Paris is a brazen city, used to being the centre of attention. Yet, and this may seem incredible, some sides of its beauty are exhibited with modesty, sometimes reluctance. Of course, this happens if after a day at the Louvre or shopping, tourists wish to treat themselves to an end-of-the-day drink. Without knowing it in depth, Paris is not willing to reveal its best places. Those, to be clear, that if you don't know, you will never come across by chance.
Caveau de la Huchette
5, rue de la Huchette
Every evening since 1946, a jazz band has been performing in the basement of medieval Paris. You enter the bar in pure Sixties style and descend into the concert area surrounded by stone arches, where it is impossible not to let yourself be carried away in swirling balls to the rhythm of swing music played by the best French boppers. As you descend the stairs, you take a step back in time into an atmosphere that evokes the Cotton Club and the Savoy of the glory days. If you love the musical La Land, there is no need for further introduction, Le Caveau de la Huchette is something you already know: here, in fact, was where the film written and directed by Damien Chazelle was shot. So, it's the right place to treat yourself to a Parisian night at Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling's.
Concerts start at 9:30 p.m. and admission costs €15.
Les Justes
1, rue Frochot
Rated among the best cocktail bars in Paris, in the Pigalle district, rue Frochot, the "cocktail street", Les Justes stands out not only for its reasonable prices (from €9), but also because it defines itself as an "ethical and responsible bar" in its choice of raw materials and its donations to non-profit associations. Here, the difficulty in finding it is not in being hidden, but because its display window does not at all promise what it has in store. If you arrive at aperitif time, even the too-full counter is too old style, yet will amaze for the carefully chosen and well-presented cocktails, which you should enjoy late in the evening.
Open until 2 a.m., closed Sundays.
Serpent a Plume
24, place de Vosges
To find it, you just have to look for it under the arcades of one of the oldest squares in Paris, Place de Vosges, in the basement of a pyjamas boutique.