A tiny Parisian hole-in-the-wall that somehow always has room for you — Paris Paris is a wine and cocktail bar that packs tables close, pours an adventurous list of natural and old-world wines, and hosts special wine nights run by the legendary Grape Witches. The kind of bar that feels like a discovery every time.
Neighbourhood: Corktown / East End · Address: 31 Church St, Toronto, ON · Hours: Tue–Sun 5pm–1am
Why Visit
Paris Paris serves up a rotating, unconventional natural wine selection in a cozy, low-lit room that feels straight out of the Marais. Their Grape Witches collabs mean you could easily end up trying a bottle you've never heard of—and falling in love.
What Makes It Unique
Unlike most Toronto wine bars, Paris Paris keeps things refreshingly unpretentious, with tightly packed tables, zero attitude, and a playful, handpicked list that veers off the beaten (and overpriced) path. The space is tiny but always manages to fit you in, and the service is attentive without being pushy. Grape Witches-run events turn the place into a playground for wine nerds.
Paris Paris in Corktown is one of Toronto's best cocktail bars operating out of one of the city's most visually striking bar rooms — a deeply French-influenced space with velvet banquettes, ornate wallpaper, dim lighting, and a retro Parisian brasserie aesthetic that is both specific and genuinely well-executed. The name delivers on its promise: Paris Paris does not hedge its aesthetic, and the full commitment to the theme creates an environment that transports rather than gestures.
The cocktail programme is where Paris Paris earns its serious reputation. The drinks are French-influenced without being limited to French spirits — the bar uses Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, and French liqueurs as primary building blocks alongside global spirits, in combinations that reflect genuine knowledge of both French drinking culture and contemporary cocktail craft. A Sidecar variant using aged Armagnac, a whisky sour built with Calvados, a Kir Royale made with actual crème de cassis from Burgundy rather than the artificial versions most bars use — the attention to ingredient authenticity is evident throughout.
The food menu takes the French theme equally seriously. A selection of French-style small plates — cornichons, rilettes, good charcuterie, proper cheese — accompanies the cocktails in a format that mirrors the bar programme of a Parisian café rather than a Toronto bar trying to seem French. The combination of quality food and serious cocktails makes Paris Paris work as a full evening destination rather than a single-drink stop.
Corktown is an east-end neighbourhood undergoing significant change — the area around King Street East near the Don has been transformed by condominium development and a new generation of restaurants and bars. Paris Paris is part of this new Corktown without being generic, which requires the kind of specific vision that the bar's owners clearly have in abundance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cocktail style at Paris Paris?
Paris Paris builds its cocktail programme around French spirits — Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, French liqueurs — combined with global spirits in contemporary cocktail formats. The approach prioritizes French ingredient authenticity: proper crème de cassis from Burgundy, aged eau-de-vie, quality vermouth, and similar specificity throughout.
Is Paris Paris good for a date?
Excellent — the velvet banquettes, low lighting, Parisian aesthetic, and quality cocktails create one of Toronto's most romantic bar atmospheres. The French small plates menu extends the visit naturally. Reservations or arriving early on weekends is recommended.
Where is Paris Paris?
Paris Paris is in Corktown, near King Street East and the Don River area. The 504 King streetcar runs along King Street. Distillery District and the waterfront are nearby.
Does Paris Paris serve food?
Yes — a French-style small plates menu of charcuterie, cheese, cornichons, rillettes, and seasonal preparations accompanies the cocktail programme. The food is designed to pair with French spirits and is executed with the same care as the drinks.