Paris - (Fall 2025) - Day 1 - Arrival

Back again in Paris. This is just a couple nights layover on the way to Normandy.

Le Bar a Bulles

If you walk along an alley behind the Moulin Rouge, you get to this little gem of a bar. You can access the rear of the famous windmill and drink there. Being that it was a little cold and wet that night, that part of the bar was not heavily used. Just downstairs is the inside portion of the bar which was pretty lively with people coming here after the workday.

It has a nice casual atmosphere. You order the drinks at the walk up bar and they have snacks too.

No Entry

Found this neat speakeasy in the Pigalle. There is usually a long line at the above ground restaurant Pink Mamma, but you can just saunter past the line and head downstairs to the bar. There is a freezer door with a “no entry” sign which you can just open and go through. The bar walls are filled with these huge vials lit up with different colors. There is a small bar along with low seating in a small space.

Marlusse et Lapin

This place in Pigalle was a funky neighborhood bar that specialized in pouring a proper absinthe. The back of the bar was set up like different living quarters with room furniture for seating rather than your standard bar seating.

We sat at the front at the bar where the bartender explained the different absinthes that he had in store and served one with the traditional drip water dispenser melting a sugar cub into the glass.

Black Sheep

This was just your standard run of the mill party bar in the Pigalle. Stopped in here on the way back to the hotel for a mojito. Also had a shot of green chartreuse since it could be had for €7.

La Fontaine

One last stop on the way back to the hotel to get my favorite after-drinking snack in France: kebab. I find the kebabs in Pigalle to be tastier than in some other neighborhoods. I feel the meats and sauces are more flavorful around here with the right amount of veggies.