Cox Bar

Cox Bar is one of the anchor institutions of gay Le Marais. Sitting at number 15 on Rue des Archives — the main artery of the neighborhood — it offers exactly what a Parisian gay bar should: a terrace that spills onto the cobblestones, cold beers at sensible prices, and a crowd that ranges from local regulars to first-time visitors who wandered in from the Pompidou. The atmosphere is deliberately unglamorous in the best possible way. There is no dress code, no door policy to navigate, and nobody trying to sell you table service. During the summer months the terrace becomes an extension of the street itself, and on weekends the whole of Rue des Archives turns into an open-air social event that cox has been anchoring for decades. Come here at 6pm before the evening begins and you will understand why this strip has become one of the most recognisable gay streets in Europe.