Two former luxury-hotel sommeliers — Louis from Plaza Athénée and Paul from Four Seasons George V — ditched the white tablecloths to open this intimate wine bar on Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud. The result is exactly what you want from a neighborhood cave à manger: a rotating list of natural and low-intervention wines by the glass, a short seasonal food menu, and zero pretension despite the serious pedigree. Come thirsty and let them guide you.
Two ex-luxury-hotel sommeliers pouring natural wines by the glass in a warm Belleville room — serious wine, zero attitude.
No reservations under 10 people — arrive right at opening (7pm, 6pm Saturdays) to grab a spot, as the place fills up fast.
Luxury sommeliers, neighborhood vibes — Pétard keeps it real
Pétard is what happens when two fine-dining sommeliers decide they'd rather pour wine in a room where people are actually having fun. Louis spent five years at Plaza Athénée, Paul trained at Four Seasons George V, and together they've built a wine bar that feels like Belleville's coolest living room. The list leans natural and low-intervention, with a rotation of wines by the glass that covers several price ranges — including some genuinely rare bottles for the curious. Ask them what's popping tonight and you'll get an enthusiastic, un-snobby answer.
The food side is a short, seasonal menu of small plates designed to pair, not to steal the show. It's the kind of place where you settle in with a glass, order a couple of things to share, and end up staying three hours. The vibe is warm and convivial — no white tablecloths, no attitude, just two passionate hosts who genuinely want you to drink well. Reservations are only taken for groups of ten or more, so everyone else just shows up and hopes for a spot.
One heads-up: hours are limited (Tuesday through Sunday, opening at 7pm, 6pm Saturdays) and the place fills up fast. This isn't a bar you stumble into — it's a bar you plan your evening around. If you care about wine and want a room that feels alive rather than precious, Pétard delivers.
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Pétard, c'est l'histoire de deux sommeliers qui ont quitté le palace pour le quartier. Louis a fait ses armes au Plaza Athénée, Paul au Four Seasons George V, et ensemble ils ont ouvert un bar à vin sur la rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud qui respire le naturel — dans tous les sens du terme. La carte joue la carte des vins naturels et low-intervention, avec des vins au verre en rotation qui balayent plusieurs gammes de prix, jusqu'à des bouteilles d'exception pour les curieux. Demandez-leur ce qu'ils ont d'intéressant ce soir, et vous aurez une réponse passionnée, sans aucune prétention.
Côté assiette, c'est court, saisonnier et fait pour accompagner — pas pour briller. On s'installe avec un verre, on commande deux-trois choses à partager, et on se retrouve à y passer la soirée. L'ambiance est chaleureuse, précise, sans chichis. Les réservations ne se prennent qu'à partir de dix personnes ; pour le reste, c'est premier arrivé, premier servi.
Attention, les horaires sont restreints (mardi au dimanche, ouverture à 19h, 18h le samedi) et la place se remplit vite. Si le vin naturel est votre truc et que vous cherchez une adresse vivante plutôt que guindée, Pétard est exactement ce qu'il vous faut.