Top 5 bars in Saint Germain des Prés

The Saint Germain des Prés neighborhood is one of the most popular areas of Paris. Every day, hundreds of tourists and French students and lovers of art and literature wanders through its streets. The neighborhood is full of excellent addresses, restaurants and of course, bars.

If you are looking for the perfect bar for an evening out in Saint Germain des Prés, this article is for you! However, be warned: Saint Germain des Prés is more on the posh side than on the trendy side.

However, I will show you that this does not mean that you cannot enjoy a quintessential Parisian evening without compromising your whole week budget.

If you are looking to explore Paris’s neighborhood and experience the city like a local, some Parisians are giving free tours of their favorite neighborhoods – click here for more information! I would especially recommend both the free Saint Germain des Prés tour and the free Latin Quarter tour, which will participate in making you experience these neighborhoods like a Parisian and discover all of their hidden gems.

So, without further ado, let’s dive right into the subject! Read on for my top 5 bars in Saint Germain des Prés.

1. A personal favorite : Chez Georges

A week’s night out at Chez Georges – Source: Trip Advisor

To my mind the most heart-warming bar of the neighborhood, Chez Georges is nothing short of one of my favorite bars in Paris. This wine vault is always a tad overcrowded in the evenings, because it has become an institution for students and regulars of Saint Germain des Prés.

The wine is not especially remarkable – neither is the food; what makes this bar special is the quintessentially Left Bank atmosphere, the crowds dancing on tables and singing along French songs.

Chez Georges
11 rue des Cannettes
75 006 Paris

Open everyday 6pm to 2pm
Saturday 3pm to 2pm

2. A posh one : Café Laurent

A glimpse of Café Laurent’s piano room – Source: Café Laurent official website

If you are ready to pay the price, Café Laurent is one of the poshest bars of Paris, and another institution of the Saint Germain des Prés neighborhood. At the time, personalities like Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Raymond Queneau were regulars of Café Laurent.

The place is known for being a high-end place to go for Jazz amateurs, with scheduled Jazz nights from Thursday to Sunday every week. On concert nights, they fix a minimum first order of 10€.

Café Laurent is the perfect spot for a sophisticated date, a fancy celebration or simply to go out alone and discover a typical posh Saint Germain des Prés elegant bar.

Café Laurent
33 Rue Dauphine
75006 Paris

Open everyday 8am to 12pm

3. A bar open 22h/24 : Le Mabillon

Charcuterie platter at Le Mabillon – Source: Trip Advisor

Le Mabillon is known by all partygoers of Paris’ Left Bank for a reason: it only closes 2 hours every night, being open from 7am to 5am the next day.

Nothing extraordinary about this bar, except that their food is comforting, their drinks cheap(ish) for the neighborhood, and that at happy hour, the terrace is crowded by Parisian students who come to gather there every day.

Le Mabillon
164 Boulevard Saint-Germain
75006 Paris 

Open everyday from 7am to 5am the next day

4. A cheap one : Le Cavern Club

Cavern Club is a great bar in Saint Germain des Prés if you are willing to enjoy the typical Left Bank atmosphere without having to eat pasta at home for the rest of the week.

During happy hours, you can enjoy cocktails for 3.5€, which makes it a favorite spot for Parisian students and young adults of the neighborhood. There if nothing exceptionnally fancy about this bar, it is just a typical Saint Germain des Prés pub.

It has been known over the years to attract a laid back and young clientele, probably due to its fair prices and cool atmosphere.

Le Cavern Club
21 Rue Dauphine
75006 Paris

Open Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 3am
Friday to Saturday from 6pm to 6am
Closed Sunday Monday Tuesday

5. A quintessentially Left Bank one : Le Caveau de la Huchette

Le Caveau de la Huchette bar – source: trip advisor

With #2 on this list (Café Laurent), Le Caveau de la Huchette runs expensive compared to the other bars of the list. Another institution of the neighborhood, the bar doubles as a jazz club, which the neighborhood is famous for.

Set in a medieval and authentic vault, the bar is known for its original jazzy and swing gigs that attract a lot of jazz amateurs – the crowd usually dances until dawn, so prepare your dance shoes!

Le Caveau de la Huchette
5 Rue de la Huchette
75005 Paris

Open everyday 9.30pm to 2.30am
Friday and Saturday 9.30pm to 4am

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There you have them, my top 5 bars in Saint Germain des Prés! I hope you have understood from this list that even though Saint Germain des Prés is a posh area, there is a bar for everyone there. From the magnificent Café Laurent to the cheap and amazing Chez Georges, there will be one to suit every need and occasion of yours.

If you are keen on discovering this typically Parisian area further, do not hesitate to check out this free tour of Saint Germain des Prés.

And if you are looking for some more tips on the neighborhood, check out these posts, I am sure you will find them rather helpful:

Looking for an accommodation in Saint Germain des Prés? See How to Choose the Best Airbnb in Saint Germain des Près

Or maybe you just want to wander through the neighborhood? See A walk in Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Curious about the gems and tourist attractions of Saint Germain des Prés? See our Top 10 things to see in Saint Germain des Prés

Want to learn about Saint Germain des Prés? See 5 Things to Learn from Saint-Germain-des-Prés

And obviously, last but not least, maybe the most essential article on this list (to my mind at least!): the Top 10 Things to Eat in Saint-Germain des Près