Tucked away on rue Daunou in the heart of Paris, Harry’s Bar is more than just a bar — it’s a cornerstone of global cocktail history. Founded in 1911 and acquired in 1923 by the charismatic Harry MacElhone, the bar quickly became a cultural hub for American expatriates, writers, and bon vivants during the interwar period. Legendary figures such as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald frequented its doors, contributing to its enduring mythos.
Harry’s Bar is also a place of creation. Over the decades, it has been credited with the invention and popularization of some of the world’s most iconic cocktails, including:
These classic drinks are now staples of menus worldwide, but their origin story is inseparable from the Parisian streets where Harry’s Bar stands.
Remarkably, Harry’s Bar has remained in the MacElhone family for over a century. Today, Franz-Arthur MacElhone, fourth-generation custodian and great-grandson of Harry MacElhone, carries forward this legacy. His approach combines quiet discipline and unwavering commitment to classicism, ensuring the bar’s historic values remain relevant while engaging with contemporary bartending culture.
Through international guest shifts and collaborations, Harry’s Bar continues to create dialogue with leading bars worldwide. These exchanges are not about reinventing classic cocktails, but about sharing perspective and maintaining relevance, allowing tradition to evolve naturally.
Under Franz-Arthur’s guidance, Harry’s Bar demonstrates that classicism is not nostalgia, but a lens through which cocktails are crafted and appreciated. The bar’s enduring influence lies in its ability to remain traditionally inventive — preserving historical integrity while continuing to inspire bartenders across the globe.
