The Green Linnet
Courtesy of the Green Linnet website.
This ultra-central Irish pub was opened in 2003 by a Cork native who felt the Irish pub scene in the city of lights was lacking in authenticity. Aside from the convenient location, The Green Linnet offers a cozy setting (with several old couches to sink into with your Guinness balanced on your knees), friendly service, reasonable prices and a good live music scene. There's also a billiard table, and on Wednesdays the pub hosts a quiz night-- winners come away with a bottle of bubbly.
Address: 8 Avenue Victoria, 4th arrondissement
Metro: Chatelet or Hotel de Ville
Coolin
Coolin is a spacious, authentic Irish bar in the heart of the St-Germain-des-Prés district. Situated in the elegant St Germain covered market, Coolin's wood decor adds to a warm ambiance. Fare here is conventional (club sandwiches, burgers, etc.) The music is always lively, but watch for the crowds on weekends, when the place turns into a full-fledged dance floor.
Address: 15, rue Clement, 6th arrondissement
Metro: Mabillon or Odéon (Lines 4, 10)
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 07 00 92
Quiet Man
Courtesy of The Quiet Man website.
The stage-Irishness of the eponymous John Wayne movie is thankfully absent from this establishment, which is located in central Paris near the Centre Georges Pompidou. The Quiet Man can be cozy and laid-back as its name implies, but concerts and live performances are a big draw here too.
Address: 5, rue des Haudriettes, 3rd arrondissement
Metro: Rambuteau (Line 11)
Tel.: +33 (0)1 48 04 02 77
Corcoran's St-Michel
A member of the Corcoran's chain (with sister bars in the Clichy and Grands Boulevards neighborhoods), this lively pub set in the heart of the St-Michel area of Paris attracts a young crowd. A spacious downstairs seating area and bar makes the place especially cozy during the winter months in particular.
Address: 28, rue St Andre des Arts, 6th arrondissement
Metro: St. Michel or Odeon (Lines 4, 10)
RER: St. Michel (Line C)
Tel: + 33 (0)1 40 46 97 46
Email: corcorans-stmichel@irishfrance.com
Finnegans Wake
Another nod to Paris' most celebrated Irishman and writer, Finnegans Wake also claims to be the city's oldest Irish establishment, and is nestled in the legendary Latin Quarter.
Address: 9 rue des Boulangers, 5th arrondissement
Metro: Jussieu or Cardinal Lemoine
Tel: +33 (0) 40 51 01 73
Kitty's
A popular tourist haunt in the Bastille area, Kitty's is a little gem of a bar. Its tiny interior means you'll need to get here early if you want a table-- especially at the weekend and on St Patrick's Day, of course.
Address: 2, rue de la Roquette, 11th arrondissement
Tel: + 33(0)1 48 06 74 15
Metro: Bastille (Lines 1, 5)
Kitty O' Shea's
Courtesy of Kitty O Shea's
Claiming to be Paris' oldest Irish pub and with sister bars in Boston and Brussels, Kitty O' Shea's is situated near the Opera Garnier and is reputed as a good place to go to watch rugby and football matches-- this spot is guaranteed to be packed during six nations rugby tournaments. The bar has an in-house Irish band that plays every Sunday evening from 8 pm and Wednesday quiz nights.
Address: 10 rue des Capucines, 2nd arrondissement
Metro: Opera
Tel: +33 (1) 42960299
James Joyce
Owned by the same company that runs Kitty O' Shea's, this bar is situated in the Porte Maillot business district, next to the shuttle bus stop linking the city with Beauvais airport (the home of no-frills airlines). This alone ensures a regular crowd, especially since Irish Parisians on their way to or from the green country tend to transit here. The bar, while cozy and pleasant, sometimes lacks ambiance, however, especially on non-business days.
Address: 71, bd. Gouvion St. Cyr, 16th arrondissement
Tel: +33 (0)1 40 68 30 42
Metro: Porte Maillot (Line 1)
