Historic Wine Bar in the 1st arrondissement

Willis Wine Bar (1st arrondissement)

If you knew there was a wine bar in Paris where you could get Calon Ségur by the glass would you walk, or run, in that direction? Willi’s Wine Bar is one of those places that I just stumbled upon while I was out walking, and I am so glad that I did. And yeah, they were serving Calon Ségur by the glass. Needless to say, I pulled up a bar stool and stayed for a while. All of the staff spoke English, and everyone was super friendly and welcoming. I returned the next day. Their BTG menu (by the glass) was everything dreams are made of; I literally had to go back.

Willi’s opened in 1984 and so has been here for 40 years! The photo on their website looks like a 1970’s rock album cover, hinting that this is where the cool kids hang out. The founder, Mark Williamson is a British expat and a bit of a legend, everyone around here knows who he is. Back in the day he changed the landscape. The wine bar landscape that is; when there were much fewer wine bars, and the ones that did exist were pouring basic, mass produced wines by the glass. Apparently, Mark was, and still is, a huge fan of Rhône wines. He was also very interested in lesser known wines from areas like the Languedoc. And much to the chagrin of those around town, these were the type of wines he chose to glass pour at Willi’s. Mark would meet with producers who came to Paris trying to sell their wines into restaurants. And though wine bars weren’t really a thing yet, these producers found a home, and an audience for their wines. Those wines being peddled are now world famous and some of their (equally famous) winemakers maintain close friendships with Mark. We are very lucky that today we can just walk in and sit at the bar, and order wine from such a storied wine list.

The owners Willi’s love art almost as much as they love wine. Starting in 1983, they’ve had a different artist design a poster that honors the joy of drinking and sharing wine. Current and past prints are available for sale in the bar.

If I’m not having dinner here, I like to go during the in between hours; after lunch, but before dinner. I like to sit at the bar and sample all the glass pours. Their charcuterie is freshly sliced and super thin which I love! This is one of my favorite charcuterie boards in all of Paris. They also have a very nice cheese selection, freshly cut to order. If you are looking for a memorable place to have dinner in the 1st arrondissement the menu selection here is fantastic. Lamb, roasted cod, chicken, and vegetarian options. The food and service is outstanding. The interior of the restaurant feels warm and cozy. I especially love the large windows at the back that let all the light in.

So “who’s Willi?” you ask? As lore would have it, Willi was just a befriended neighborhood dog who roamed freely about the area back in the day. According to their website his tomb lies under the gas meter near the front door!

I knew nothing about this place when I first walked in, yet I could feel the nostalgia. I loved every single thing about it. The wine, the food, the branded artist prints everywhere, and the dog that came and laid at my feet. Wine, food, art and, dogs what else do you need in life?

This sweetie is JAJA. My first thought was is this Willi? They told me no, not Willi. But rumor has it this pup may be one of Willi’s great, great, grandchildren. I am loving the lore!

Willi’s Wine Bar
13 Rue des Petits Champs, 75001 Paris

Hours:
Mon-Sat Noon-11:30PM
Closed Sunday

Click here to sign up for my quarterly newsletter.

Here are some of my most popular blog posts:

My favorite hotels in Paris, many under $200 per night

Unique “in-home” dining experience in Paris

Normandy: The stunning White Cliffs of Etretat

The dreamiest village in France that sits right on the Mediterranean Sea…

Jump on the train and head to Bordeaux for the day. (If you love wine you’ll want to read this one!)