COCKTAILS ON THE TERRACE: OUR FAVORITE ADDRESSES FOR SUMMER

In Paris, summer often begins with a detail: a chair moved into the sun, the soft clink of a glass, an evening that stretches on without haste. In Saint Germain des Prés, the season has a particular elegance. Pale façades warm in the light, bookshops close a little later, conversations drift from pavements to terraces, and the aperitif becomes an art of living.

From Hôtel Bel Ami, located on rue Saint Benoît, the finest addresses on the Left Bank are all within easy walking distance. Some have the stature of great Parisian institutions. Others cultivate the discreet charm of hidden patios or hotel terraces. All share one thing in common: the promise of a light, chic, and unmistakably Parisian interlude over a cocktail.

 

RALPH'S PARIS
American elegance

 

Just a few minutes from Hôtel Bel Ami, Ralph's Paris offers one of the most desirable terraces on boulevard Saint Germain. Set within the Ralph Lauren townhouse, the address blends country club spirit, Parisian chic, and a perfectly mastered sense of ease that makes one want to order a cocktail at sunset.

Guests come for a lunch that lingers, dinner beneath the foliage, or a drink in a hushed atmosphere, surrounded by wood panelling, deep armchairs, and a preserved inner courtyard. In summer, the house is open every day for lunch and dinner, with seasonal hours announced from noon to 4 pm, then from 7 pm to 11 pm.

Good to know: booking ahead is strongly recommended, especially toward the end of the week. The terrace is highly sought after from the very first sunny days.

 

 

CAFÉ DE FLORE
the great classic

 

Some addresses are chosen not only for their menu, but for what they embody. Café de Flore belongs to that category. At the corner of boulevard Saint Germain and rue Saint Benoît, its terrace remains one of the finest observatories of Parisian life: imaginary writers, neighbourhood regulars, elegant travellers, hurried silhouettes, and conversations that seem lifted from a novel.

For a summer cocktail, it is best to settle in at the start of the evening, when the light begins to soften over Saint Germain and the address regains the rhythm of an open air salon. Café de Flore states that it is open every day from 7.30 am to 1.30 am and does not take reservations.

Insider tip: arrive without impatience. Here, the charm lies as much in the glass as in the wait, in the theatre of the street, and in the pleasure of feeling at the very heart of the neighbourhood.

 

 

BRASSERIE LIPP
the Parisian aperitif

 

Facing Café de Flore, Brasserie Lipp embodies another side of Saint Germain: more brasserie like, more literary, more political too. Its terrace, set directly on the boulevard, is ideal for those who love lively addresses, white tablecloths, the ballet of waiters, and the energy of an institution that has no need to follow trends.

Guests come for a straightforward aperitif, a drink before dinner, a simple and well executed cocktail, all in the atmosphere of eternal Paris. The house is located at 151 boulevard Saint Germain and announces daily opening hours from 9 am to 2 am.

Good to know: the address is particularly well suited to a drink with friends or an informal business meeting, when one wishes to remain in the neighbourhood without giving up atmosphere.

 

 

LES DEUX MAGOTS
the legendary cocktail

Just a few steps from Hôtel Bel Ami, Les Deux Magots remains one of the most iconic terraces in Saint Germain des Prés. Guests settle in for the setting as much as for the drink: the ballet of the boulevard, the church in the background, conversations drifting across tables, and that Left Bank elegance the address has cultivated for generations. For a summer aperitif, the house offers several atmospheres, from the boulevard terrace to the tree lined square and a more secluded garden.

Guests come for a cocktail at sunset, a meeting after a day of shopping, or a drink before dinner. The address is open every day until 1 am, making it a reliable choice for extending the evening without leaving Saint Germain.

Insider tip: favour the late afternoon, when the square softens and the address recovers the rhythm of a Parisian open air salon.

 

 

MAISON SAUVAGE
the leafy terrace

A few minutes from Hôtel Bel Ami, Maison Sauvage brings a more bohemian, floral, and summery touch to Saint Germain des Prés. Located at 5 rue de Buci, the address is instantly recognisable by its plant covered façade, which evolves with the seasons, and by its lively terrace, perfect for a cocktail as the day begins to fade.

Guests come as much for the atmosphere as for the drink: a vibrant, relaxed, unmistakably Left Bank mood, ideal for an aperitif with friends or a casual rendezvous. The house offers generous cuisine, weekend brunch, and bespoke cocktails until 2 am. Open every day from 7 am to 2 am, it is an easy and radiant option for prolonging a stroll through Saint Germain.

Insider tip: choose the late afternoon or early evening to enjoy the terrace before the crowds arrive, when rue de Buci slowly comes alive and the façades catch the golden light of summer.

 

 

CRAVAN
the signature cocktail

For a more contemporary interpretation of the Left Bank aperitif, head to CRAVAN, at 165 boulevard Saint Germain. Set within a seventeenth century building, this cocktail bar cultivates a very Saint Germain spirit: literature, design, mixology, discreet elegance, and artistic references echo one another across several floors. Here, the cocktail becomes an experience in its own right, more refined, more staged, and especially suited to lovers of precise creations.

The address is perfect for guests seeking something other than a classic terrace: a place with character, a true signature, and that Parisian club atmosphere where one comes as much to drink as to observe.

Insider tip: recommend it for a drink in the early evening, before dinner in the neighbourhood or after a stroll along boulevard Saint Germain.

 

LE HIBOU
the chic aperitif

A few minutes from Hôtel Bel Ami, Le Hibou offers a more contemporary alternative to the great institutions of Saint Germain. At the crossroads of Odéon, its terrace captures the energy of the district: theatre goers, friends meeting up, and long evenings unfolding around cocktails and a few plates to share.

The décor, with club armchairs, wood panelling, and a brocante chic spirit, gives the address a warm atmosphere, less formal yet still elegant. It is a lovely option for a lively summer aperitif, easy to recommend to guests who want to experience neighbourhood Paris without giving up comfort.

Insider tip: perfect in the early evening, before dinner in Odéon or a walk toward the Seine.

 

LE BAR DU BEL AMI
the spirit of the house

Outside, two or three discreetly arranged tables extend the Bel Ami Bar onto the street, in an atmosphere that is both pleasant and confidential. A small terrace in the image of the neighbourhood: elegant, understated, ideal for observing the hushed animation of Saint Germain des Prés while enjoying a moment apart.

The Bel Ami Bar offers a generous cocktail menu, to be accompanied by well garnished sharing boards for a convivial and indulgent aperitif. After a day of strolling, shopping, or meetings in Paris, it is the perfect address for one last drink at the hotel, without giving up the pleasure of a moment outdoors.

Inside, the atmosphere becomes even more intimate: comfortable armchairs, a literary spirit, an eclectic library, and soft lighting. The bar proudly embraces its roots in the artistic and literary world of Saint Germain des Prés, at the very heart of the hotel.

It is the ideal setting for extending the evening without heading back into the city. A cocktail on the terrace before going up to one’s room, a discreet drink after dinner, a business meeting that ends on a more personal note. Here, summer is experienced with calm elegance, far from the bustle of the larger terraces.

 

 

LE MONTALEMBERT
Terrace charm

 

A few steps from boulevard Saint Germain, the terrace of Hôtel Montalembert also celebrates the art of fine weather with great discretion. Set on a peaceful street in the neighbourhood, it offers an elegant pause, sheltered from the surrounding effervescence, while still hinting at the lively charm of Saint Germain des Prés.

Guests linger willingly over coffee, a light lunch, or a late afternoon drink, in a hushed and typically Parisian atmosphere. More confidential than spectacular, this terrace seduces through its calm, its address, and that rare feeling of fully enjoying the neighbourhood without ever yielding to its agitation.

 

PARISIAN SUMMER
a glass in hand

 

Savouring cocktails on a terrace in Paris means embracing a certain idea of the capital: less hurried, more luminous, attentive to detail. From Hôtel Bel Ami, Saint Germain des Prés becomes an ideal playground for moving between legendary institutions, confidential terraces, hotel bars, and waterside addresses.

The finest programme of all? Setting out on foot at sunset, following one’s instinct, booking a table when the mood strikes, then returning to rue Saint Benoît to rediscover the calm of a five star address in the heart of the Left Bank.