Paris has no shortage of beautiful bars, but Midi Minuit at Maison Baccarat is truly special. More like a modern salon than a cocktail lounge, it beautifully showcases France’s most exquisite crystal creations in a palatial setting.
Housed inside the Baccarat mansion on Place des États-Unis, the bar glows beneath enormous crystal chandeliers, with every drink served in sparkling Baccarat glassware that catches the light like fine jewelry. For such an opulent setting, it’s not intimidating. Alain Ducasse oversees the space, and his touch shows in the details, right down to the antique slicer from his personal collection that sits proudly on display, used to carve charcuterie with precision.
The cocktail program is led by Margot Lecarpentier of Combat in Belleville, one of Paris’s most inventive bartenders. Her drinks balance her mixology prowess with playfulness: the Atlantide mixes sake and rum into something smooth and unexpected, while Elements—a blend of tequila, grapefruit, sesame, and hibiscus—manages to be simultaneously floral and bold. Even the mocktails are exceptional, layered and aromatic, never feeling like an afterthought and not too sweet as is so often the problem with the low/no alcohol side of the menu.
The food is as polished as the setting. The club sandwich is easily one of the best in Paris, meticulously constructed, perfectly toasted, and served in a way that makes you forget it’s a “bar bite.” Other dishes follow the same approach: crispy bread façon pissaladière, fennel with smoked sardines and orange, and delicate flavors that are fragrant without being heavy.
Midi Minuit is open afternoon to late night and currently has a new wine pop-up. This way, you can stop in for a daytime spritz or stop in after dinner for cocktails under the chandeliers that sparkle like stars in the night sky. It’s where we send friends who want to experience Parisian glamour without the clichés: simply impeccable cocktails, refined food, and a setting that turns every sip into a celebration. Guests can also reserve a table at the adjoining gastronomic restaurant for the full Alain Ducasse dining experience.
Note: Maison Baccarat provided support for the reporting of this story.