15 Best Bars in Reims

Reims is a city that runs on ritual. By day, the clink of a champagne coupe echoes through limestone cellars, and by night, locals trade marble tasting rooms for dimly lit counters, natural wine caves, and brasseries that hum until the early hours. While the city is world-famous for its grand maisons, the true character of its drinking culture is found in the spaces between: a hidden courtyard bar, a bottle shop with a turntable, or a cocktail den run by someone who knows your name by the second visit.

The drinking scene here is refreshingly unpretentious. You are just as likely to find a retired vigneron sipping a local blanc de noirs as you are a student ordering a hop-forward IPA from a nearby microbrewery. The best bars in Reims balance reverence for the region’s heritage with a restless curiosity for what is next, whether that means low-intervention wines, small-batch spirits, or zero-proof creations that deserve their own spotlight.

Because the city is compact and walkable, bar-hopping feels effortless. The historic centre unfolds around Place Drouet-d’Erlon, the cathedral, and the Boulingrin, but some of the most rewarding addresses sit quietly on side streets where tourists rarely wander. Knowing where to turn can transform a simple evening into a memorable crawl through architecture, atmosphere, and glassware.

This guide is built for travellers who want to drink like a local rather than simply check off famous names. It favours places with genuine hospitality, thoughtful curation, and a sense of place. You will find champagne bars, yes, but also beer-focused taprooms, wine caves, and cocktail spots that reflect the evolving tastes of the city itself.

Every recommendation below has been chosen for consistency, atmosphere, and the quality of what lands on the table or the bar top. Whether you are starting with an aperitif before dinner or settling in for a late-night conversation, Reims offers a depth of drinking experiences that rewards the curious.

Here are the best bars in Reims to put on your list.

Pub l'Escale

Le Black Pearl

L.Bee Bar

Dropkick bar

Ernest Hemingway Café

Le Parvis, bar à Champagne, bar à manger, caviste et épicerie fine

Spirits’ Club

Mr Fogg's Pub Reims (Bar Reims)

Grape Bar Reims

Les coudes sur la table

Cave du 13OR

Odette

Delirium Café Reims

Au Fût Reims

Flanagan Bar

Tips for Enjoying the Bar Scene in Reims

A little local knowledge goes a long way in Reims, especially if you want to avoid the tourist crush and drink at the pace the city actually prefers. These practical tips will help you navigate everything from opening hours to glass etiquette with confidence.

1. Start before dinner, not after. Many of the best wine and champagne bars close by 10pm or 11pm on weeknights. Locals typically begin with an aperitif around 6pm or 7pm, then move to dinner. If you wait until late, you may miss the very places you came to visit.

2. Ask for a “coupe de champagne au verre.” Most serious bars pour by the glass from smaller growers rather than only the big houses. Asking what is open by the glass often unlocks bottles you would never find on a standard wine list.

3. Embrace the terroir beyond bubbles. Reims sits at the edge of both Champagne and the Montagne de Reims, but it is also close to exciting beer and cider producers. Do not feel obligated to drink champagne at every stop. A local craft beer or a natural Loire red can be a refreshing reset.

4. Walk between neighbourhoods. The area around Place Drouet-d’Erlon is convenient but often busy. Walking ten minutes toward the Boulingrin, the cathedral, or the Vesle canal reveals quieter bars with more personal service and better value.

5. Check for seasonal closures in August. Many independent bars and wine shops close for part of August while owners take their own holidays. If you are visiting in late summer, call ahead or check social media before making a special trip.

6. Carry a little cash. While most places accept cards, smaller wine bars and bottle shops sometimes have a minimum spend or prefer cash for single glasses. A few euros in your pocket keeps things simple.

Reims rewards the unhurried drinker. The best evenings here rarely follow a strict itinerary; they unfold across a zinc-topped counter, a candlelit wine cave, or a sidewalk table where the cathedral bells mark the hour. Let the city set its own tempo, and you will leave with a deeper understanding of why this corner of France drinks so well.

Whether you are visiting for a single night or a full week, the bars of Reims offer a masterclass in balance: heritage and experimentation, bubbles and bitter hops, grand plazas and hidden passages. All you have to do is raise a glass.