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

Paris isn’t known for Guinness and pints of bitter, but if you’ve ever walked through Montmartre or Le Marais and smelled roasted peanuts and hear the crackle of a pub quiz, you know something’s changed. There’s a quiet revolution happening in the city’s backstreets - Irish and British pubs are no longer just tourist traps. They’re real places, with real locals, real ale, and real character. And if you’re looking for a night out that doesn’t involve wine glasses and quiet jazz, this guide will show you exactly where to go.

Why Irish and British Pubs Thrive in Paris

It started with expats. After Brexit, thousands of Brits moved to Paris - not just for the art or the food, but because rent was cheaper and the vibe was calmer. Irish workers followed, drawn by the city’s strong service industry and love of conversation. These weren’t people who wanted to blend in. They brought their pubs with them.

What makes these places different from French bars? For one, they’re loud. Not obnoxiously so, but lively. You’ll hear laughter over football matches, clinking glasses during trivia nights, and the occasional rendition of "Whiskey in the Jar." You won’t find a single menu that lists "vin rouge" as the only drink option. Instead, you’ll see 12 types of stout, a wall of Scotch, and a chalkboard listing today’s cask ale.

And the food? Forget foie gras. These pubs serve fish and chips with proper tartar sauce, beef Wellington that doesn’t come in a tiny portion, and bangers and mash with gravy that actually tastes like it was simmered for hours.

Top 5 Irish Pubs in Paris

• The Irish House - Located in the 6th arrondissement near Saint-Germain-des-Prés, this place opened in 1998 and still feels like a London pub transplanted stone by stone. Their Guinness is poured by a barman who trained in Dublin. The walls are lined with vintage Irish posters, and the jukebox only plays Irish folk and punk from the ’90s. Don’t miss their Irish stew - slow-cooked for 12 hours with root vegetables and a hint of stout.
• Le Pub - In Montmartre, this spot is run by a former bartender from Cork. It’s small, dim, and packed on weekends. They have a rotating selection of Irish craft beers, including one made with blackcurrant and honey. The owner insists on serving pints in the traditional 1/2-pint glass, then refilling. No one complains.
• The Celtic Knot - Hidden down a narrow alley in the 11th, this place feels like a secret. No signs. Just a green door with a shamrock. Inside, you’ll find live trad music every Thursday, and the owner makes his own Irish whiskey sour with a 12-year-old single malt. It’s the only place in Paris where you can hear a fiddle and a bodhrán drum at 10 p.m. on a Tuesday.
• The Dubliner - Right by Gare du Nord, this is the go-to for travelers and train workers. It’s bigger, brighter, and has a full kitchen that serves breakfast until 4 p.m. Their boxty pancakes - potato pancakes stuffed with cheddar and onions - are legendary. They also host monthly Irish poetry readings in the back room.
• Barleycorn - A newer addition in the 10th, this place was built by a team of Irish and French brewers. They have their own brewery in the basement and serve 8 house-brewed ales. Try the Paris Stout - brewed with roasted chicory from Normandy. It’s dark, smooth, and tastes like a Parisian night.

Best British Pubs in Paris

• The Englishman - In the 7th, this is the most British of them all. The bar is made of reclaimed oak from a 19th-century London pub. The staff wears waistcoats and calls everyone "mate." They serve real ales on cask, imported monthly from microbreweries in Yorkshire and Kent. The ploughman’s lunch here is the real deal: pickled onions, cheddar, crusty bread, and a side of Branston pickle. It’s the only place in Paris where you can ask for "a pint of bitter" and get it right.
• The Red Lion - A classic in the 14th, this pub has been around since 2001. It’s owned by a former Royal Marine from Bristol. The walls are covered in football scarves - Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal - and they show every Premier League match. They also have Sunday roasts with Yorkshire pudding that rises like a cloud. The gravy? Made from beef drippings and port wine. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth every euro.
• The Black Horse - Located near Place de la République, this pub has a real snooker table and a no-phone policy during pub quizzes. The quiz nights are fierce. Teams come from as far as Lyon and Marseille. The drinks list includes British lagers like Wadworth 6X and a gin and tonic made with London Dry gin and tonic from the UK. Their steak and kidney pie is the most ordered dish in the city.
• The Crown and Anchor - In Le Marais, this is the only pub in Paris with a real pub garden - a tiny courtyard with string lights and mismatched chairs. They serve proper crumpets with butter and clotted cream, and their English breakfast comes with baked beans, black pudding, and fried tomatoes. It’s open until 3 a.m. on weekends.
• The Hound - A hidden gem in the 12th, this place is run by a former London pub landlord. They have a whisky wall with over 150 bottles, including rare Scottish malts and a bottle of 1973 Macallan. They also host whisky tastings every Friday. The menu is simple: Scotch eggs, pickled eggs, and a ploughman’s board with local French cheeses. It’s the perfect blend of British tradition and French ingredients.

What to Order: A Quick Guide

If you’ve never been to an Irish or British pub before, here’s what to expect - and what to try:

• Guinness - Not just any stout. In these pubs, it’s poured slowly, with two rests. The head should be thick, creamy, and last the whole drink.
• Cask Ale - Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and served at cellar temperature. It’s cloudy, earthy, and tastes like the countryside.
• Irish Whiskey - Try Jameson, Bushmills, or Redbreast. Most pubs offer a whiskey flight - three small pours of different styles.
• Scotch - Look for single malts from Islay, Speyside, or Highland. The best pubs have a blending bar where you can mix your own dram.
• Food - Skip the fries. Go for bangers and mash, fish and chips with mushy peas, or a full English breakfast. These aren’t side dishes - they’re the main event.

When to Go

These pubs aren’t open just for tourists. The real magic happens on weekdays.

• Monday to Wednesday - Quiet, cozy, perfect for a single pint and a chat. Most pubs have live music or quiz nights starting at 8 p.m.
• Thursday - Trad music nights. The Irish pubs fill up with locals who’ve been waiting all week.
• Friday and Saturday - Crowded. Expect a wait. But that’s when you’ll hear the full energy - football chants, laughter, and someone singing along to The Pogues.
• Sunday - Roast day. If you’re hungry, this is your best bet. The pubs serve their biggest meals, and many have live acoustic sets.

What to Avoid

Not every pub with a Union Jack is worth it. Watch out for:

• Pubs that call themselves "Irish" but serve only Guinness and shots of Baileys.
• Places with plastic shamrocks and fake Celtic music on loop.
• Menus that list "British beer" but only have Heineken or Stella Artois.
• Bars that don’t have a real bartender - someone who knows the difference between a stout and a porter.

The best ones? They’ll remember your name. They’ll ask if you liked the last pint. And they’ll slip you a free whiskey on the house if you’re quiet and respectful.

Final Tip: The Pub Crawl Route

Here’s a simple, walkable route to hit the best spots in one night:

1. Start at The Irish House (6th) - Have a Guinness and a bowl of stew.
2. Walk 15 minutes to Le Pub (18th) - Try a craft Irish beer and listen to the fiddle.
3. Head to The Englishman (7th) - Order a cask ale and a ploughman’s lunch.
4. Walk to The Black Horse (11th) - Play a round of snooker and join the quiz.
5. End at The Hound (12th) - Sip a 20-year-old Scotch and chat with the owner.

It’s about 3.5 miles total. Wear good shoes. Bring cash. And don’t rush. These pubs aren’t about speed. They’re about staying awhile.