Le 10 Bar

Latin Quarter - 5eme, Paris –

Patrons take a step back in time at Le 10 Bar, an old Parisian haunt where the decision to order is always simple: sangria…or sangria.

Sure, there’s other stuff on the menu, and manly men afraid of a little fruit will find a solid selection of beer and cocktails on hand, but this bar – founded by a Spaniard in 1955 – is best known for serving up large carafes of its signature sweet Spanish nectar.

With posters and paintings portraying the Paris of yesteryear and a bartender likely to belt out archaic tunes on a whim, the venue is a smoky little haven that offers a welcome retreat from the hotspots and loud clubs of the city.

Loyal regulars, fun-loving students, creative types, and bookish businessmen all pack into this tiny bar, joking and smoking as they count the last of their change to see if they can get just one more round ladled out of that ancient cask behind the bar.

After 9pm, larger groups or those looking to escape the always busy upstairs can sneak down the narrow stairs to the basement space, where elaborate antique woodwork and pressed carvings give the aptly named “cave” a distinct medieval feel, while long communal tables insight the young crowd to wash away their modern worries with conversation and sugary booze.

Gritty and authentic, Le 10 Bar is loud and dark and more than a little dusty, but one sip of their special sauce makes everything – and probably everybody – look new and fresh.