Nightlife & Entertainment
Parisian nightlife is more diverse than its reputation: From wine bars and jazz cellars to cabarets and cocktail bars, to techno clubs and underground parties.
The Nightlife Districts
- Oberkampf / Ménilmontant (11th Arr.): The bar mile of young Parisians. Dozens of bars within a few hundred meters, happy hours from 5 PM, live music, and an energy reminiscent of Berlin.
- Le Marais (3rd–4th Arr.): Cocktail bars, wine bars, and the center of the LGBTQ+ scene. Elegant and lively.
- Saint-Germain (6th Arr.): Jazz cellars (Caveau de la Huchette), literary cafés (Café de Flore), wine bars. For those who prefer it more cultured.
- Canal Saint-Martin (10th Arr.): Natural wine bars, craft beer, brunch cafés, and a relaxed atmosphere by the canal.
- Pigalle / SoPi (9th Arr.): The once notorious red-light district is now Parisian hipster central: cocktail bars, neo-bistros, and the legendary Hotel Amour.
Jazz in Paris
Paris was, alongside New York, the most important jazz city in the world — Miles Davis, Bud Powell, Sidney Bechet, and Django Reinhardt shaped the scene. Today:
- Le Caveau de la Huchette: Jazz cellar since 1946 in the Latin Quarter. Live jazz and swing dancing in the vault. Entry: 13–15€.
- New Morning: The most important jazz and world music club in Paris (10th Arr.).
- Le Duc des Lombards: Intimate jazz club near the Centre Pompidou — world-class musicians on a small stage.
Cabaret
Besides the Moulin Rouge, there are other legendary shows:
- Le Lido: On the Champs-Élysées — more elegant than the Moulin Rouge, with elaborate productions.
- Le Crazy Horse: Avant-garde burlesque with spectacular light and shadow effects. Fewer tourist crowds, more art.
