Just a few minutes from the ring road, some places still manage to surprise even those who are familiar with Paris’s hidden bars. In the south-west of the capital, a former monastic estate converted into a luxury hotel is home to a speakeasy that is unexpected to say the least. Here, cocktails are enjoyed beneath the vaults of a deconsecrated chapel.
The most unusual speakeasy in the capital
This unusual place is hidden away in the heart of the Domaine de la Reine Margot in Issy-les-Moulineaux. The estate, now converted into a five-star hotel with a spa and restaurant, retains several historic buildings, including a restored former chapel. It is precisely in this space that the speakeasy called Le Monastic has been set up.
©Nicolas Fagot – Studio 9
Behind its walls, which are listed as historic monuments, the chapel has been completely renovated while retaining its neo-Gothic architecture. Slender vaults, large volumes, and soft lighting create an atmosphere that is quite different from the classic image of a cocktail bar. The contrast between the religious decor and the speakeasy atmosphere is what gives the place its charm.
Focusing on rum, the menu features around 400 selections from more than 35 countries, chosen from various distilleries. The cocktails are tailor-made by the bar’s mixologists, who can guide visitors towards more classic combinations or bolder creations depending on their tastes. Beyond the bar itself, the estate also offers tasting masterclasses, supervised by a sommelier. It’s a great way to explore the different families of rum and their origins, in a setting that is quite unique for this type of experience.
©Nicolas Fagot – Studio 9
The venue is part of the speakeasy trend, with hidden bars inspired by the Prohibition era, but with a decor that is clearly out of the ordinary. In Paris, secret venues are multiplying, often hidden behind a laundromat, an anonymous door, or a grocery store. Here, the concept takes on another dimension with a real chapel converted into a bar.
📍Location: 3 Cour de la Reine Margot, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux
📆 Hours: open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.