Paris Guide 2: Five Favorite Parisian Cave à Manger

Where I love to drink and snack in Paris

Paris has so many appealing wine-oriented restaurants of a particular kind; cave à mangers. 

These are wine bars but with adjacent wine shops. Order a glass, purchase bottles for take away or to drink on site. This privilege only costs a little more than retail, so you avoid the normal wine list mark-up. What you don’t miss is a convivial time with enough snacks to cover your pre-dinner game or game itself. 

The food can run the gamut from chopped, sliced or tinned, (fish, saucisson, cheese, olives, etc.) to full out culinary flair like pissaladière, tortilla or even lasagna. But what I love about the ones I love is that they are informal and fun and offer what we do not have here in New York City, an affordable night or evening out.

So these are my current top five. Browse the shelves to make your decision, sure, but sometimes it’s a little logistically tough. If the place is busy which often is the case, you often have to reach over another drinker’s space—apologizing with every label inspection while you make up your mind. Have no fear, there will be a friendly ‘‘non’ sommelier, who can help. Usually, after a rushed consultation, they will present you with their suggestions. Just make sure you provide them with some guidance, like a chenin that will surprise, something from the mountains but red, a very horsey syrah, hefty- skin contact Georgian. Whatever. Do ask the cost upfront, but most likely the bottle price will be sensible.

Here you go. 

Most won’t take reservations. 

All destination worthy, all relatively inexpensive (Septime being a little higher but you can still get a glass of great champagne for 16 euro).