Le Bar Long

Grandeur with room to settle in

Le Bar Long sits just off the entrance to Le Royal Monceau, in a large, open room that feels connected to the hotel around it. Old world grandeur meets a more contemporary sensibility. Cultural objects and decorative pieces give the space character, while the illuminated bar adds a distinctly modern note. The setting delivers the sense of occasion that the Raffles name promises.

There is a pleasing balance to the atmosphere. The room feels formal but relaxed, with a healthy buzz from the surrounding guests and no loud music fighting the conversation. Its size helps. Different seating areas let you stay close to the action or retreat towards the perimeter when the company matters more than the spectacle.

For a first stop, choose a seat near the bar. It offers the clearest sense of the room and a closer view of the cocktail making. A more secluded table towards the hotel entrance trades some of that energy for conversational comfort. Both have their place.

Sesame takes the lead

The namesake Le Bar Long combines Dalmore 12 whisky washed with roasted sesame fat and fermented spiced hydromel. It is a good, well executed cocktail, but sesame is the defining flavor rather than a quiet accent. If that sounds appealing, that’s your first stop. If sesame is not a particular favorite, try the Parisian Sling.

The espresso martini takes a lighter path. The coffee is subdued and the texture feels thin, bordering on watery, without the richness or concentrated coffee character that gives the drink its deeper appeal. Yet it remains approachable and highly drinkable. For someone who prefers a gentle coffee cocktail, it earns another order with that expectation. For someone looking for intensity, it falls short.

Luxury, Loosened Up

Service is attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. Staff remain present without making the experience feel overly formal. There is less of the sophistication and ceremony that the Raffles name can suggest, but the care remains. This is a relaxed expression of luxury hospitality, and it suits a room where conversation has space to unfold.

Le Bar Long makes particular sense for weeknight drinks after dinner. Spend time around the Arc de Triomphe or Champs Élysées, eat nearby, then settle in for a final cocktail. The hotel provides the occasion, the room supplies the energy, and the service makes staying comfortable.

That is the reason to return. Le Bar Long is a welcome addition to an evening in this part of Paris, rather than a bar to plan the trip around. Let its location and beautiful hotel setting do their share of the work.