Drink Like a Pro in Champagne 🍾 (My Top 5 Spots)

Hi Wine Friends,

A few days ago, I posted a Reel on Instagram sharing my five favorite wine stops in Champagne—and based on the response, it’s clear that a lot of you are either planning trips or daydreaming about bubbles in your future. So today, I’m giving you a little more detail: a proper mini-guide to the spots I loved most, and why they should be on your radar too.

First, a little context: when people picture Champagne, they often think of glitzy chateau tours, endless flute refills, and shiny chandeliers—and that can absolutely a part of it! If you want the classic glamorous Champagne experience, a stroll down the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay (think of it as the Vegas Strip of bubbles) will deliver exactly that.

But my trip was a little different. I was there for Printemps des Champagnes, a weeklong industry event that focuses mainly on grower-producers—small, independent estates where the farmers grow their own grapes and make their own wine. Less marketing budgets, more dirt under the fingernails. And that's exactly the kind of Champagne I personally love: minimal intervention, but still clean, balanced, and electric.

Reims (pronounced "Rance") was my home base—and it’s an incredible city to explore beyond just wine. For centuries, Reims was the coronation site of French royalty, anointed in its jaw-dropping Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral—a masterpiece of Gothic architecture that’s every bit as stunning as the more famous Notre-Dame in Paris. It's also where Joan of Arc helped turn the tide of French history (and later met her tragic fate). You can feel the stories whisper as you walk the cobbled streets... or maybe that was the fifth glass of bubbles talking 😉

So if you’re headed to Champagne and want to drink like the industry folks—sipping your way through small-production treasures—here are my five must-stops: 

The Glue Pot 

The Glue Pot looks like a divey English pub at first glance, and it is—dim lighting, pints flowing, a little rough around the edges. But look closer, and you’ll find one of the most impressive Champagne lists in the city, hidden in plain sight. You can grab a beer if you must, but why would you when you can order a glass of Pierre Péters or Laherte Frères for a fraction of what you'd pay anywhere else? The vibe is super casual, usually buzzing with a mix of locals, off-duty winemakers, and savvy visitors who know this is the real move after a day of tastings. It’s the kind of place where you come for a pint and end up staying for three rounds of grower Champagne—and maybe a few new friends.

Atome

Atome feels like stumbling into the living room of Champagne’s coolest natural wine nerds—and immediately being handed a glass that blows your mind. Owned by Aline and Eric Serva, who came from the Paris fashion and music world, made waves with their previous concept Au Bon Manger, which was a gourmet epicerie and wine bar. Atome is the next evolution of that space–a cozy bottle shop-meets-bistro that keeps the vibe simple, seasonal, and soulful. The prix fixe dinner is tiny (think one or two options) but absolutely dialed-in, with dishes that somehow manage to be both unfussy and deeply satisfying. Their wine selection leans natural but clean—meaning vibrant, alive wines without the funk or flaws. It’s the spot where the staff knows every producer personally, and you’ll leave not just a little buzzed but also a little bit more connected to the Champagne you’re drinking.

Les Caves du Forum

If you love wine shopping (or just wine wandering), you cannot skip Les Caves du Forum. Picture a 16th-century underground labyrinth—vaulted stone ceilings, winding tunnels—and now fill it with thousands of bottles from Champagne, Burgundy, Jura, and the world beyond. It’s honestly one of the coolest wine shops I’ve ever seen. You can snag rare bottles off the shelf—and if you need some inspiration while you browse, order Coravin pours of unicorn wines by the glass (yes, I had Labet by the glass here. Yes, I considered never leaving). It’s a place where you could spend an entire afternoon lost in the aisles, finding bottles you didn’t even know you needed. Pro-tip: ask them to sell you a cardboard wine shipping case that you can just check on the flight home! 

Sacré Burger

 Listen. I know it sounds weird to recommend a burger joint on a Champagne trip. But trust me: Sacré Burger is an absolute must. It’s the ultimate "high-low" experience: juicy smashburgers, crispy fries, and one of the most eclectic, exciting wine lists in town. While you’re dunking your fries, you could be drinking a small-production Champagne from a winemaker you’ll probably see splashed across Wine Spectator five years from now. It's loud, it's casual, it smells like fries and good intentions—and it’s exactly the kind of energy you sometimes need after a day of structured, formal tastings. (Plus, the food is genuinely fantastic.) Also, if you end up in the neighboring town of Epernay, check out their sister restaurant Sacré Bistro for creative French bistro fare with an equally fabulous bottle list!

Le Wine Bar

 When you want to sink into a chair and let someone else take the wheel, Le Wine Bar is where you go. Right on Place du Forum (Reims’ darling, vine-lined central square), this cozy little bar has hundreds of Champagne options, from cult growers to classic producers and everything in between. The staff is friendly, unpretentious, and genuinely excited to help you find something fun to drink—whether you want to nerd out about vineyard elevations or just point at the menu and say "something delicious, please." It’s the perfect way to wind down after a day of exploring—or to start your night if you’re just getting warmed up. It’s also a great way to make new friends and get recommendations on what producers people are excited about.

Bottom Line?

If you want glitz and glamour, it’s there for you on the Avenue de Champagne. But if you want to drink like the growers, the importers, the winemakers—the people who live in this world—these are the stops that will show you a different side of Champagne. A side with a little less spectacle but a little more soul.

Santé!🍾✨
Kelsey

P.S. Many of you have asked for updates on Her Way...

and I’m thrilled to report that I’m knee-deep in planning our first two episodes in Sonoma and Napa! We’re confirming so many incredible women as guests (seriously, I’m bursting to tell you) and we’ll be heading down there to shoot at the end of May.

We’re still actively fundraising to complete the rest of Season 1 (with two more episodes each in Oregon and Washington), but we wanted to get production rolling now and show the world what an amazing project this is shaping up to be.

If you’d like to support Her Way—whether it’s $5 or $500—we are still hoping to raise another $20K to finish the series strong. Every penny goes straight to production, and we are grateful for every single one.

Thanks for being part of this dream.