Merci·Marsha

We started our evening at this bar; the decor was great, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. There was a birthday celebration, so the atmosphere was lovely and festive. The cocktails were very good. Thank you!

There's something rather unsettling about this place. Merci Marsha claims to be the heir to Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans icon who rose from the streets and was a fierce activist against exclusion. And yet, upon entering, you feel like you're in a bourgeois living room where rebellion has been carefully filtered through a pastel neon light. The clientele is uniform: white, comfortable, self-assured. The only person of color is behind the bar, a subtle reminder that social hierarchies haven't budged. This isn't a militant bar; it's a militant backdrop. A staged display of diversity, devoid of diversity. The struggle has been emptied of its meaning and transformed into an atmosphere. The bar owners, who undoubtedly have the right degrees and belong to the right socio-professional category, will surely be able to answer my question. Perhaps I'm mistaken: you might be celebrating a different Marsha, Marsha Hunt for example, from a bourgeois, progressive background, but much closer to the image of this place. Because the real Marsha, the one who lived on welfare, who sometimes slept on the streets, who gave a powerful voice to the marginalized, would probably not have felt at home here. She would likely have perceived, behind the smiles and the neon lights, the coldness of a world that adores symbols… as long as they don't cause too much of a stir. So yes, it's clean, it's "safe," it's stylish. But what about the substance? Empty. And I can't help but see a subtle violence in it: the violence of a world that soothes its conscience by using the face of a woman who fought against everything this place represents today.

This is THE must-visit queer bar in Paris! A welcoming team, incredible house cocktails, a varied and consistently high-quality program. I go back as often as I can!

Queer bar in the 11th arrondissement, great atmosphere, very friendly and welcoming. They have a few vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, but that's not why you come. It's the queer hotspot in the 11th; tonight Dixie was even doing tarot readings for 2026 for us 😁 Really great!

A very nice queer bar, with a chic and welcoming atmosphere.

Yes, yes, yes! Because they're friendly Because the prices are reasonable Because they offer a new beer every month Because they're inclusive These are the reasons why Le Gay Paris loves going for a drink at Merci Marsha.

Great team, thank you!