Gentlemen 1919: a barber shop, a hidden bar and a cigar lounge at one Paris address

In the middle of Paris, a discreet address has established itself among those looking for something out of the ordinary: Gentlemen 1919. Behind the name lies a hybrid concept, devised by two enthusiasts, Maxime Simonneau and Antoine Drieu, to plunge their guests into the hushed atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties while adding a contemporary edge. The choice of the year 1919 is deliberate: on 28 October of that year, in the United States, the Constitution enshrined Prohibition, which led to the rise of the clandestine bars known as speakeasies. Gentlemen 1919 draws on that period to recreate a hidden bar where things once forbidden are now available, entirely legally. The address, at 11 rue Jean Mermoz in the 8th arrondissement, houses a barber shop, a concealed cocktail bar and a cigar lounge, in deliberately exclusive surroundings. The venue is presented as a journey back in time, a nod to the men’s style and the clandestine nightlife of the 1920s. Founded in 2016 after three years spent working on the concept, Gentlemen 1919 has built up a following. The establishment has been distinguished among the best in its field: ranked in the world top 5 of cigar lounges in 2020 and in 2023, while its barber shop received the Excellence Artisanale medal in 2024 for the quality of its craft. The place sets out above all to be authentic, faithfully reflecting the spirit of American speakeasies of the 1920s while adapting to what today’s customers expect. In a dimmed and private setting, Gentlemen 1919 serves an urban clientele that comes looking for Parisian know-how combined with the retro feel of the clandestine bars of the past.

The barber shop: a timeless ritual

The experience begins at the window, behind which Gentlemen 1919 looks like a classic barber shop. A smart men’s salon with a vintage feel comes into view, with its three-coloured barber’s pole on the front, the universal symbol of the traditional barber shop. Once through the door, the decor is chic and timeless: a mosaic floor, barber’s chairs in worn leather and carefully finished woodwork. The atmosphere is that of a grooming workshop of the past, with a faint smell of aftershave and leather alongside the woody notes of the old furniture. The barber shop has a retro charm, with its leather chairs and timeless decor, and offers a top-end service. The Gentlemen 1919 barber shop indeed embodies the craftsmanship of the barber’s trade. Every detail of the ritual is designed for the comfort of the customer and for the finish of the style: traditional beard trimming with a straight razor, a hot towel applied to the skin for a close shave, a careful and personalised haircut, relaxing facials and even precise trimming of the outlines if wanted. All the codes of this long-established trade are respected, from the products used to the final snip of the scissors, with the contemporary touch of a made-to-measure service. Here the modern man can call on a whole range of services to look after his appearance: shampoo, cut, styling, subtle colouring of the hair or the beard, moisturising skin care, not forgetting the shaping of moustaches and even eyebrows. All of it is delivered by dedicated specialists, in a barber’s chair as comfortable as an English club armchair, where customers happily relax while talking about style or whisky. It is no accident that the salon was awarded a medal in 2024 for its craftsmanship: every customer leaves this ritual impeccably turned out, ready to continue the experience in the mysterious back room.

Behind the hidden door: a private speakeasy

Once the beard has been closely trimmed and the neck tidied up, curiosity can lead somewhere unexpected. At the back of the barber shop stands a discreet door, almost invisible to the uninitiated, which raises questions. Pushing that hidden door open means changing period and moving into another world. The muffled sounds of the salon give way to a dimmed atmosphere, punctuated by the chink of crystal glasses and subtle jazz in the background. The visitor arrives in a large back room with a retro charm, a genuine clandestine bar hidden from the street. The lights are low and warm, casting a golden glow on walls lined with dark woodwork and archive photographs of the Prohibition years. A long solid wood counter runs the length of the room, behind which mixologists work in braces, waistcoats and bow ties, recalling the old-school look of the barmen of the past. A row of high leather stools invites guests to lean on the bar and watch the mixing, while a little further on, buttoned Chesterfield armchairs and comfortable club sofas form intimate alcoves in which to sit down with a glass. The clandestine bar reveals itself with its lit counter, its shelves of rare spirits and its dimmed lighting. Here the cocktail is king. The list, deliberately short and refined, pays tribute to the great classics of mixology while adding a contemporary touch. Most of the signature cocktails carry names that recall the underworld of the 1920s, an amused nod to the emblematic figures of Prohibition. One can order a Scarface with rye whiskey and spiced bitters, or a Sam the Cigar combining aged rum and vintage liqueurs, drinks with a strong character. The barmen are also happy to leave the beaten track: their mixologists rework the best creations of 1924 with skill, reviving forgotten recipes or reinventing classics with unexpected ingredients. The menu is set out in several chapters to cover every taste. It includes the “Classics”, timeless essentials such as the Negroni or the Old Fashioned, perfectly executed.

Then come the “Timeless”, elegant variations that never date, and finally the “Experimental” creations that show the daring of the bartenders. At between €19 and €24 a glass, each cocktail tells a story. Among the most original concoctions is the Parfum d’Arsène, an intriguing drink combining tequila, Eagle Rare bourbon, lemon juice, fig purée and egg white, a bold marriage of sweet and full-bodied flavours worthy of an Arsène Lupin novel. To go with these drinks, the house also offers boards of fine charcuterie, matured cheeses and other homemade tapas, to be shared in a convivial and chic setting. There is nothing like a truffled ham grissini or a few cubes of matured comté alongside a cocktail. Lovers of unusual spirits are not forgotten either. In its backlit cabinets, the bar hides an impressive collection of whiskies, more than 80 references from around the world, each rarer than the last. Whether hard-to-find Scottish single malts, vintage American bourbons or limited-edition Japanese whiskies, every bottle has been carefully selected for the most demanding palates. These finds, known only to genuine insiders, make Gentlemen 1919 something of a paradise for connoisseurs. Alongside the whiskies, the spirits list also includes old rums from distant origins, premium gins for exceptional Martinis and even a few collector’s Chartreuses that the house keeps to itself.

For those who want to take things further, it is possible to buy a rare bottle and keep it on the premises in a private locker, so that its owner can come back to it as though to a personal club. The bar opens during the day, giving customers the chance of a cocktail or a whisky in the afternoon, something of a rarity in Paris. In the evening the atmosphere becomes quieter still, recalling a clandestine speakeasy where each table whispers its secrets. As the number of places is limited by the size of the venue, booking ahead is advisable in order to be sure of getting through the hidden door. Exclusivity here has to be earned a little, which only sharpens the feeling of being admitted to one of the most hidden and most refined bars in the capital.

The smoking room, set aside for cigar smokers

At the far end of the speakeasy, another discreet room opens up: the smoking room, set aside for cigar smokers. In this padded lounge the smoke drifts through the low light, and the room smells of tobacco and cognac. Away from the noise outside, the room is quiet. Its walls are lined with dark woodwork and old frames, in the style of London private clubs. Heavy leather armchairs and Chesterfield sofas allow visitors to settle in, with a crystal ashtray within reach. An efficient ventilation system and careful insulation keep the smoke inside the room, so that non-smokers can use the adjoining bar without being affected. The result is a small lounge with a British feel, where Chesterfield armchairs and dimmed lighting set the tone.

The adjoining humidor holds a large selection of cigars, kept at the right humidity. More than sixty references wait in a display cabinet: Cuban cigars of course, with Cohiba, Montecristo and Partagás among them, but also cigars from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Honduras. The owners, well informed themselves, have kept only what they consider the best of each growing region. They are on hand to advise customers on their choice, whether a robusto with leather and coffee notes or a woodier, spicier torpedo. The service around the cigar is part of the offering at Gentlemen 1919: a cutter and long matches are brought to the table, care is taken over seating in a club armchair, and a spirit may be suggested to go with it, an old amber rum or a peated whisky for instance. The atmosphere in the smoking room is quiet, almost private. People talk in low voices, and exchange a few words between customers who share the same interest. At times the only sounds are the faint crackle of a cigar burning down and the discreet pouring of an old bourbon. The room is designed for sitting still, like a men’s club lounge where time seems suspended. The spirit of English clubs is not far away: it could be a hushed library in Mayfair on an autumn evening, with talk of literature and travel. Gentlemen 1919 has recreated an atmosphere in which customers can smoke away from the rest of the venue, quietly.

The habits of the modern gentleman

More than a bar or a salon, Gentlemen 1919 follows an idea: that of discreet comfort and chosen company. Despite its name the venue is not reserved for men, as women are welcome and many of them appreciate the atmosphere, but it is aimed above all at customers looking for something out of the ordinary and for authenticity. People come to have their beard trimmed or their cut tidied up by expert hands, then stay for an unusual cocktail or a cigar from the selection, in the dimmed comfort of a private club. The staff, attentive and highly qualified, excel in the art of hospitality that French tradition sets store by: here a cloakroom where your coat is taken with a courteous gesture, there a well-judged word from the barman on the choice of a single malt to suit your taste, further on a barber who adjusts your collar before saying goodbye. Every customer is treated as a guest, with constant discretion and attentiveness, which reinforces the sense of exclusivity without ever tipping into snobbery. Gentlemen 1919 offers an immersive experience in which the look of the past is cultivated without frozen nostalgia and combined with contemporary creativity. For an evening, or an afternoon, the visitor leaves the noise of Paris behind for a setting out of time, as in a film noir or a Hemingway novel. The leather of the armchairs, the amber warmth of the lights and the subtle taste of an Old Fashioned form a coherent whole. Gentlemen 1919 is not only a place: it is a set of habits, a piece of stagecraft in which every element is designed around men’s style and the company of others.