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 Nightlife : Best of the City
Not only is Paris the city of light, but of sound, music, dance, and revelry. In fact, most any big-city diversion you could conceive of is available in France’s capital. Relaxed bar-cafes, high-tech dance clubs, and mellow jazz haunts fit your mood like a well-worn glove, promising good times in any format. Cabaret venues deliver a dose of vibrant entertainment, and pubs prove to be more than just the domain of the British Isles. Progressive Paris also promises a wealth of nighttime opportunities for gay men and women, mostly in the Marais neighborhood. Trend-setting is a regular pastime for young club-goers along rue Oberkampf, and the Bastille area courts folks intent on an evening of fun. If money’s not an issue, the Champs-Elysées features plenty of high-priced places and attracts lots of tourists. Buddha Bar, with its signature Asian icon, is great for people-watching, and La Flèche d'Or boasts terrific live music and alternative ambience. If you simply want to dance, Paris’s top choice is Queen, nominally a gay venue but one of the city’s best (and most packed) places to groove and be beautiful, no matter your inclinations.
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46 Rue du Faubourg St Antoine, Paris 75011 • 01 55 78 84 75
Description: 11ème ARRONDISSEMENT. For the early birds: The Barrio Latino closes at 2am, but offers a lot of bang for your buck. This is one of the friendlier joints in Paris – the city that bites back. Wrought-iron ceilings and velvet sofas greet an eclectic mix from students to office workers. Those who simply came for a drink may find themselves drawn onto the dance floor by its relaxed atmosphere. METRO: Bastille
8-12, rue Boissy d'Anglas, Paris 75008 • 01 53 05 90 00
Description: 8ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Subtly lit and lorded over by an enormous buddha, this temple-like establishment stays at the forefront of Paris cool. While folks come to indulge in the Asian-inspired cuisine, many take advantage of the ambience at the cocktail bar, checking out the beautiful patrons and their style-conscious activity. Although meals and drinks can be pricey, the atmosphere is without compare. In addition, top DJs ably deliver mood-setting tunes that underscore the scene � if you like, you can even buy a CD to take along. METRO: Concorde
1 Rue du Pont-Neuf, Paris 75001 • 01 40 39 09 00
Description: It's good to be the king ... Kong has a lot going for it: an interior created by the French designer-to-rule-them-all, Philippe Starck, and a glammy style like a Japanese schoolgirl's trinket-box. However, the views are its most seductive traits: of the Parisian skyline and the seemingly endless supply of model patrons. Shine up your chic, as entry is extremely competitive. METRO: Pont-Neuf
58, rue des Lombards, Paris 75001 • 01 42 33 37 71
Description: 1er ARRONDISSEMENT. On the jazz-thick Rue des Lombards, Le Baiser Salé ("Salted Kiss") is convincingly moody. New bands dominate, but veterans sometimes grandstand – and it's famous for promoting unusual and trans-ethnic styles. The ambiance is warm and welcoming; the dress code is very much "come as you are." Students, jazz fans and their long-suffering friends all manage to have a good time. METRO: Châtelet
6 Avenue Marceau, Paris 75008 • 01 47 20 04 01
Description: Home to a select group of faithful clients, Le Baron makes the grade with its cosy atmosphere and good music. The door policy may be exacting (it is, after all, a teeny-tiny club), but inside the mood is welcoming. Rescued from disrepute by a graffiti artist, it has since played host to a more illustrious crowd, welcoming guests such as Bjork and Sofia Coppola. METRO: Georges V
50, bd Voltaire, Paris 75011 • 01 43 14 35 35
Description: 11ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Previously a theater, Le Bataclan now hosts regular concerts, including ones featuring popular names like Morcheeba and 16 Horsepower. The club hosts both French artists and performers from around the world. Some weekends, Le Bataclan offers a funky techno club on its dance floor. METRO: Oberkampf (lines 5, 9)
2 place du Palais Royal, Paris 75001 • 01 58 62 56 25
Description: 1er ARRONDISSEMENT. Ultra-modern, techno-house emporium near the Louvre. Enormous beds and an all-white VIP square welcome beautiful people and trendy students alike. The door policy is one of the toughest in Paris: large groups should splinter before attempting entry. Past security, however, you're in for a hip, yet surprisingly unpretentious, evening. METRO: Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre
102, av des Champs-Elysées, Paris 75008 • 01 45 63 16 87
Description: 8ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Although it's not as strictly gay-only as when it premiered, this grande dame of Paris dance clubs maintains its legendary status as one of the city's top places to groove and be seen. The fantastic venue attracts hordes of gay men, along with celebrities and folks from creative fields. While dancing is always in fashion, other regular events include drag and strip shows and varied theme nights. Go late, and be prepared for crowds – with no air-conditioning, just like in most Parisian clubs METRO: Georges V
32-34, rue Marbeuf, Paris 75008 • 01 56 88 36 36
Description: 8ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Having three celebrity owners (Johnny Depp, John Malkovich and Sean Penn) certainly helps maintain the buzz at this frequently-changing club, no matter what the current incarnation. Attractive patrons nibble on Mediterranean fare while nursing well-mixed cocktails in a fantastic atmosphere with modern white decor punctuated by splashes of colored light. DJs and the occasional live act keep the music (and the clientele) grooving. METRO: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Lines 1, 9)