Do Paris and sports go together? You bet they do! From football to tennis, Parisians enjoy athleticism just like the next guy. Free your mind of the stereotype that the French are snooty people. They'd even like to go down and dirty in the name of sports. And they have a hell of a good time watching it too. In the French capital, amidst the cafes and bistros, there are also some notable sports bars where the crowds are rough and the cheers are loud. Here are a few you might like to go to if you're into sports yourself!
Belushi's Paris Bar & Grill
Also known as 'The Belushi's,' this place is a sports bar through and through. While others on this list and beyond simply screen various sports on their TV screens, Belushi's is an entire hotspot devoted to sports. And that's all kinds of sports, be it football (including the American kind!), tennis, rugby, boxing, and more. Here, you get to enjoy your favorite sport while scarfing down nachos, beer, and hanging out with fellow fans. It helps that the place also organizes various sports nights, making it easier for you to meet other fanatics who are into the same sports.
Source: Belushi's Paris Bar & Grill
The Harp Bar
Who says you have to
go all the way to Dublin for
Guinness? Here in Paris, there's the Harp Bar. Located along Boulevard de Clichy, between the
9th and
18th arrondissement, this bar looks straight out of Ireland. It's a cozy little pub amidst the busy metropolis, serving as the perfect haven for ravenous football and rugby fans. The big-screen TV practically shows these sports 24/7! Or at least, whenever they're open. And don't worry about the bill! The place is also quite affordable. For around €5.00 to €8.00, you can already enjoy a pint of your favorite beer. Including, of course, the classic Guinness too!
Source: The Harp Bar Facebook Page
The Lions Pub
Located in the Stock Market quarter in the
2nd arrondissement of Paris, The Lions Pub is an old-fashioned English-style bar in the French capital. You'll instantly spot its royal blue exterior even from a mile away, and when you get inside, you'll see a wide variety of beer, quilted leather couches, all sorts of sports memorabilia, and more. Over time, it eventually became the after-work hang-out for many professionals in the area. A relaxing retreat after a hard day's work. That is when there's no game on! But when there is, this entire place gets filled with rowdy fans screaming for their favorite teams!
Source: The Lions
The Bombardier Pub
Just like The Lions Pub, The Bombardier Pub also offers an old-school English ambiance. Complete with a full-blown English menu of dishes and drinks too! It's only here where you'll get to taste fish & chips that are as good as
the ones in London. Or scarf down a spicy English-style curry with rice! As for the drinks, you can choose between the British bottles of
Charlie Wells,
John Bull,
Wells Banana Bread Beer, and more! All while you focus on the game shown on the TV screens inside the tight pub. What's not to love?
Source: The Bombardier Paris Facebook Page
Le Balrock
Do you know what many of these sports bars lack? Ample space! Sure, the rush of cheering for your team while you barely breathe as you're squeezed into a crowd of fans makes the experience all the more exhilarating, but that doesn't have to be the cast all the time. At least, it's not when you go to Le Balrock. The bar, formerly known as 'The Players' (and many locals still refer to it as such), offers a spacious area for watching your favorite sports. Add to that their hearty menu of pizza, hotdogs, and burgers and you've got yourself a sports fan's paradise!
Source: Bal Rock Facebook Page
The Moose
The Moose bar along Rue des Quatres Vents in the
6th arrondissement is a cozy little nook that's pretty popular among the locals. Run by Canadian owners who moved to Paris, you get treated to their signature hospitality in the heart of the French capital. It helps that they also show all sorts of sports here, from football and rugby to even baseball and basketball. So whether you want to watch the
NBA or the
Euro Cup finals, rest assured, this is a place you can see it paired with a delicious plate of poutine (their bestseller!) and your choice of beer!
Source: The Moose Paris Facebook Page
Apérock Café
It's easy to understand that you'd be confused as to why Apérock Café is on this list. For one thing, it's more so a café than a bar, so shouldn't that make this place ineligible to join this list? And another thing, Apérock Café is more known as a shrine to rock music, famous for its live gigs and a rockstar hangout. Sports barely matter here, doesn't it? Well, it does when there's a big game on! Whether it's a
FIFA League championship match at the
World Cup Finals, this place gets filled with sports fans on such occasions; to the point that rock music barely seems relevant at all!
Source: Apérock Café Facebook Page
Café Odillon
Yep! There's not one, but two cafés on this list! From the outside, Café Odillon looks like your typical coffee shop, complete with a charming ambiance and a terrace area to soak in all that Parisian sunshine. It's even a family-friendly place at that, the type that families go to for brunch after hearing Sunday mass and whatnot. Despite all that, however, the back part of the café is where it's at for sports fans! The TV screens here show every major football match in Europe and beyond. The energy is a lot calmer though, so if this is your kind of vibe, you might want to check this place out!
Source: Café Odillon Facebook Page
Who says Paris and sports don't match? If you go to any of these fun and lively sports bars in the French capital, you'll realize that even Parisians go wild for their favorite teams! It's a side of Paris you won't see anywhere else!
After getting your fill of sports and booze in any of these Paris sports bars, relax and get over your hangover in your
luxury home here!
