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

Paris isn’t just about croissants and wine. If you’re looking for a pint of Guinness, a hearty pub snack, or the kind of noisy, warm, slightly chaotic atmosphere that only a proper British or Irish pub delivers, you’ll find it here-hidden in plain sight between the boulevards and backstreets. There are over 30 authentic Irish and British-style pubs in Paris, each with its own character, but only a handful truly nail the vibe. This isn’t a list of tourist traps with fake Union Jacks and overpriced lager. These are the places locals go, the ones with real wood floors, dartboards that actually get used, and bartenders who remember your name after one visit.

What Makes an Irish or British Pub in Paris Real?

Not every place with a sign that says "The Red Lion" counts. Real Irish and British pubs in Paris have three things: atmosphere, authenticity, and consistency. They don’t try to be French. They don’t serve wine by the glass as the main offering. They serve stout, bitter, and cider. They have sticky tables from decades of spilled beer. They play football on big screens, not French pop music. And they serve food that’s meant to be eaten with your hands-bangers and mash, fish and chips, or a simple ploughman’s lunch with sharp cheddar and pickled onions.

Many so-called "British pubs" in Paris are run by people who’ve never set foot in Manchester or Dublin. The real ones? They’re run by expats who moved here 15, 20, even 30 years ago and never left. Some still have accents thick enough to spread on toast. You’ll hear English spoken more than French inside these walls, especially on match days or during the pub quiz nights that draw crowds from all over the city.

The Top Five Irish Pubs in Paris

• The Irish Pub (12 Rue des Martyrs, 18th arrondissement)-This isn’t just a name. It’s the real deal. Opened in 1998 by a Dubliner, it’s the oldest continuously running Irish pub in Paris. The walls are covered in Celtic art, old GAA jerseys, and signed photos of Irish musicians. Their Guinness is poured perfectly-every time. The food menu includes beef and Guinness stew that simmers for 12 hours. They host live trad sessions every Friday. No gimmicks. Just beer, music, and conversation.
• McGinty’s (10 Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, 11th arrondissement)-A tiny, cozy spot that feels like a backroom in Galway. The owner, Sean, is from County Clare and still calls home every Sunday. He imports his own stout from a small brewery in Cork. The menu is simple: sausages, colcannon, and soda bread. No menus printed in French. No English translations on the drinks list. If you don’t know what a "black pudding" is, you’ll learn here.
• The Dubliner (11 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 12th arrondissement)-Bigger than the others, with a long wooden bar and a back garden that turns into a beer garden in summer. They have 12 taps, including a rotating local Irish craft beer. Their Sunday roast is legendary. You’ll find students, expats, and Parisians who’ve discovered the joy of a proper pint. The staff know when to refill your glass without asking.
• The Celtic Pub (22 Rue du Château d’Eau, 10th arrondissement)-A favorite among rugby fans. The walls are plastered with vintage posters from Six Nations matches. They show every game, live, with zero delay. The owner, a former rugby player from Limerick, still plays in a local Paris league. Their fish and chips come with real malt vinegar and thick-cut chips, not fries. They serve Guinness on nitro, which is rare in France.
• Bar O’Reilly (15 Rue de la Roquette, 12th arrondissement)-A hidden gem tucked under a railway arch. No sign outside. Just a red door and a brass bell. Inside, it’s all exposed brick, vintage pub signs, and a jukebox that plays only Irish folk and punk. They don’t take reservations. You wait your turn at the bar. The whiskey selection is small but excellent-100% Irish, all single malt or pot still. Their owner, Niamh, trained as a bartender in Dublin and won a national pouring competition in 2019.

The Best British Pubs in Paris

• The English Pub (34 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 10th arrondissement)-Opened in 1994, it’s the oldest British pub in Paris. The interior looks like a 1970s London working man’s club: leather booths, a real fireplace, and a dartboard that’s been used so much the wood is worn smooth. They serve real ales from small UK breweries like The Kernel and BrewDog. Their Sunday lunch includes roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and horseradish sauce made from scratch. The barman, Mark, has worked here since day one. He still calls it "the best job in the world."
• The Red Lion (11 Rue des Martyrs, 18th arrondissement)-Not to be confused with the Irish Pub next door. This one feels like a pub from Brighton. The walls are covered in local football club scarves. They have a full menu of British pub classics: chicken tikka masala, steak and kidney pie, and proper mushy peas. They host weekly quiz nights with prizes like bottles of IPA. The crowd is a mix of British expats, French students who love football, and curious Parisians who’ve heard the buzz.
• The Royal Oak (12 Rue des Pyrénées, 14th arrondissement)-A quiet, wood-paneled refuge near Montparnasse. It’s the kind of place where you can read a book with a pint and not be interrupted. They import their own bitter from a Sussex brewery. The food is simple but perfect: ploughman’s lunch, pork pies, and pickled eggs. The owner, David, moved from Sheffield in 2001. He still gets the BBC World Service on the radio. He doesn’t play music unless it’s a match day.
• The Black Sheep (14 Rue de la Roquette, 12th arrondissement)-A modern twist on the British pub. Dark wood, Edison bulbs, and a long bar with 16 taps. They focus on craft beer from the UK, including sour ales and hazy IPAs. They serve British snacks like scotch eggs and sausage rolls. The vibe is more hipster than traditional, but the beer is legit. It’s popular with younger expats and French beer geeks who’ve tired of French lager.
• The George (17 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 12th arrondissement)-Named after the pub in Dickens’ novels. It’s the most literary of the bunch. Bookshelves line the walls, and they host monthly readings by English-speaking authors living in Paris. They serve traditional British ales and a full afternoon tea menu. Their Sunday roast comes with bread sauce and apple compote. The staff wear waistcoats. It’s not kitsch-it’s charm.

How to Spot a Fake Pub

There are dozens of places in Paris that call themselves "Irish pubs" but are just themed restaurants with a keg and a shamrock on the wall. Here’s how to tell the difference:

• If the menu has "Guinness pasta" or "Irish nachos," walk away.
• If the bartender doesn’t know what "bitter" is, or says "ale is just dark beer," they’re guessing.
• If the Guinness costs more than €8, you’re being charged for the view, not the beer.
• If there’s no football on TV during the season, it’s not a real pub.
• If the staff speaks mostly French and the menu is translated into French, it’s probably not authentic.

Real pubs don’t try to impress. They just serve beer, food, and conversation. The best ones feel like you’ve walked into someone’s living room-except the living room has a dartboard and 12 taps.

Best Time to Go

Weekdays after 6 p.m. are quiet, perfect for a slow pint. Weekends are packed, especially on match days. If you want to experience the full pub energy, go on a Saturday afternoon during a Premier League game. You’ll hear French fans chanting "Come on, you Reds!" as loudly as the Brits. Pub quiz nights-usually on Tuesdays or Wednesdays-are a great way to meet locals. Teams often include a mix of expats, French students, and retirees who’ve been coming for years.

Don’t go on a Friday night unless you’re ready for a crowd. These pubs aren’t clubs. They don’t have DJs or bottle service. They’re for talking, not dancing.

What to Order

Stick to the classics:

• Guinness-Ask for it on nitro if they offer it. It’s creamier, smoother, and closer to how it’s served in Dublin.
• Real Ale-Look for cask-conditioned ales. They’re served at cellar temperature (12°C), not ice cold.
• Cider-Try a dry English cider like Thatchers or Westons. It’s tart, crisp, and perfect with pork.
• Whiskey-Irish whiskey is smoother than Scotch. Try Jameson, Bushmills, or Redbreast.
• Food-Bangers and mash, fish and chips, ploughman’s lunch, steak and kidney pie. Skip the salads. This isn’t the place for them.

How to Get Around

Most of these pubs are in the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 18th arrondissements. The best way to do a pub crawl? Walk. Paris is walkable, and these spots are close enough to hit three or four in an evening. Start at The Irish Pub in the 18th, walk down Rue des Martyrs to McGinty’s, then head east to Bar O’Reilly. From there, cross the canal and hit The English Pub or The Red Lion. You’ll cover about 3 km in two hours, with plenty of stops to rest your feet and your liver.

Don’t rent a scooter or Uber. You’ll miss the charm. The walk between pubs is part of the experience-the smell of fresh bread from a boulangerie, the sound of a distant accordion, the sight of a street artist painting under a lamp. That’s Paris. And that’s what makes this crawl special.

Final Tips

• Tip your bartender. It’s not expected, but it’s appreciated. A €1 or €2 extra for a perfect pint goes a long way.
• Learn to say "Cheers" in English. They’ll smile. Don’t say "Santé" unless you want to be corrected.
• Bring cash. Some of these places still don’t take cards.
• Don’t ask for a "wine list." They’ll laugh. Or worse, give you a bottle of Beaujolais and pretend it’s a "red ale."
• Stay late. The real magic happens after 10 p.m., when the regulars start telling stories.

These pubs aren’t just places to drink. They’re islands of familiarity in a city that doesn’t always make you feel at home. If you’re missing the sound of rain on a pub roof, the smell of hops and old wood, or the comfort of a stranger buying you a drink because you looked lost-you’ll find it here.