In January 2025, after a busy '24 holiday season, we took a short trip to Paris to unwind. Foolishly, of course, because Paris, with all of its exciting bars, shops, and restaurants doesn't allow for much rest. But unwinding can be done in multiple ways, and throwing yourself into the vibrant wine culture of one of the world's greatest cities might be one of them.
We figured that our list of places to visit, which we gathered through asking friends from the industry and some research of our own, might be useful for you as well.
So, here is a list of places we visited and liked, so that you might incorporate them on your next trip to the capital of France. By the way, this list is in no particular order.
Natural wine shops
Delicatessen Cave
136 Rue Amelot
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An O.G. natural wine shop in a beautiful neighborhood in Paris. Delicatessen cave has an enormous selection of great natural wines, the type of store that wine geeks like us can just wander around in forever. Which, by the way, works perfectly for partners less into wines, because Slow Galerie is across the street, see the shops section.
Delicatessen Cave has an amazing selection of Jura, Bourgogne, Loire, Rhône, etcetera, but there are two places in the shop to pay extra attention to. First, there is a cabinet in the middle of the floor in the shelving area where they place single bottles. Sometimes just because a wine is almost sold out, but sometimes also because it's a highly allocated wine. Gems are to be found there! Speaking of gems, don't forget to look at the magnum area. A known thing for wine shoppers, but since magnums are in less demand, amazing deals and older vintages can be found there.
Another great thing that opened since we were the last, is the delicatessen next door. As long as the shop is open, you can buy any bottle at Delicatessen Cave and drink it in the delicatessen for €15 extra. What a great deal. And the other great deal? For €10 you get a place with two massive slabs of amazing cheeses to go along the wine.
Cave de Belleville
51 Rue de Belleville
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Discovered on an earlier trip to Paris and only later understood to be known as one of Paris' greatest wine shops. Well, it truly is. An enormous selection from all of France's regions, with a focus on natural wine. Many of our favorite producers can be found in this shop, along with a lot of discoveries of more unknown, but high quality producers.
For Paris, they also offer a uniquely big selection of non-French wine.
Unfortunately, drinking a glass of wine along with Paris' greatest cheese and charcuterie plate is no longer an option. But cheeses and charcuterie are still being sold to be taken away.
Shops
E. Dehillerin
18-20 Rue Coquillière
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One of the greatest stores for cooking ware in the world. A massive selection of copper pans, but if you ever do need a 1,5m wooden paddle for stirring, they got you too. We bought a beautiful pairing knife of their own brand, one that we will cherish forever. Big tip: go when the shop just opens, you still won't be alone, but at least the staff will be in somewhat of a better mood. The afternoons tend to get crazy, with tourists wanting a taste of the atmosphere of the Ratatouille movie.
Galerie Yvon Lambert
14 Rue des Filles du Calvaire
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Wow, what a fantastic place is this. It's a gallery, bookshop and quirky artifact store of the highest quality. Artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Shrigley, and literally countless others exhibited in Yvon Lambert's previous gallery, but all their attention is now focused on this gem of a shop. Don't forget to scroll through the large flap poster shop, there are amazing deals to be found there.
Slow Galerie
5 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud
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Before founding ASOP Wines, its founder Markus was the founder of New Chique Gallery. Now no longer in existence, but it has always been very inspired by this place. Slow Galerie is an amazing space that sells mostly (screen)prints, but also original artworks of mostly local artists. It's a visually inspiring place and one of the best places to find affordable decoration for your house (or wine shop).
Wine bars and restaurants
Septime La Cave
3 Rue Basfroi
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A well curated selection of wine that can be bought and taken home, or drunk inside this small space. Originally started as a place where guests of restaurant Septime could wait to enter the restaurant, this is now a fun thing of its own. When we were there Levi, our friend from Amsterdam, was working there, so we're a little biased. But there's great wine to be had. Highlight: a collaboration Champagne between restaurant Septime and the great Vouette & Sorbée domaine. This is a bottle of the Fidèle Champagne that is made from older vines than the other label. Beautiful.
Le Verre Volé
67 Rue de Lancry
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Le Verre Volé, next to Canal Saint Martin, is a famous staple of the French natural wine world. And on the wine, it absolutely delivers that. A neighboring table was drinking an Overnoy Poulsard, we drank a fantastic 2012 Ganevat Vin Jaune by the glass(!) and the wine list offers quite a lot of gems. The food, we liked it, but it's not very cheap and doesn't deliver a mind blowing experience. Or maybe we were just there on the wrong night.
Poloma
93 Rue Julien Lacroix
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Initially we went here to recover some of our budget spent the night before. Poloma is one of the cheapest restaurants in Paris, offering a three course lunch menu for €16 (!!). We went for the dinner service and were maybe expecting mediocre, simple food served quickly, as to have you out ASAP. But, boy were we wrong! What an amazing restaurant. Atmosphere wise it was actually the highlight of our trip. We had delicious food with surprising dishes and the wine menu was serious fun! We had a €35 bottle of Pineau d'Aunis by 1006 that was perhaps the most enjoyable, drinkable wine we've had in a while. The bill after full courses, dessert, coffee and a bottle of wine? €84. We wish Poloma had a sister restaurant in Amsterdam.
Coffee places
Granted, we haven't been touring the city specifically for coffee. But we did ask Lucas, the owner of ASOP Café, for tips and followed some up.
Télescope Café
5 Rue Villédo
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Definitely and by far the best coffee we've had in Paris. Friendly staff, a beautiful space and an accommodating atmosphere. Most coffees on their list were roasted in Belgium or The Netherlands, but you're consuming them in a very French setting.
Shakespeare and Company Café
35 Rue de la Bûcherie
Definitely not the finest coffee in Paris, but also one of the most beautiful places in the city to enjoy a cup, overlooking the renovation of the Notre Dame Cathedral. And by not the finest, we don't mean the coffee is bad by any means. A big plus for book fans like us: you're next to the best non-French bookstore in the city.
Other good coffee places
Motors Coffee, KAWA, Clove, Terres De Café, Coutume, and I/O.