Code name: Les bars cachés
Whether you’ve partied in every bar in your repertoire or have no experience of the subject, the only question is: which (new) bar should you go to?
Instead of turning your attention to one of the must-visit addresses that are doing the rounds on the Net, why not spice things up by choosing an atypical venue like a hidden bar or ‘speakeasy’? In total confidentiality, secret worlds await you! Provided, of course, that you can find them!
What if the secret to happy drinking (in moderation) was to drink hidden away?
1. A hidden bar? What a concept!
Speakeasies…
“Clandestine”, “hidden”, “secret”, there’s something mysterious about these establishments where you can quench your thirst. And that’s just the way it should be. The more discreet, the more hidden, the more exclusive, the better. And by the way, the more we love it!
The concept of these unique bars was inspired by the American Prohibition era, which ran from 1920 to 1933 at federal level, and from the 1850s in some states. During this period, an amendment to the US Constitution prohibited the manufacture, transport and sale of alcoholic beverages. This was a way for Woodrow Wilson’s conservative government to curb the rising alcohol consumption of Americans in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Which, it should be remembered, was fought to abolish slavery.
But banning is a roundabout way of encouraging. And the ways of breaking the law have all been found. While the poorer sections of the population were distilling their own brandies, the bourgeoisie was developing a network of speakeasies across the country. In a word: “speakeasies”. Translated as “speak softly”. Prohibition was a must if you wanted to order alcohol without attracting attention.
…Eternally “The place to be”…
Prohibition may have done some good in reducing alcoholism, but it also generated some evil during its 10 years of existence. In particular, public corruption, unemployment and violence. Lots and lots of violence. So much so that there has been a dramatic rise in organised crime.
For the two presidential candidates at the time, Franklin Rooselvelt and Herbert Hoover, enough was enough. The whole mess had to stop. Once elected, Roosevelt repealed the 18th amendment, the prohibition amendment, in April 1933.
Although it was no longer necessary to hide to drink alcohol, the end of speakeasies never really came. Their history has survived the years, and their essence is even being revived 100 years later. In New York and Chicago, some of them are still in business. These include Simon’s and Chumley’s.
… Even in France
The historic phenomenon of speakeasies has left such a lasting impression that replicas of these speakeasies can now be found just about anywhere on the planet. Starting with France! They are said to have arrived in France, in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris to be precise, in 2011.
After the capital, it was France’s other major cities that got in on the act. Marseille, Lille, Aix-en-Provence, hidden bars are everywhere. And we’re certainly not going to complain!
2. New-generation saloons
Wanted: hidden bar
The fun thing about speakeasies is the sweet privilege they give to those who manage to unmask them. Easier said than done, if you listen to the insiders.
In principle, all avenues for locating these bars in the public environment are deliberately blurred. To do this, the brand name is absent and the address, worse, is not even revealed. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find out about these bars and then set foot in them.
While in the majority of cases all you have to do to get to these enigmatic places is go into the back room of a restaurant, sometimes the quest for them is a bit like a treasure hunt. In the basement of a grocery shop, at the back of a launderette or in a cold storage room, the unlikely hiding places are endless. You’ll need to be both attentive and curious to spot an unexpected bar behind a corner shop.
Open sesame
To be honest, the success of hidden bars goes beyond their concealed access. As long as you haven’t crossed the threshold, you’re far from having seen everything.
As a real fashion spot, secret bars take great care with their interior appearance. Whatever the style, the decor is usually meticulous. The retro feel of the 1920s, the period of American Prohibition, is one of the favourite atmospheres in these unusual places. Sometimes, the craziness goes even further, with settings featuring pirates, pharmacies, exotic lands and so on.
But in all this look, we almost forget the most important thing: a drink! Aside from the traditional pints of beer and classic glasses of spirits, cocktails are the most popular drink. Preparing them, known as mixology, is an art in itself. And tasting them is an invitation to get away from it all. There’s no need to say any more.
Are you looking for a good place to have a drink out of sight?
Abracadabra, here are 12 hidden bars “made in France” that you urgently need to try!
Paris
Le Candelaria: A taste of Mexico
- Address: 52 Rue de Saintonge, 75003 Paris
- Contact: 09.50.84.19.67/ in**@**************is.com
- Opening times and days: Every day, 6pm to 2am
- Booking required: No
Le Lavomatic : The mini, mini pop loft
- Address: 30 Rue René Boulanger, 75010 Paris
- Contact : co*****@*******ic.paris
- Opening times: 6pm to 1am (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and 6pm to 2am (Thursdays to Saturdays)
- Booking required: No
Marseille
Le Carry Nation : Get back to prohibition
- Address : Only to be given by email (with access code) when booking
- Contact: 09 50 26 01 66/ in**@**************is.com
- Opening times and days : Tuesday to Saturday, 7pm to 2am
- Booking compulsory : Yes
Lyon
Le Passage : Intimate boudoir style
Photo Page Facebook Bar le Passage
- Address: 8 Rue du Plâtre, 69001 Lyon
- Contact: 07 87 75 16 79/ in**@***********on.com/ ba**********@***il.com
- Opening times: 7pm to 1am (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and 7pm to 3am (Thursdays to Saturdays)
- Booking required: No
La Baignoire : Invitation to “Peaky Blinders
- Address: 11 Rue des 3 Rois, 69007 Lyon
- Contact: 06 46 85 82 54/ in**@***********on.com
- Opening times and days: Tuesday to Sunday, 6pm to 1am
- Booking required: No
Bordeaux
Symbiose Cocktail Bar: that timeless touch
- Address: 4 Quai des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux
- Contact: 05 56 23 67 15/co*****@***************ux.fr
- Opening times and days: Tuesday to Saturday, 7pm to 1am
- Booking essential: No, but recommended
Toulouse
The Agency: Back to the Roaring Twenties
Photo page Facebook L’Agence Toulouse
- Address: 26 Rue du Languedoc, 31000 Toulouse
- Contact: in**@*************se.com
- Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm to 2am
- Booking required : No, but recommended
Lille
Hanky Panky: So British
- Address : 4 Pl. Louise de Bettignies, 59800 Lille
- Contact: 03 20 43 22 82/ he***@************up.com
- Opening times and days: Thursday to Saturday, 7pm to 10.30pm
- Booking required: No
Rennes
Le Speakeasy: Pirates’ lair
Photo page Facebook Speakeasy Bar Rennes
- Address: 32 Rue Jean Marie Duhamel, 35000 Rennes
- Contact: 06 32 64 18 67/ co*****@************ar.com
- Opening times: Thursday to Saturday, 7pm to 1am
- Booking required: No
Montpellier
L’Apothicaire: A place for miracle cures
- Address: 8 Rue du Pila St Gély, 34000 Montpellier
- Contact: 06 32 64 18 67/ co*****@************ar.com
- Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday, 7pm to 1am
- Booking required : No, but recommended
Aix-en-Provence
La Cocina Negra: In the depths of exoticism
- Address: 25 Rue des Magnans, 13100 Aix-en-Provence
- Contact: 06 66 65 17 22
- Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday, 10pm to 2am
- Booking required : No, but recommended
Grenoble
La Mercerie: “Motus et bouche cousue!
Photo page Facebook La Mercerie
- Address: Quai Perrière, 38000 Grenoble
- Contact: 04 56 00 85 41/ co*****@************ar.fr.
- Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm to 1am
- Booking compulsory : Yes
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