Endless Summer at CopperBay Cocktail Bar in Paris’ 10ème

With the la rentrée in full steam ahead in Paris, summer has seemingly slipped away over the course of a weekend. The once quiet streets that called for leisurely strolls seem almost forgotten as halcyon days gone by and are once again packed with cars and locals all participating in the city hustle.

What comes with getting back to the daily grind is the re-opening of favorite restaurants, boulangeries, and bars that were also enjoying the stillness of summer, adding a spark to the sudden shift in energy. One bar that will let us hold onto our summer memories is CopperBay, where the ease of the sunny South of France has been brought up to the City of Light.

Located in the bobo 10th arrondissement on Rue Bouchardon, CopperBay invites passersby with its large windows, signature copper-accented bar and nautical design in plain sight. “We wanted to open a bar that specializes in craft cocktails, but that wasn’t a speakeasy, especially in its design,” co-owner Elfi explains.

Opened September 2014, Elfi teamed up with friends and now co-owners Julien and Aurélie to conceptualize a bar that would fuse their South of France roots to Paris with a space that is both relaxed and refined. Designers at Rowin Atelier artfully realized this vision by stripping down the wood to a golden blonde to create a clean palette that would feature the bar’s nautical references and subtle winks to the beach.

During the bar’s conception, the 10th did not have many choices of cocktail bars (which, of course, is changing by the season.) The neighborhood was chosen for its promising nightlife scene, as well as for its urban soul and progressive nature.

The South of France is best known for its seaside culture, but it is also known for specializing in the anise-flavored spirit Pastis, the main ingredient in a Ricard. Knowing that this drink is available in any corner brasserie in Paris, CopperBay offers their take on the famed cocktail with a frozen treat, the only bar in Paris to offer this chilled alternative to a classic.

The menu changes quarterly and is based on seasonal tastes and available ingredients, boasting cocktails that are merchandised to fit their personality. The “Ca Phe Sua Da,” a coffee-based cocktail that was inspired by a trip Elfi took to Vietnam, is playfully decorated with wooden beads. In the winter, a mug containing soul-soothing homemade grog will be dressed in a hand-knit sweater. And the gin-based Garden Party, which is as festive as it sounds, is like a greenhouse packed in a balloon wine glass. For teetotalers, the non-alcoholic menu is as intriguing as the cocktail menu, with a generous offering of sparkling fruit elixirs and fresh juices.

Summer may be giving way to brisk autumn air as we inch closer to another Parisian holiday season, but there is comfort in knowing that summer is only a metro stop away.

CopperBay – 5 rue Bouchardon, 75010. No telephone.

Related Links:

• Love original cocktails? Get your fix of artfully mixed spirits at the bars on this list.
• If you prefer your cocktails to come with a delicious meal, we’ve got you covered for options in Pigalle, Republique,and Strasbourg-St-Denis.
• For more history on the Paris cocktail scene and its innovation in a wine-steeped market, check out this article from Punch.

Written by Lisa Czarina Michaud for the HiP Paris Blog. Photos by ShakEatUp. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.