© Pierre Lucet Penato
Do you know the concept of a “dive bar” ? These iconic American hangouts, a little worn around the edges and charmingly outdated, offer cheap drinks to a loyal crowd of regulars. In short : the kind of spot where you show up with friends, sip something easy, and avoid going broke : all in a laid-back atmosphere. Paris now has its own stylish interpretation with Superfine, freshly opened in the 11th arrondissement (where else ?). Goodbye anti-glam, hello French Touch ! Behind the project ? Vincent Pinceloup of Monsieur Antoine fame, entrepreneur Étienne Gatti, chef Delphine Laguerre (Sando Club), and Raphaël Blanc, former head bartender for the Ducasse Group. A dream team that sounds like a promise of irresistibly sexy food and cocktails… the kind you’d cross the city for.
A raw, intimate setting
From Passage Josset, it looks like a tiny bar… until you walk in and realise it’s not. Inside, the décor is pared-back yet preserves the raw charm of a neighborhood spot: exposed brick walls inherited from the former bar Le Motel, large mirrors, and candles glowing on every table.
The star of the show ? The stainless-steel central bar, where guests gather to admire the bartenders – dressed in American-diner uniforms – shaking up the house cocktails. For those who aren’t fond of high stools or counter culture, small wooden tables and metal chairs are scattered throughout the space, offering a cozier, even romantic alternative away from the bar’s lively bustle. A fun detail : you can watch your pizza puff up in the open kitchen.
A sexy, refined menu
Helmed by this high-caliber quartet, Superfine champions a love of detail, in the glass and on the plate. On the food side, generous portions celebrate a playful, sexy, uninhibited take on street food: from the vegetarian Eggplant Katsu Burger (€12) and the finger-licking Sausage Dog with Guinness gravy (€13) to the reimagined Caesar Salad for the sensible ones (€9), and the ultra-soft Puff Pizza topped with ricotta, harissa-butter sauce, and honey (€13). It’s hard to choose… so you order everything.
Feeling like a little boost ? The drinks menu flirts between coffee-shop indulgence and cocktail artistry, offering options like the PB&B Milkshake (€13), the Butter Not Texture – a mix of gin, barley shochu, buckwheat, and butternut (€14) – or an Absinthe Gimlet with white amaretto (€14). A perfect blend of guilty pleasures and American-style comfort, elevated with Parisian finesse.
Bonus : On Friday and Saturday nights, Superfine moves to the rhythm of energetic DJ sets, a subtle nod to the musical soul of Motel Bar, the beloved spot that once lived here.
Open from Wednesday to Friday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., on Saturday from 4 p.m., and on Sunday from 4 p.m. to midnight.
Also discover : The Rebirth of Vesper : The Chicest Izakaya on the Left Bank and Schnock : The Characterful Bistro Shaking Up the 17th
