You don’t need us to give you a reason to visit Paris. But, if you’re visiting make sure you stop at Willi’s Wine Bar.

It’s the City of Love, that is famous for art, culture, history, gastronomy and of course wine! It’s hard to think of a nicer way to spend an evening, whether it’s a cold, winter night or a hot summer one, than sitting in a small Parisian bistro, with a wonderful glass of wine. You won’t struggle to find one, but our pick is Willi’s Wine Bar. Here is a perfect place to sit after a day walking around the bustling Parisian streets.

Willi’s Wine Bar

Willi’s Wine Bar has been a fixture of Paris, since the 1982. It takes it’s name from an infamous dog, known to many famous faces in France. Since then, they have sought to provide not just delicious wine, but excellent food and wonderfully unique art, which heightens that quintessential Parisian atmosphere that is so hard to recreate.

Willi’s Wine Bar were somewhat trendsetters, bringing high-quality Rhône Valley wine to Paris, long before it was as fashionable as it is now. The Côte-Rôtie and Gigondas offerings on the ‘By the Glass’ menu were outstanding, never have Grenache and Syrah found a more perfect home. Options then extend on for many pages on the ‘By the Bottle’ options. There will no doubt be something for even the most particular patron.

Wine at Willi’s Wine Bar

We can’t bring up Willi’s without discussing wine, that would be a disservice to us and him. The wine list is extensive. Rhône Valley wines definitely hold centre stage. As we’ve said, Gigondas and Côte-Rôtie were particularly welcome additions for us. However, wines such as a Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc do not go unnoticed. A rare and delicious offering often not found in the most discerning of wine lists.

The above is just the list of offerings by glass. It’d take a longer article than this one to list all the wines by bottle. A smörgåsbord of red, white, rose, still, sparkling and fortified wine could be found. If you have a particular tipple, Willi’s can accommodate. We even had a 15 year old Armagnac as our meal ended, which made us feel most able to take on the cold Paris night.

Food at Willi’s Wine Bar

We can’t give you the exact menu. The kitchen there has been ran by François Yan for over three decades. This dedicated and ceaselessly inventive individual has looked to continuously craft new menus. You can expect Parisian classics with a unique flair, as well as classics from across the world done to perfection.

We were lucky enough to sample the ‘Roti d’Agneau’, (lamb leg). This came with a with a mix of wonderfully braised vegetables, sweet confit garlic and a rich and decadent gravy. This was swiftly mopped up by the always welcome fresh French bread.

Every dish that was brought by the table looked wonderful though and the ever changing menu only gives more reason to keep coming back. I know next time I’m in Paris, I’ll be paying Willi’s Wine Bar a return visit.

How To Get To Willi’s Wine Bar

Willi’s Wine Bar is located in the border between the 1st and 2nd Arrondissement. A short wander north from the Lourve Museum and the Royal Palace Gardens. Equally, Paris is easily conquerable through the Metro system. Pyramides, Bourse (Exchange) and Palais-Royal stations are all walking distance.

Click here to find our map to Willi’s Wine Bar.

In short, go to Willi’s! Return flights from Paris to a number of UK cities are available for well under £100 and take around one hour. A day or two in Paris could be the perfect weekend getaway and if you’re in the city of love – make sure to check this place out!

If you’d simply just like to learn more about wine from the comfort of your own home, be sure to check out our online blog and sign up to our mailing list. We’re always looking to teach people about different regions, grape varieties and producers. Beyond that, you can expect to find a whole host of playlists, cocktail cards and recipe cards packed full of wine pairing ideas. There might even be some special offers along the way so make sure that you don’t miss out!