A Delicious Wine Bar In Paris: 5e Cru

When you think of France, you likely think of wine. And when you’re in France, do what the French do: drink wine. Sure, you could have dinner with wine or visit a wine bar (“Bar à Vins”). But most likely you’d just get your glass of wine and maybe with some nuts on the side. A more interesting thing to do is go to “Un Cave à Manger” or “Cave à Vin”. Think of it as a place to have a little wine plus some small plates of food, charcuterie, and cheese. I went to such a place on the left bank and it is now one of my favourite places in Paris to drink and to eat: 5e Cru.

5e Cru

5eCru
Inside 5e Cru
Inside 5e Cru

5e Cru (Cinquième Cru). It is a wine bar aptly named as it is located in the 5th arrondissement in the Latin Quarter near Boulevard Saint-Germain. There are two times in the day to have a good visit at 5e Cru: for lunch or before dinner (L’heure de l’apéro). Check out the reviews on TripAdvisor.

L’heure de l’apéro

The French love having an apéritif before dinner. This is called “L’heure de l’apéro (aka “happy hour”) and it starts at about 5 pm. Typically an apéritif is a drink such as a kir (cassis liqueur and white wine) or pastis. But what makes 5e Cru unique is the enormous selection of wines (over 300) and the opportunity to have your wine paired with cheese and charcuterie (meats such as ham, sausage, terrines, or pâtés).

Lunch

Ardoise Mix at 5e Cru, Paris
Ardoise Mix at 5e Cru, Paris

For my visit, lunchtime was more convenient and my waiter recommended the Petite Ardoise mix which consisted of charcuterie and cheese because this is something that might be served during l’heure de l’apéro.  The plate presented to me had 3 cheeses, 4 meats, a paté, and gherkins. One of the cheeses was so soft I thought it was butter.

I paired this little feast with white wine from the Angers area of France. It was named “L’Echalier”, from Domaine Bertin Delatte and it was a delicious organic wine. Usually there are about a dozen wines available by the glass. To finish my lunch I had a wonderful pear caramel dessert. Including a tip, the meal came to 25 Euros (about $37). The cost of wine was only 4 Euros a glass!

With owner/chef/sommelier Jean de Rotalier at 5e Cru
With owner/chef/sommelier Jean de Rotalier at 5e Cru

At the end of my meal owner/chef/sommelier Jean de Rotalier was nice enough to come out and talk to me about his establishment. He was extremely personable and modest……and certainly has created a great environment for locals to gather, drink and eat.

Produits du Terroir

At 5e Cru, you can also buy wine and regional gourmet products (“produits du terroir”) so even if you don’t have time for some wine and food (shame), you should check out what 5e Cru has to offer.

5e Cru is located at: 7 rue du Cardinal-Lemoine

Website: http://www.5ecru.com

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12 Comments

  1. Jenny Freedman says:

    I’m a big fan of french wine bars. 5e Cru definitely sounds like one to enjoy on my next trip to Paris.

  2. jane canapini says:

    You know, it has been so long since I visited Paris that I feel like I would see it with completely new and fresh eyes (ironically, now that I am older!) and new tastes (a greater appreciation for wine and cheese!) Thanks for another great locale.

  3. I love that in France (and other European countries), wine is served with little nibble on the side…it’s such a civilised approach to drinking alcohol. And in France they go one step further! Loved your pictures of the cheeses, pates, etc on offer. Yum!

  4. 5e Cru sounds just wonderful. So much great wine and the food looks lovely. How is it that I’m in Italy and wanting to be in Paris. So much for living in the moment 😉

    1. When I look at other blogs when I am in France I feel the same way. So much to see in this world!

  5. Irene S. Levine says:

    What an intimate little place—love the idea of a before-dinner apertif! Much like the Italian apertivo!

    1. I bet every country has something like this….now on my mission to find more!

  6. Sue Reddel says:

    We’re definitely adding this wine bar to our must-visit list on our next trip to Paris. We love having a small nosh and a glass of wine for a little break while exploring the city. This looks like an ideal place for just that. Thanks Jan!

    1. Seeing that you ARE the FoodTravelist, thought you might be interested in this great spot!