A leader in the farm-to-glass movement as well as the center of Paris’ cocktail scene, Little Red Door remains the standard by which bars hold themselves to.
Little Red Door (LRD for short) has been one of Paris’ and the world’s top cocktail bars for over a decade. The space opened its doors back in 2012, and helped turn the Marais into the French capital’s go-to drinks neighborhood. While the little red door guests must pass through to enter the bar remains an icon of modern mixology, its sustainable practices and partnerships with similarly focused producers make it a leader in contemporary and future practices.
Nonetheless, Little Red Door has never lost focus on the delicious cocktails and inventive menus that made it famous in the first place. With each menu comes a new theme, new art, and new drinks, all of which capture the creative powers and farm-to-glass model that helped make Paris one of the centers of the cocktail scene.
Ex-bar director Alex Francis told us…
Please describe Little Red Door as if you’re explaining the experience of walking through the doors and ordering your first drink.
Walking into Little Red Door you’re immersed in to the world of our producers, the bar is adorned with large portraits of a selection of the producers we’ve worked most closely with over the last three years, once seated we present a menu that wholely focused on each producer, their produce and their world. Each drink is simply named after the produce, with reportage photography from each producer and a short bio to explain where in France they are and how they work.
How would you describe Little Red Door in a three-word text to a friend that you’re trying to convince to join you?
Farm To Glass.
Other than Little Red Door what else is happening in the neighborhood that you’re in?
We’re blessed with so many bars in our neighborhood, 2 minutes from our door is Candelaria, an agave speakeasy behind an understated taqueria, a little further down the road is The Cambridge an award winning cocktail pub that recently entered the World’s 50 Best Bars alongside us for the first time, and at the bottom of our street is the famous Marche des Enfants Rouge, an open air food market.
Aside from Happy Hour, when is the best time to get to the bar?
We always recommend making a reservation or coming as early as possible, the queue can be unforgiving even on the quieter nights!
Describe the average drinkers that you serve?
At Little Red Door we built our brand on being a safe space for international drinkers I what can be the intimidating city that is Paris, and so we naturally find ourselves with a high percentage of tourists most nights.
Please tell us more about your drinks menu.
Evergreen is the finale in our farm to glass trilogy of menus that explores the world of producers and their produce, following the tradition of the menus we have produced over the last seven years, it’s a hard back book that speaks to art and design as well as the wider ethos it respects.
What’s your signature drink–or your favorite drink currently on the menu–and why should I order it?
As our menus change regularly, we don’t have a signature drink as it were, but a drink that has had many evolutions over the last three years is Olive, an aromatic highball based on a spirit we produce here in Paris with Baccae distillery, that uses olive fruit, oil & leaves to create a moreish yet refreshing drinking experience.
How much do drinks cost?
Cocktails at Little Red Door cost 18€ each.
Is there anything to eat? If so – what’s your favorite dish on the menu?
We only offer food with our cocktail tasting menu, where we provide snacks alongside the drinks to further explore the produce in season at the time.
What are the distinguishing features of Little Red Door?
Beyond the iconic Little Red Door entrance, Little Red Door is known for our bare limestone walls that make up much of our neighborhood Le Marais, blue column frame details and extra large blue velvet bar stools. Most recently, our deep red marble bar top and Tayer format Behind Bars steel station.
What’s that music we hear playing on the Little Red Door stereo?
Little Red Door’s playlist is potentially one of the most consistent elements of the bar over the years, our signature playlist Anti Speakeasy Bar Choons playlist has been played in every corner of the world at this point.
Hours:
Open Wednesday to Saturday 18h – 02h
Reservations:
Walk-ins only.
Website:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/littlereddoorparis/?hl=en
Address:
60 Rue Charlot, 75003 Paris, France