The Semaphore kinda saved my life recently, when I was mandated by my friends to find a cool bar…read morenear Saint-Lazare. Because you see, Saint-Lazare isn't known for the coolness of its bars - or even for the mere existence of them. So I was deciding to bring them all to Burger King (which IS what Saint-Lazare is known for, actually) when I saw the Semaphore.
€5 cocktails from 5 to 9pm - the well-too-classic Mojitos and Pina Colada, but also Martini Royale, Cosmopolitan, and my little favourite the Black Russian (I know, I know, disgusting, blah blah blah.) They are quite good for the price, and apparently they also have an OK choice of beer for 4-6€ a pint.
As for the place itself: it's young, laid-back (babyfoot alert!), quite loud, not at all hipster. You can stay forever with your friends and nobody will try to come and force you into buying another drink. Oh, and when you begin to be angry, they have some snacks, tapas-like, at around €5 each - I didn't try them, but I saw several people ordering them, so they have to be at least OK!