clash instead of Ed Sheeran.

Why Irish and British Pubs Thrive in Paris

It’s not luck. Since the 1980s, expats from the UK and Ireland have opened pubs in Paris that stick to tradition. These aren’t tourist traps. They’re community spaces. You’ll find regulars who’ve been coming for 20 years, rugby matches on big screens, and staff who don’t blink when you order a whiskey neat at 11 a.m. The French don’t always get it right - but when they do, they do it well.

Why does this work? Because these pubs aren’t trying to be French. They’re trying to be authentic. That means real ales from small British breweries, proper pub food like fish and chips with mushy peas, and staff who speak English with a thick accent - and don’t apologize for it.

The Top 5 Irish and British Pubs in Paris

Not all pubs are created equal. Some are loud, overpriced, and full of people taking selfies with their pints. These five? They’ve got the real deal.

1. The Irish Pub

Located on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, this is the oldest Irish bar in Paris, opened in 1989. The walls are lined with vintage Irish posters, and the Guinness is poured using the traditional two-stage method - wait 119 seconds for the head to settle. They host live trad music every Friday, and the owner, Pat, still serves drinks himself. Don’t expect fancy cocktails. You’ll get a pint, a bag of crisps, and maybe a chat about football.

2. The Red Lion

Just steps from the Luxembourg Gardens, The Red Lion feels like it was dropped in from a London side street. The wooden benches are worn smooth from decades of elbows. The beer list includes real cask ales from Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire - not just Heineken. They serve Sunday roasts with Yorkshire pudding, and the staff remember if you like your IPA with a dash of lemon. It’s quiet during the week, packed on match days. Bring your rugby jersey.

3. The Dubliner

Right in the heart of Le Marais, The Dubliner has been a staple since 1995. It’s not flashy, but it’s got soul. The jukebox runs on a coin slot and plays only Irish rock: U2, Thin Lizzy, The Pogues. They’ve got a proper dartboard, and you’re allowed to play even if you’re not a member. Their corned beef and cabbage is the best in the city - and it’s served with real Irish soda bread, not store-bought.

4. The British Pub

On Rue de la Roquette, this place is run by a former London bartender who moved here in 2003. He imported the taps from Kent and trains his staff to pour a perfect pint. They stock over 30 real ales from microbreweries like Dark Star and Meantime. The food menu includes sausage rolls, ploughman’s lunch, and sticky toffee pudding. On Tuesday nights, they host a pub quiz where the prize is a free pint - and the questions are harder than the ones you’d find in a Cambridge pub.

5. The Hibernian

Hidden above a bookstore near Saint-Germain-des-Prés, The Hibernian is small but mighty. It’s the only pub in Paris that serves both Irish whiskey and Scotch in flights. They have 12 rotating taps, including a rare oatmeal stout from Belfast. The walls are covered in signed photos of musicians who’ve played here - from The Frames to The Libertines. It’s the kind of place where you show up alone and leave with three new friends.

What to Order - Beyond the Guinness

If you’re only drinking Guinness, you’re missing half the experience. These are the drinks you need to try:

• Real Ale - Look for terms like "cask-conditioned" or "unfiltered." These are served at cellar temperature (12°C), not ice cold.
• Irish Whiskey - Try Powers or Bushmills neat. Avoid the sugary "Irish cream" cocktails - they’re not real.
• Cider - British ciders like Strongbow or Thatchers Gold are crisp and dry. Not the sweet stuff you get in supermarkets.
• Stout - Go beyond Guinness. Try Murphy’s or Beamish from Cork - they’re smoother and less bitter.
• Whisky Sour - Yes, it’s a cocktail, but if it’s made with single malt and fresh lemon, it’s acceptable.

And skip the "Irish coffee" unless it’s made with real coffee, not instant. The good ones use freshly brewed dark roast, Irish whiskey, and whipped cream - not sugar syrup.

Pub Food That Actually Tastes Like Home

Most "British" food in Paris is either bland or overpriced. But these five pubs serve meals that taste like they came from a kitchen in Manchester or Cork:

• Fish and Chips - The batter should be light, crispy, and not greasy. The cod should be thick, not paper-thin.
• Ploughman’s Lunch - Cold cuts, cheddar, pickles, crusty bread. Simple. Served with a side of pickled onions.
• Shepherd’s Pie - The top layer should be mashed potato, not puree. It should be golden and slightly crusty.
• Sausage Rolls - Not the frozen kind. Real pastry, real pork sausage, seasoned with black pepper.
• Sticky Toffee Pudding - Warm, moist, drenched in toffee sauce. Best with vanilla ice cream.

Ask if the meat is sourced locally. The best pubs use British or Irish suppliers. If they say "we get it from Carrefour," walk away.

When to Go - Timing Matters

These pubs aren’t open all night. Most close by 1 a.m., and some even earlier. Here’s the smart way to plan:

• Weekdays - Go between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. You’ll get the real vibe - locals, no tourists.
• Weekends - Arrive before 7 p.m. to avoid the crowd. After 9 p.m., it gets loud and packed.
• Match Days - Rugby and football (soccer) games bring the whole pub to life. Check the schedule. England vs. Ireland? Expect a full house.
• Pub Quiz Nights - Usually Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Bring a team of four. The questions are trivia-heavy: British history, music from the 80s, Premier League stats.

Pro tip: Don’t show up after 10 p.m. on a Friday if you want to sit down. These places fill up fast.

What to Expect - Culture Shock

French service is polite. British and Irish pub service? It’s casual. You might have to flag down the bartender. Don’t be offended. They’re not ignoring you - they’re just busy. Tipping isn’t expected, but leaving a euro or two on the bar if you had great service? That’s appreciated.

Don’t ask for "a table for two." You’re in a pub. You sit at the bar, or you grab a bench. If you want privacy, go to a restaurant.

And don’t try to argue about which is better: Guinness or Murphy’s. The locals don’t care. They’ll just pour you both and let you decide.

How to Build Your Own Pub Crawl

Here’s a simple route that takes you through three great pubs in under two hours:

1. Start at The Irish Pub (Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis) - Have a Guinness and a bag of crisps.
2. Walk 15 minutes to The Red Lion - Order a real ale and a ploughman’s lunch.
3. End at The Hibernian - Try a whiskey flight and chat with the bartender.

It’s a perfect mix of atmosphere, taste, and local flavor. Skip the fancy cocktail bars. This is where the real Paris nightlife lives.

What to Avoid

There are dozens of "British-style" bars in Paris that are just themed restaurants with loud music and overpriced drinks. Watch out for:

• Pubs with "Irish" in the name but serve only Corona and mojitos.
• Places that have a "British menu" but list chicken tikka masala as a "classic pub dish."
• Bars with DJs spinning pop music on weekends - real pubs have live folk or punk bands.
• Outlets with no beer taps visible - if you can’t see the casks or kegs, it’s not real.

If the menu has more than three items with "fusion" in the name, leave. You’re not here for innovation. You’re here for tradition.