Famous drinks in Paris
Ten drinks you will actually see on Paris terraces, zinc bars, and tasting lists.
1. Champagne
Sparkling wine
Protected sparkling wine from Champagne. Paris is where much of the world first tastes it by the flute.
2. Bordeaux red
Wine
Cabernet and merlot blends still anchor many bistro lists.
3. Burgundy
Wine
Pinot noir and chardonnay from the east, priced as a special-occasion pour in the capital.
4. Loire whites
Wine
Sancerre, Muscadet, and Vouvray are everyday Paris wines, especially with seafood.
5. Kir and kir royal
Aperitif
Creme de cassis with white wine, or with Champagne for a kir royal.
6. Pastis
Anise spirit
A southern aperitif that became a Paris cafe pour, lengthened with ice water.
7. Cognac
Brandy
Drunk after dinner or in older hotel bars; produced in the Charente, sold in Paris.
8. French 75
Cocktail
Gin, lemon, sugar, and Champagne. A Paris-named classic that cocktail bars still print.
9. Cidre
Cider
Especially with crepes. A reminder that not every French table is a wine table.
10. Natural wine (vin nature)
Wine
A Paris-led restaurant fashion that changed how young drinkers order in the 2010s.
Culture guide, not a dry-day calendar
World pages describe famous drinks, history, and common legal drinking ages. They are not legal advice and they do not say whether alcohol is banned today. For India dry days, use the homepage or a city or state calendar.