Want to go out, meet people, and not end up broke? Good news: Paris isn’t just a city of €14 cocktails and VIP rooftops. There are friendly, affordable, and lively bars, perfect for chatting, toasting, and making memories.
Here’s a tried and tested selection of budget-friendly bars in Paris where the atmosphere is conducive to meeting locals, travelers, and students.
🍺 1. Le Piston Pélican
📍 15th – 15 rue de Bagnolet (Alexandre Dumas metro station)
💰 Happy hour from €3.50 a pint
A cozy neighborhood bar with a large terrace, foosball, and a very mixed clientele. Locals, students, and backpackers mingle in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s easy to strike up a conversation, especially around the foosball table or during live concerts.
🎶 2. L’International
📍 11th – Rue Moret (10-minute walk from AIJ)
💰 Free entry – €4 pint during happy hour
A must-see for fans of live music and dance parties. This concert bar attracts a young, festive, and open crowd. The plus: a great musical program and themed nights for easy icebreakers.
🍻 3. Le 9B
📍 18th – 68 Boulevard de la Villette (Colonel Fabien metro station)
💰 €3.50 pint during happy hour
A cool industrial bar with music, exhibitions, and long wooden tables that encourage conversation. The atmosphere is cosmopolitan and friendly. Perfect for sitting down with friends or starting a conversation between drinks.
🍷 4. Le P’tit Garage
📍 11th – Rue de Charonne (10 minutes from AIJ)
💰 Glass of wine for €2.50
Small retro bar with movie posters, booths, and easy-to-start conversations, especially among neighbors. Local, chilled-out crowd. A perfect spot for an after-dinner drink.
🎤 5. Les Caves Saint-Sabin
📍 11th – Rue Saint-Sabin (very close to AIJ)
💰 Often free entry – Crazy atmosphere
A basement bar/dance hall that hosts Afro, Latino, swing, and electro nights… Very open atmosphere, no need to be a professional dancer to have fun and meet people.
🕺 6. Le Bar Commun
📍 18th – Rue des Poissonniers
💰 Free entry or solidarity rates
A community bar where you pay what you can. Meetings happen naturally because everything is based on exchange. Concerts, debates, workshops… you can spend the evening there without noticing the time fly by. A human and committed gem!
🎯 7. La Cordonnerie
📍 2nd – Rue Saint-Denis
💰 Pints for €2.90 before 9 p.m.
An underground bar, often crowded, but perfect for lovers of cheap beer and a young, party-loving crowd. If you like a noisy atmosphere, this is the place to be!
🤝 Tips for meeting people in a bar in Paris
- Come early: in the early evening, people are more relaxed and open.
- Take a seat at the bar: it’s easier to chat than in a dark corner.
- Be curious: the phrase “Where are you from?” » still works
- Download Couchsurfing Events or Meetup: some bars host language exchange or international exchange evenings
AIJ Paris: Your HQ for exploring the night
The big advantage of the Auberge Internationale des Jeunes is its location: just a stone’s throw from Bastille, Oberkampf, and République, you can walk home after a successful evening. And who knows? You might even run into your future bar crawl partner there.
