The Cambridge Public House
Bar — Enfants-Rouges (Paris)
À propos
The Cambridge Public House is an innovative cocktail pub located in Paris's Marais district, founded in 2019 by Hyacinthe Lescoët and Hugo Gallou. Blending the warm atmosphere of a traditional English pub with Parisian mixology precision, the establishment stands out for its seasonal and creative cocktail menu. Ranked among the world's top 50 bars, the venue offers original creations like the famous "Cigarette After Sex" and reimagined British snacks. Committed to sustainability, the bar has obtained B Corp certification and features a design interior mixing wood, leather, and British references. Its "Tradition & Transition" philosophy is reflected in an innovative culinary and mixology approach, making it a must-visit in the Parisian scene.
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Bar Review: The Cambridge Public House, Paris, France — Liquid Thoughts - Cocktails, Bars, Spirits & More
Last Visit: Fall 2024 I still remember the moment of confusion last year when I not only read that one of the biggest legends of the European bar scene — Little Red Door — had internal struggles and lost its two creative bar heads. It was also subsequently taken over by a bar that I had only heard about for the first time a few weeks earlier. That was when the latter had suddenly appeared in the World's 50 out of what felt like nowhere 1–2 months earlier. How did that happen? A bar that was completely unknown to me took over one of the giants? As you can probably guess, the second of the bunch was The Cambridge Public House and, to the relief of every bar nerd, they decided to keep the Little Red Door independent in its old location. While we may talk more about their takeover in the related LDR article, today we look at what they themselves actually have to offer for the ever-growing Parisian bar community. Copyright: Cambridge Public House Foremost, it is a very clear “unique selling point”, namely the CPH's concept as a “cocktail pub”, as co-founder Hugo Gallou lived in London for several years and wanted to open a bar in Paris inspired by British pubs, with all the trimmings. This can be seen both on the outside and in the menu. The old-school blue façade with the large “The Cambridge” embellished on it, while the warm, wooden elements of the interior can already be seen through the large windows. We were there on a Sunday, and it was still packed, but we managed to get a seat after 10–15 minutes. At the same time, you immediately noticed that compared to a few other bars, it felt like >90% of the people here were tourists and/or expats, although this may be due to the choice of day. As a result, the authentic flair is lost a little and, together with the contrast between the very strikingly British pub interior and the French capital outside, you feel like you're in a fancy theme park. At the same time, of course, the Cambridge can't be blamed here and to say this as a (professional) tourist ourselves is also somewhat schizophrenic. In any case, the final outcome of the interior is that you feel very cuddled up and in good hands, you don't have that cold feeling that some very modern or even futuristic bars sometimes give you. Copyright: Cambridge Public House The USP is particularly evident from the extensive menu, in that the bar is a true all-rounder. Craft beer, a few nice wines, exciting homemade sodas, appetizers, a surprisingly extensive cocktail selection for such a “combo” concept and, of course, important for a pub: British staples such as meat pie and sausage roll. We had both of the latter, by the way, and you definitely won't find them better in this more classic preparation, especially outside the United Kingdom, of course. The service was always pleasant and friendly, but at the same time obviously quite stressed by the amount of guests, even on a Sunday. Nevertheless, questions were always answered in a concise and skillful, although short manner with so many guests in the house. Of course, you should be prepared for the fact that there won't be a close or intimate atmosphere here like in more classic, small bars. Especially since the place has made it onto the World's 50 list, with all the implications due to that fame. The cocktails are divided into Signature Drinks, Non-Alcoholic, and “Tiny Bevs”, meaning small, more aperitif-style drinks. Due to the high seasonality and rotation of the drinks, there is also an indication of which 1-2 will soon no longer be available on the menu — a cool feature. Cool Cat | Sesame | Flor de Cana 12yo | Dolin Rouge | Oloroso Sherry | Noix St. Jean The Cool Cat comes from that “Tiny Bevs” category and of course reads like a drink exactly to my taste, which it was. Overall, it was quite classically constructed, only with the fine sesame note added. It was my favorite drink at CPH. A fat wash of the already quite dry rum with sesame oil naturally goes well with the wine apéritif also made with walnuts (Noix St. Jean, highly recommended if you don't know it). Smooth and yet full-bodied, unsurprisingly on the nutty-dry side, some grasses, and woods from Flor de Cana and Oloroso, as well as some wine-like notes. /rds Luxury Motivation | Yellow Bell Pepper | Nori | Ocho Tequila | Empirical Ayuuk Don't expect an ultimate margarita that presents all the notes of agave powerfully. But it's an easy, slightly salty and vegetable-based drink to accompany your meal, which uses the progressive Empirical Spirits bottlings and breaks with the “pub clichés” a little. /jf We also had 1-2 other drinks and, like the ones mentioned above, they were characterized by solid to high quality, but also a certain smoothness, as is often the case in bar concepts with an equivalent food offering. Then there are the exciting homemade sodas. These can also be ordered as an “enhanced” version with alcohol. John had the clove & grapefruit kombucha with sweet potato shochu and I had the fig/ojicha/licorice soda. The latter was a really memorable one, not only at the Cambridge, but in general as far as non-alcoholic drinks I had last year are concerned. Of course, it lacks a little of the power of alcohol, but the flavors spread out wonderfully and all came through individually. Dry fig, tea notes and subtle hints of aniseed made this a real aromatic highlight. The kombucha long drink was also cool, but more on the sweet side, which was certainly also due to the tonka in the drink (not mentioned on the menu). We try to rate The Cambridge Public House apart from its World's 50 ranking, it sometimes feels pointless to see everything, every time in this comparative context. Although we didn't have the big “wow moment”, our visit was satisfactory, good food, equally good, albeit well-rounded drinks, as well as a great offer beyond that (homemade sodas, craft beer, a nice little wine selection etc.). The bar is also a very active, positive player in the community, making it the first bar internationally with “B Corp Certification”. This is a globally recognized certificate that assesses a company's social and environmental impact, as well as its external and internal transparency towards staff and so on. With the “Cocktail Pub”, Paris has thus definitely experienced a further enrichment of its bar scene, not only due to its merits, both in the “rescue” of an independent Little Red Door, but also in its influence in the industry outside of it. The unique combination of sophisticated drinking culture with well-made British food in a cool location also makes it easy to recommend a visit while touring Paris. /rds Excerpts from the menu (click for original size):
liquidthoughts.de
The Cambridge Public House | The World's 50 Best Bars 2025
20 Paris * Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2025 WHERE AN ENGLISH PUB'S SOUL MEETS PARISIAN COCKTAIL MASTERY Combining the convivial charm of a traditional English pub with the meticulous precision of a modern cocktail bar, The Cambridge Public House, founded in 2019 by notable Parisian bartender Hyacinthe Lescoët and his partners, has quickly become a standout venue in Paris. The bar's hybrid model offers a welcoming atmosphere where patrons can enjoy everything from craft beers and natural wines to delicious cocktails. The food menu bridges the French-British divide with bar snacks like homemade meat and veggie pies and sausage rolls, all prepared with French ingredients. This duality lives on in the drinks. The Cambridge takes great pride in its perfectly poured Guinness and their reinterpretation of the Pimm's, currently made with Alsatian wine, St. Germain and gin, is a menu evergreen. Other hits wear their French influence on the sleeve or in the names: Cigarette After Sex has been a standard since the bar's opening. What drew Lescoët to the pub model is the sense that they are communal institutions, and the bar strives to lead its community's push for sustainability and social responsibility. This commitment is documented in an annual Environmental, Social and Governance report, which ensures transparency and accountability. Last year, the bar became the first in the world to achieve B Corp certification, a rigorous distinction that recognises their very high standards. To share its knowledge, the bar also launched Shaken Leaf, a website dedicated to promoting and educating about sustainable practices in the hospitality world. CONTACT
theworlds50best.com
Cambridge Public House — Bar Review | Condé Nast Traveler
First impression? No you’re not in London, but yes this is most definitely a British-inspired watering hole. Denoted as such by the three co-founders, who met and worked in the Big Smoke, this Paris pub in the Marais is always popping. You may have to speak an octave higher than normal over the Tears for Fears blasting from the speakers to hear whomever you’re chatting with. While you can book one of the tables or plush velvet banquettes, there’s a room-for-everyone vibe at the living room-esque space (complete with a Chesterfield couch) where the distinguished color scheme includes forest greens and woodsy browns and the deco includes 18th century oil paintings of hounds. How’s the crowd? This place definitely skews younger, but truly anyone and everyone are welcome—babies, kids, and four-legged friends included. You’ll definitely find regulars at the bar having popped in for a quick pint, visitors lounging after a long day touring or shopping, and groups of friends celebrating a birthday or just being young, wild, and thirsty. How are the drinks? This being a pub, their beer selection is quite extensive—think an IPA from southwest France and a can of hazy IPA from Leeds—but when it comes to creations of the liquor variety this is no basic gin-and-tonic joint. The cocktails change regularly, and there’s always a weekly special such as the recent Trance Dance featuring apple, cinnamon, gingerbread, and rum. Menus are in English, and each drink is listed with three easy adjectives to help describe them such as “velvety, earthy, fresh” for the signature Cigarette After Sex, which has been on the menu since the bar opened in 2019. Still, if you want to forgo one of their clever concoctions, they’ll happily mix you a classic—say, a gin martini—and make it extra dirty upon request, going so far as to bring a clay copita typically used for shots of mezcal as a pit dish for the olives. When it comes to wine, their focus is mostly organic and natural from France, and while they do craft non-alcoholic cocktails, those looking to keep it light could also choose one of the “tiny bevs,” which are just smaller versions, for $7. If there’s food, is it worth ordering something to eat? Sticking with the British theme, the menu here highlights hearty pub favorites such as sausage rolls, minced meat pies, and cheesy pasties made with comté cheese—because we’re still in France, after all. There’s also hummus, olives, and nuts on hand for lighter snacking, too. Did the staff do you right? Donning workman blue aprons, the predominantly male staff here do it all: make drinks, serve drinks, and even cook up eats to accompany drinks, which means that you may place an order with one and receive it from another. Still, one thing is consistent: they’re all attentive and friendly. They may greet you at the door, but they’ll let you choose your seat or table and immediately drop menus and water wherever you land. They’d never dare take away a glass with one last sip, but it won’t sit empty before they come around asking if you’d like a second (or third or fourth) round. Wrap it up: what are we coming here for? The friendly, easygoing atmosphere—and early opening time—make it great for after-work drinks, a raucous Saturday night on the town or an afternoon Sunday tipple to beat the Monday blues. Don’t expect dancing, though. This is still very much a sit-and-sip type of place. Read on for our full list of the best bars in Paris.
cntraveler.com