There are a couple travel truths I’ve learned over the years.

One: Never underestimate the restorative powers of early check-in and room service after a red-eye.

Two: Not all bars have mastered the art of a Dirty Martini.

Three: Despite that, Paris is always a good idea.

If you’re looking for me around five o’clock in Paris, chances are you’ll find me slipping through the revolving doors of one of the city’s grand hotels—even if we’re not staying there.

Now don’t get me wrong. I adore a neighborhood café as much as the next person. Give me a tiny bistro, a wicker chair turned toward the street, and an excuse to people-watch for an hour and I’m perfectly content.

But when it comes to cocktails, Europe and I have a tiny disagreement.

Finding a truly great dirty martini can be…a challenge.

I know. I know. That’s a very American problem to have.

Still, if you’ve ever ordered what you thought would be a perfectly dry & dirty martini only to receive something warm-ish, over-shaken, with “fresh” olives and served mysteriously sweet, then you understand why I have a habit of seeking out an American Bar whenever I can find one.

And the beautiful thing is, some of the best ones happen to live inside Paris’s most iconic hotels.

Hotel bars aren’t just a safe bet for an excellent cocktail. They’re destinations in their own right. They offer a glimpse into some of the city’s most beautiful interiors, impeccable service that never rushes you, and an excuse to wander through hotels you may have previously only admired from the outside.

Think of them as sightseeing—with better glassware.

These are the ones I never skip.

BAR HEMINGWAY AT THE RITZ PARIS

If Paris had a bucket-list bar, this would be it.

Tiny enough that you’ll probably wait for a seat. Famous enough that everyone has heard of it. Worth it enough that I’d wait anyway.

Despite its legendary status, Bar Hemingway somehow still feels intimate. Dark wood, leather, books, old photographs—it’s less “see and be seen” and more “settle in and stay awhile.”

This is not your pre-dinner drink.

This is the evening.

What I’m Ordering…

• A “Clean” Dirty Martini with a melting olive juice ice cube (brilliant!)
• Serendipity (if I’m in a sweet mood, it’s their onsite invention so when in Rome…or Paris, right? Besides, I’m an admittedly girly-girl and sometimes I like a flower on top of my drink.)
• They also make an exceptional Old Fashioned if someone in your group isn’t a martini drinker (one of these days I’ve got to learn to love Old Fashioneds).

Where I’m Sitting…

Honestly? Anywhere they’ll put me. The room is tiny, and that’s part of the magic. Don’t hold out for “the perfect seat”—the intimacy is what makes it special.

Best Time…

7:30–10:30 PM.

This is an evening destination. Don’t rush through it before dinner.

LE BAR DU BRISTOL AT THE BRISTOL PARIS

If you’re searching for a proper hotel bar in Paris, this is one I return to again and again.

Warm lighting. Rich wood. Plush velvet. A pianist in the background most evenings. It feels elegant without ever trying too hard—exactly the kind of place where one cocktail quietly becomes two.

This isn’t the loud, buzzy scene you’ll find at some of Paris’s trendier cocktail bars.

This is classic luxury.

What I’m Ordering…

• A very dry martini, most likely with a lemon twist (since I’m starting to leave dirt behind in favor of Vespers)
• Their signature seasonal cocktail if something catches my eye

Where I’m Sitting…

If there’s a seat near the piano, that’s where you’ll find me. Otherwise, I love one of the cozy banquettes where you can settle in for the evening without feeling like anyone is rushing you.

Best Time…

6:00–9:00 PM.

Arrive before dinner while the room is just beginning to come alive, or stop in afterward when the music is in full swing. Either way, plan to stay longer than you intended.

LE BAR AT PLAZA ATHÉNÉE

Pertty sure you know this one was coming.

Everyone photographs the red awnings but how many actually walk inside?

There’s something wonderfully theatrical about Plaza Athénée. It’s glamorous, yes, but never stuffy. You feel like you’ve stepped into the pages of a fashion magazine where everyone somehow looks effortlessly elegant.

Order Champagne.

Not because you need a reason.

Because you’re in Paris.

And you’re at Plaza Athenée.

What I’m Ordering…

Champagne.

It just feels wrong to order anything else.

Where I’m Sitting…

Near the windows.

You want to watch Avenue Montaigne.

Best Time…

Golden hour.

Fashion people are everywhere.

BAR 228 AT LE MEURICE

If I could bottle the feeling of classic Parisian elegance, it would probably taste like a cocktail at Le Meurice.

You notice the mirrors. The chandeliers. The quiet confidence of the staff. And then you realize the real entertainment is everyone around you.

Fashion editors. Anniversary celebrations. Solo travelers journaling over Champagne.

Couples dressed as though dinner reservations have been on the calendar for six months.

This is my favorite place to simply linger.

No agenda.

Just another round.

What I’m Ordering…

French 75 (shhh…don’t tell Arnaud’s)

Multiple Martinis.

Depends how responsible I’m pretending to be.

Where I’m Sitting…

Near the center.

This is people watching.

You don’t want to hide.

Best Time …

4:00–7:00 PM.

This is one of my favorite places to ease into the evening. The late afternoon light filtering through the windows is beautiful, the room begins to fill with a wonderfully eclectic mix of Parisians and travelers, and there’s no pressure to rush off to dinner. Order a martini—or Champagne if the mood strikes—and simply enjoy one of the best people-watching spots in Paris.

LES AMBASSADEURS AT HÔTEL DE CRILLON

If Bar Hemingway feels like a hidden jewel box, Les Ambassadeurs is Paris at its most magnificent.

Soaring ceilings. Crystal chandeliers. Gilded details. It’s one of those rooms that makes you pause before you even glance at the cocktail menu.

Despite all the grandeur, it never feels intimidating. Instead, it feels like you’ve somehow wandered into a private soirée inside one of Paris’s most storied palace hotels.

This isn’t where I come for a quick drink.

This is where I come when the evening deserves a little extra glamour.

My order? A classic martini if I’m feeling traditional, or one of the bartender’s seasonal signature cocktails when I’m in the mood to try something new. If there’s live piano or jazz, settle in—you’ll inevitably stay longer than you planned.

What I’m Ordering…

I forgo the dirt and let the bartenders do their thing with the Crillon Martini.

Where I’m Sitting…

Near the center of the room if I can. This isn’t a bar to tuck yourself into a quiet corner—it’s a room meant to be admired. The people-watching is almost as entertaining as the cocktails.

Best Time…

7:00–10:00 PM

Arrive before dinner while the room begins to glow, or linger after dinner for one last cocktail. Either way, this is one of those places that reminds you why palace hotels are an experience all their own.

THE LIBRARY BAR AT ST. JAMES PARIS

If someone asked me for one hotel that feels like a wonderful secret, this would probably be my answer.

Technically, it’s a little removed from the center of the city.

Spiritually, it’s a world away.

The gardens feel private. The atmosphere feels almost residential, as though you’ve been invited to the home of a very stylish Parisian friend who just happens to live in a château.

This isn’t a stop between attractions.

This is the attraction.

What I’m Ordering…

French 75.

Martini.

Champagne.

Whatever fits the season.

Where I’m Sitting…

Garden terrace.

Always.

Best Time…

Afternoon.

No rush.

Whenever I’m designing a Paris itinerary, I always encourage clients to experience more than the hotel where they’re staying.

Spend an evening at the Ritz.

Toast with Champagne at Plaza Athénée.

Linger over a martini at Le Bristol.

People-watch at Le Meurice.

Borrow these beautiful places for an hour.

Because some of my favorite memories of Paris haven’t happened inside museums or at monuments.

They’ve happened with nothing more than a cocktail in hand and nowhere else I needed to be.

They’ve happened in beautiful hotel bars, where the martinis are properly chilled, the service is impeccable, and for an hour or two, you get to feel like you’ve checked into one of the grandest addresses in the city—even if your suitcase is waiting somewhere else.

So the next time you’re in Paris, venture beyond the hotel where you’re staying.

You just might discover that your favorite address in the city isn’t the one where you checked in—it’s the one where you stopped for a perfectly chilled martini and lingered long enough to make it part of your story.