Une Petite Rouge Porte du Paris. The Little Red Door of The Marais in Paris.

Little Red Door, LE MARAIS en Paris

The Place
This is a small, atelier bar. A delightful menu of their own drinks with made up names, representing different countries. Not to say that you can’t order your usual cocktail of what

The Little Red Door
Paris, France

you’d like. They do have an extensive inventory and one could imagine almost any drink being created.

The location of the bar is in the 4e. Arrondissement, for which many people know of as LE MARAIS.

Who To See
The staff are wonderful, even the bouncer was a delightful person.  Can you imagine you’re waiting in line outside and it’s chilly and he’s bringing you hot cider as you wait for entrance into the bar. That’s right, it can be standing room only later in the evening. Our wait was only maybe 20 minutes. And well worth the wait. 

For our first evening it was Marie and Sarah, I think of them as creating “witch craft”.  Louie and a second unnamed wonder worker served, interpreted and made jokes .... between the four + “the bouncer” they created an enchanting evening. Everyone in this small place seemed enchanted. 

In The Well

We were served by two gentlemen. They carried out their responsibilities with great tact, skill and enthusiasm. Bartenders, so much to my surprise, were both women. And those two women worked themselves to death that night behind the bar; they were so adept, so quick, so thorough even when challenged to create a drink using an unusual ingredient – MASTICHA – a Greek Pine like liquor. You would see them on a ladder,  climbing onto the counter all in the effort to find the correct bottle. All of which they use their magic to turn out a special drink you request. 

The Tunes
Their playlist very much added to the rhythm of the bar, one of the best playlists I have come across in a long time. Just the appropriate beat and just the right volume.

The Patrons
A very young crowd of professionals. Many young women out for an evening by themselves as a little “ladies party“. But there were some of us mature people who clearly more greatly appreciate what a fantastic bar this is.

The secret behind the Little Red Door?

There’s no sign.  One  just needs to know the address and you’ll see the little red door recessed behind an entranceway. Correspondingly, look for Barney (Bernard?), the Bouncer –  ex French Army.  He cannot be missed. You actually don’t go through the little red door, it’s the door on the side. You wouldn’t even imagine it being a door. So even though, the crowd is a telltale sign.

Note - as we left, Louie handed me a business card size foldout of other bars in Paris we might enjoy. WHO does that?

A bientot .....

Cocktail
Boite La Marianne
Gin
Cherry wine
Grappa or vodka infused with fresh blueberries
Masticha or Ricard or Anise- just a little
Adjust to your tast
Served in a coupe, chilled

Appetizer - sea salted wafer with Brie
Music - une peu Paul Simon

Constantine