Willi’s Wine Bar (1er)
For over 30 years, Willi’s Wine Bar in Paris’ 1st Arrondisement, has welcomed locals and visitors alike with a delightful selection of wines by the glass and by the bottle. The motto here….diversity, individuality, and natural beauty.
I first came across this wine venue after looking online for bars à vin à Paris. When I saw the description on the website, especially the part about “Who’s Willi?”, I knew I had to stop by and enjoy this friendly ambiance at least once during my stay in Paris.
What’s different about this convivial atmosphere, besides its 1930-ish facade and simple but cozy interiors, is that Willi’s brings to the stage the “under-dogs” of the wine world, that is the wines that have less notoriety compared to well-known brands.
Willi’s is also unique in that for years, local contemporary artists have been welcomed to visually express the pleasures of wine through the Wine Bottle Art Collection. The Bottle Art Posters, which are available for purchase, date back to the 1980’s when Willi’s Wine Bar was first opened, and makes for a great souvenir of moments sipping wine in Paris.
Oh yeah…and who’s Willi? Well…Willi was the four-legged Basset Hound who I hear was the true party animal and lived the good life until he passed away in the mid 80’s. Every year on the bar’s birthday in October, glasses of champagne are raised in Willi’s memory near his burial site by the door.
Willi’s Wine Bar
13 Rue des Petits Champs, 75001 Paris, France
Transit: Pyramides
