Explore Irish Pubs in Paris

Irish pubs seem to be everywhere in Paris. Or so it might seem. When walking around the central Parisian streets a momentary glance at the buildings reveal some very Irish names to be surprisingly and remarkably familiar such as McBride, Quigley, Corcoran, O’Sullivan, O’Brien, Connolly, Brady, O’Malley or Murphy. Placenames and Irish references for pub names also make an appearance including Guinness, Galway, Irishman, Linnet, Rebel, Shannon, Temple, Harp or Celtic. There has been a remarkable change over the years since my first visit in 1986, and more so since the late 1990s/early 2000s. In line with the global trend, Irish pubs have exponentially increased in Paris which have proved so popular not only with the Irish living in Paris for socializing, music and having the craic but also tourists and especially the local French people. Irish pubs are a focal point for the spread of Irish culture and they have generated good business for Irish entrepreneurs and investors.

Pub Locations

There is a common misconception that there are hundreds of Irish pubs in Paris. When I asked people why they might think this they gave the following replies.

Many are located very strategically in the center near famous Parisian monuments and quartiers. You will see Irish pubs near Notre Dame, Quartier Latin, Sacré Coeur, Châtelet, Louvre Museum, Bastille, Sorbonne and the Moulin Rouge. If you are a tourist then yes, it would seem that there is an Irish pub everywhere.

A typical Irish village and town has many pubs. There is a general assumption that a town of 10,000 would have 50 pubs. For example my own home town of Ballinasloe, Co. Galway has 17 pubs for a population of 6,500 or one pub per 382 people. Ile de France has an estimated Irish population of 10,000. Going on the ratio of 1:382 one would expect to have 26 pubs in Ile de France. However, we need to add the local French and tourist populations. The number of pubs would expect to be double.

Pub Numbers

In fact, there are 41 pubs in 15 of the 20 Parisian arrondissements with seven more pubs in the surrounding towns. In total, there are 48 pubs in Ile de France.

The highest presence of pubs are in the central arrondissements of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th with further concentrations in the 9th and the 11th.

The number of pubs has been fairly steady in the last five to ten years. Corcoran’s Sacré Coeur opened more recently. However, a number of longstanding and well loved pubs have closed down or changed hands in the last couple of years. Among those include Coolins, Carr’s, Kitty O’Sheas, James Joyce, O’Mulligans, O’Malleys, Quigley’s Point, Molly Malones and the GreenHouse Irish restaurant.

New pubs have opened in the last couple of years include Molly’s by the Loughneys near Marché d’Aligre, Corcoran’s La Défense, The Irishman (Les Gobelins) and the rugby sports bar No Scrum No Win Club House which replaced Molly Malone’s. The Flèche d’Or was acquired by the O’Sullivans pub chain and expected to become an Irish venue.

Pub Business

While most pubs are owned by individuals and families there are a significant number owned by the same entrepreneurs/investors. The more obvious ones are O’Sullivans (owning Saint Germain en Laye, Cergy, Grands Boulevards, Rebel, Bootleg, Franklin D. Roosevelt, By the Mill, Backstage) and Corcorans (which owns Grand Boulevard, Sacré Coeur, Bastille, Place de Clichy, Porte de Lilas, Boulogne, McBrides, Saint Michel, La Défense) but there are others which have been owned by the same families passing from one generation to another (Loughneys, Connollys).

Like in any type of business there are a wide variety of pubs catering for different tastes and clientele from the small cosy “shebeen”, heavily Irish themed atmosphere to the more modern with large spaces for other activities such as live concerts and dancing.

Indeed most, if not all of the Irish pubs, offer some form of live singing and music. Many host karaoke evenings and quiz nights. Popular events such as rugby and football matches draws big crowds especially French supporters. It can be disconcerting when Irish and French teams are playing and you will have most of the supporters cheering on France. Com’on Ye Boys seems to be overtaken by Allez les Bleus! Many of the larger pubs have a number of big screens.

Those which offer food tend to be typical pub food with some offering more Irish food especially at weekends such as a full Irish Breakfast. It is rare to find a good place to have Irish cooked food. Two restaurants, Carr’s and the GreenHouse, closed. The Green Goose offers an interesting Irish fusion food blending traditional and the modern.

During festive times of the year such as Halloween, Christmas, New Year, Saint Patrick’s Day most of the Irish pubs organize themed evenings or weekends spread out over a number of days.

Practical Tips

1. While the pub might be Irish and look Irish it does adopt a very French approach to behavior. Getting overly drunk is not tolerated.
2. Many of the larger pubs during the weekend will have security at the door so you might be refused entry.
3. While in Ireland you can sit down and pass the time, you are expected to buy something in an Irish pub in Paris.
4. As with other French bars and restaurants, you might not be allowed to use a toilet unless you are actually a customer. However, if the pub has a terrace or it is busy you can more easily walk in from the street and go to the toilets.
5. Prices are generally high including Irish imported drinks. Happy Hours are a good time to have more reasaonably priced beers and cocktails.
6. Most of the food tends to be pub food but there are those which offer Irish food such as day specials, an Irish cooked breakfast at the weekends or a Sunday roast lunch.
7. On major sporting occasions be aware that you will have many different nationalities in the pub so you are expected to be tolerant and respectful.
8. Good Irish humor and craic is appreciated as many people want to be in an authentic Irish pub.
9. Staff, who may not be of Irish heritage, should not expect to know about Ireland but when you do meet real Irish staff then it is a pleasure to catch up with home.
10. Irish pubs in Paris offer a rich range of live Irish singers and musicians so you will have to search around for those that you like. These sessions or mini-concerts can take place any evening but especially at the weekends.
11. They might not always be visible but do ask for your favorite drinks (which could be in bottles and not draught) and snacks (Taytos) from Ireland.
12. You might notice different Irish groups who organize evenings at pubs such as Irish speaking, Gaelic sports, singing or music sessions. Don’t be shy in joining in.
13. Be adventurous and go to Irish pubs which are not so central. Take a visit to pubs in the nearby towns.
14. And finally, have fun enjoying the Irish experience of hospitality and culture in Paris.

Listing of Irish pubs in Paris and Ile de France

My selection is based on a broad set of criteria such as an Irish sounding pub name, look & feel of being Irish, and where the pub has strong Irish connections (Irish ownership). I have aimed to exclude those which don’t seem to be “Irish enough” and are more international pubs who happen to sell Irish drinks. When I have more precise information I’ll make adjustments.

Links to pub websites are included. I’ll add further contact details, ownership, histories and social media links such as Facebook where they exist. I am including some details of recently closed pubs so as to save you the trip there.

75001

• McBrides Irish Pub, 54 Rue St Denis, 75001 Paris: Large bar in Châtelet with a ground floor and also downstairs. Popular for matches with large screens and televisions. Possibility to privatize especially downstairs. Good food especially the large Irish Breakfast at the weekends. Incorporated on May 21, 2001 with MIG as the owner of the pub which is part of the Corcoran’s group; Directors are Michael Porisse (born 1965 and mother originally Corcoran from Co. Laois) since December 11, 2004 and Ian Tuomey (born 1976) since September 7, 2004. Revenues of 1.076 million euros in 2016, 954 200 euros in 2017 and 992 200 in 2018. Here are more details about the pub on Privateaser Can get very crowded especially for matches. Very popular pub with French supporters. A pub quiz is held on a regular basis.
• Quigley’s Point, 5 Rue du Jour, 75001 Paris (Closed and now, since June 2018, it is the Central Park restaurant). It was well located across from Eglise Saint Eustache, UGC cinémas and swimming pool. Pleasant sitting on the terrace during happy hour. Incorporated since July 1989 and owned by Quigley-Gestion with John (Jack) Quigley (born 1945) as the director. Revenues of 383,500 euros in 2012. First floor room could be privatized and held many Irish events including the Irish in France Association Halloween Quiz. The bar staff wore black Irish True T-shirts but don’t look Irish. Pub played loud music over matches on television. Quigley’s Point was named after its namesake in Co. Donegal. I very much enjoyed sitting on the terrace with my drink, my newspaper, book as I watched people go by with the sun beating down on my face. Frequently, I would stop there after being to the nearby cinema or swimming pool.
• Carr’s Bar & Restaurant (Owner Donal Carr, Closed July 2015, now the TaoKan Saint-Honoré restaurant), 1, rue du Mont-Thabor, 75001 Paris. Click on the Facebook link to see photos of the last night of Carr’s. I spent many enjoyable evenings there for the singing, music sessions, eating food and also the play readings in the basement.

Not Irish

• Celtic Corner, 28 Rue de la Grande Truanderie, 75001 Paris: Claims to be an Irish pub and might look Irish from the outside with Irish colors but it is really an French/international pub. It does celebrate Saint Patrick’s weekend and Halloween. It also has concerts and quiz nights. Julien Hairion (born 1983) is the President of the company while Kevin Pineau (born 1992) is the Director General. The pub had its official opening in February 2018. It is a sister pub of Le Celtic Corner, 88 Rue de la Croix Nivert, 75015 Paris which has been open since 2009. Julien Hairion is also listed as Gérant.
• Guinness Tavern, 31bis Rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris: Despite having Guinness in its name this is not an Irish pub. It is a rock bar which has rock groups performing. It was originally incorporated in December 1980 with the previous directors of Georges Finkelsztejn in 2004 and Pierre Bonneau from 2004 to 2015. There seems to be a change of ownership and the Guinness Tavern is owned by Music Live Tavern incorporated in February 2015 which in turn is owned by Financière GTO Rivoli. The directors are Benoit Lapeyre (born 1968) and Jérôme Villegranque (born 1989). It had revenues of 120,000 euros in 2016. Be aware that it has heavy security especially during the weekend. When I first started living in Paris I thought it was an Irish pub but then felt that I was not welcome. I have seen visiting Irish groups being denied entry especially for football and rugby matches during a pub crawl in Châtelet.
• Hide Pub Club, 46 Rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris: Eventhough it says Irish Pub on the frontage and has Irish related artifacts on the walls this should not be considered an Irish pub. Located in rue des Lombards at Châtelet it is centrally located and good for a cheap (3 euros for a pint) happy hour. It is possible to hire the downstairs area but I have heard bad experiences of double booking and not getting the service from the bar staff. They have themed evenings and a disco. Could be considered a cheap student bar.

75002

• O’Sullivans Grand Boulevard / Café bar, 1 Boulevard Montmartre, 75002 Paris
• Kitty O’Sheas (Closed, now The Frog Hop House),10, rue des Capucines, 75002 Paris
• Corcorans Grands Boulevards, 23 Boulevard Poissonnière, 75002 Paris
• Pub O’Malley (Closed in May 2014, now A Noste), 6 bis rue du Quatre Septembre, 75002

75003

• The Quiet Man, 5 Rue des Haudriettes, 75003 Paris

75004

• O’Sullivans Rebel Bar, 10 Rue des Lombards, 75004 Paris
• The Green Linnet, 8 Avenue Victoria, 75004 Paris
• Stolly’s, 16 Rue Cloche Percé, 75004 Paris

75005

• O’Jason, 12 Rue de la Huchette, 75005 Paris
• Connolly’s Corner, 12 Rue de Mirbel, 75005 Paris (Closed in the summer of 2019)
• The Hideout, 11 Rue du Pot de Fer, 75005 Paris
• Margen’s Pub, 65 Rue Mouffetard, 75005 Paris

75006

• Shannon Pub, 23 Rue Bréa, 75006 Paris
• Little Temple Bar, 12 Rue Princesse, 75006 Paris
• Galway Irish Pub, 13 Quai des Grands Augustins, 75006 Paris
• Corcoran’s Irish Pub, 28 Rue Saint-André des Arts, 75006 Paris
• The Coolin Irish Bar (Owner Brian Spain, Opened 1996 and Closed in March 2015, now an UNIQLO shop), 15 rue Clément, 75006 Paris. Read an article published February 2015 in The Irish Times

75007

• O’Brien’s, 77 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris
• Ha’Penny Bridge, 153 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris

75008

• Brady’s Irish Pub, 14 Rue de Lisbonne, 75008 Paris
• Cottage Elysée, 14 Rue Lincoln, 75008 Paris
• O’Sullivans Franklin D. Roosevelt, 63 Avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 75008 Paris

75009

• Molly Malones, 21 Rue Godot de Mauroy, 75009 Paris (Closed in July 2018, now  No Scrum No Win Club House). The owner was Pascal Villette.
• No Scrum No Win Club House, 21 Rue Godot de Mauroy is a rugby sports bar part owned by David Callanan from Co. Cork and opened in October 2018.
• Murphys House, 10 Rue de la Chaussée d’Antin, 75009 Paris

75010

• The Cork and Cavan, 70 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris

75011

• O’Connell’s Pub Parmentier (Closed, now O’Tacos), 88ter Avenue Parmentier, 75011 Paris
• Black Mad Crawler, 140 boulevard Richard Lenoir, 75011
• Paris O’Mulligan (Closed, now Iran Safran restaurant), 104 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris
• The Green Goose,19 Rue des Boulets, 75011 Paris
• Corcoran’s Irish Pub, 53 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75011 Paris
• Patrick’s Le Ballon Vert, 33 Rue de Montreuil, 75011 Paris
• The GreenHouse Irish Restaurant (Closed), 43 rue Godefroy Cavaignac, 75011 Paris
• O’Sullivans Bootleg Bar, 55 Rue de la Roquette, 75011 Paris

Not Irish

• Rush Bar Paris, 32 Rue Saint-Sébastien, 75011 Paris had Irish ownership and management from December 2013 to 2017. The company’s name was GARAMAC with Gérard McCormack (born December 1963) as the manager and Adrien (Adrian) Garahy (born October 1964) as the director. Adrian has since moved to Geneva in Switzerland and is managing the Mulligan’s Irish pub. Since January 2018 Rush Bar is now owned by COMENARD with Kevin Come (born March 1988) as President (and barman) and Fabien Menard (born July 1980) as the Directeur Général. Fabien has advised, developed and managed businesses, start-ups and hotels in France, India, Germany and Argentina. While the bar has a much more international flavor, you can still drink Guinness and Tipperary sparkling water and eat Keoghs crisps while watching rugby and football matches. The bar hosts regular quiz evenings on Sunday and Open Mics (opportunity for singing and playing instruments) on Monday evenings. It also has themed evenings with everyone dressing up in costumes.

75012

• Irish Corner, 26 Avenue du Bel air, 75012 Paris
• Molly’s, 91 rue de Charenton, 75012 Paris is a new Loughney Irish restaurant/pub opened in the summer of 2018.

75013

• The Irishman, 40 Boulevard Arago, 75013 Paris opened on December 6, 2019 is owned by Colin Gibson (from Belfast) and Anass Bennouna (from Casablanca) of B&G Enterprises with its official address at, 42  on Rue Monge, 75005 Paris. On Friday evenings you might find The Soggy Bottoms playing Irish traditional music. The pub is open Mondays to Saturdays 16:00 to 02:00. Happy Hour is 17:00 to 21:00. Food is also served. The pub can be open on Sundays when there sporting events such as the Six Nations Rugby Tournament. You can use your Irish in France Association Membership card to get Happy Hour prices on a number of drinks. The pub can also be hired out for private events. Contacts: 01.43.37.60.93 Facebook Page

75014

• None

75015

• Celtic Corner Pub, 88 Rue de la Croix Nivert, 75015 Paris

75016

• None

75017

• James Joyce (Owner Brian Loughney, Closed 2015, now The Canadian Embassy Pub), 71 Boulevard Gouvion-Saint-Cyr, 75017 Paris
  

75018

• La Virgule, 51 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris
• Corcoran’s Sacré-Cœur, 11 Rue Foyatier, 75018 Paris
• O’Sullivans By The Mill, 92 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris
• Corcoran’s, 110 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris
• The Harp Bar, 118 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris

75019

• None

75020

• Corcoran’s Irish Pub Lilas, Place du Maquis du Vercors, 75020 Paris

Ile de France

• Pub O’Paris, 15 Rue Colbert, 78000 Versailles
• Corcoran’s, 45 Quai Georges Gorse, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt
• King Lewis Irish Pub & Restaurant, 79 Rue du Landy, La Plaine-Saint-Denis
• Irish Café, 10 rue Rouget de Lisle, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux
• Corcoran’s La Défense – Nanterre, 135 Rue des Trois Fontanot, 92000 Nanterre opened on September 27, 2019. Located near Grande Arche La Défense and the Paris La Défense Arena. Opening times are Mondays to Wednesdays from 09:00 to 00:00; Thursdays and Fridays from 09:00 to 01:00; and Saturdays 17:00 to 01:00. The pub is closed on Sundays unless there is a special sporting event and matches. Paddy Sherlock and his band is a regular performer. Food is also served. Corcoran’s La Défense is part of the Corcoran’s branded pubs owned by Café Crême and the Porisse Franco-Irish family. Michael Porisse is the Gérant. Contacts: 01.46.95.00.53 corcoransnanterre@gmail.com and Facebook Page
• Pub Saint John’s, 188 Bis Avenue Charles de Gaulle, 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine
• O’Sullivans Irish Pub St Germain, 3 Rue de Pontoise, 78100 Saint-Germain-en-Laye
• O’Sullivans Cergy, 1 Place des arts: 95000 Cergy

If you have any questions about this listing or you have other suggestions feel free to send me an email to seanryancommunications@gmail.com