Cravan is what happens when a Chateaubriand alum decides to open a cocktail bar in a 1911 Art Nouveau jewel box in the sleepy 16th. Franck Audoux named it after Arthur Cravan — poet, boxer, provocateur — and the spirit carries through: serious cocktails, oysters, and grilled cheese in a space so tiny you'll be rubbing elbows with strangers. It's the kind of place that makes the trek to Auteuil worthwhile.
A tiny 1911 Art Nouveau bar in the sleepy 16th where a Chateaubriand alum pours some of Paris's most thoughtful cocktails.
Arrive right at 6pm when doors open — with only a handful of seats, this tiny bar fills up fast on weekends.
A 1911 Art Nouveau jewel box for serious cocktails
Tucked away on a quiet residential street in the 16th, Cravan is the kind of bar you'd walk past without noticing — and that's exactly the point. Franck Audoux, formerly of Chateaubriand, took a 1911 Art Nouveau storefront and turned it into one of Paris's most intimate cocktail spots. The space is genuinely tiny: a handful of seats, a beautiful curved bar, and period details that make you feel like you've stumbled into a time capsule. Named after Arthur Cravan — the flamboyant poet and boxer who was also Oscar Wilde's nephew — the bar channels that same spirit of audacious charm.
The cocktails are the main event, and they deliver. Expect creative, well-balanced drinks at around €15, with a menu that changes and keeps things interesting. The food shouldn't be overlooked either: oysters and grilled cheese sandwiches sound simple, but they're exactly what you want alongside a good drink in a small space. Condé Nast named it one of the best new bars in the world in 2020, and it's held up.
The main gripe from reviewers is value — some feel the portions are small relative to the prices, which is fair for the neighborhood but worth knowing going in. It's open Wednesday to Saturday, 6pm to 11pm, and with so few seats, you'll want to arrive early or be prepared to wait. This isn't a bar for a big group; it's for a quiet drink with someone you actually want to talk to.