📷 4
Photos
Shot by a City Insiders curator.
Combat
★ 4.0(1 review)Bar
cozylocal-crowdunpretentious
About the Vibe
Combat is Margot Lecarpentier’s first bar venture—a true neighborhood cocktail bistro that feels like a secret you’ve stumbled upon rather than a destination you’re hunting for. Located on the gritty stretch of Rue de Belleville, its black-and-white exterior blends in so well you might walk right past it, but once inside, you’ll find a cozy space with mirrored walls, low ceilings draped in dried greenery, and soulful tunes from Curtis Mayfield to Cheryl Lynn. It’s the kind of place where art directors and record execs shed their suits for scooter helmets, and locals come for smartly crafted drinks like the Zouzou or Nirvana, paired with homemade snacks like aged Gouda with pickles or spicy chips. The vibe is unpretentious but never sloppy—think “trying, but not too hard.” You’ll find mason jars filled with locally sourced olives and pickled onions on the 6-stool bar, and Lecarpentier’s sustainability efforts (which earned her Time Out Paris’s “Most Responsible Bar” title) shine through in every detail. Skip the minimal beer and natural wine list; instead, dive into their cocktail program, which includes clever non-alcoholic creations like the stracciatella-cheese Kolada. It’s a great date spot or a pre-dinner sip before heading out, with the Eiffel Tower peeking into view from the busy street outside.
Known For
- •Margot Lecarpentier’s first bar
- •sustainability efforts
- •cocktail bistro concept
- •pickle-back shots and cheese cocktails
Best For
date nightpost-work drinkssolo coffee or cocktail
1 review
City InsidersEditorialApril 1, 2026
A Neighborhood Cocktail Gem in Belleville
Combat is the kind of bar that feels like a local secret you’re lucky to find. Located on the gritty stretch of Rue de Belleville, its understated black-and-white exterior might make you walk right past it, but once inside, you’re greeted by a cozy space with mirrored walls, low ceilings draped in dried greenery, and soulful tunes from Curtis Mayfield to Cheryl Lynn. Margot Lecarpentier, dubbed Paris’s “most influential bartender” by the World’s Best Bar list, has crafted a true neighborhood cocktail bistro here—one that’s unpretentious but never sloppy. Think art directors shedding their suits for scooter helmets, and locals coming for smartly crafted drinks like the Zouzou or Nirvana, paired with homemade snacks like aged Gouda with pickles or spicy chips.
The drinks are where Combat truly shines. Lecarpentier’s pedigree (she previously worked for the Experimental Cocktail Club) means every cocktail is smartly crafted and packed with flavor. You’ll find simple but punchy drinks like the Zouzou, or the Nirvana, which features unique spirits like aquavit and cachaça. For those who prefer non-alcoholic options, the creamy Kolada made with stracciatella cheese is a surprising hit. The bar also earns its “Most Responsible Bar” title from Time Out Paris with its sustainability efforts, seen in the mason jars filled with locally sourced olives and pickled onions. While the beer and natural wine list is minimal, the cocktail program more than makes up for it. It’s a great date spot or a pre-dinner sip before heading out, with the Eiffel Tower peeking into view from the busy street outside.