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So you've seen the Louvre. You've been to the top of the Eiffel Tower. You've nearly exploded your small intestine with all those baguettes and Camembert wedges. What now? It's time to explore the City of Light after dark!
BARS
Academie de la Biere
If you’re indecisive, don’t go here. With over 150 different kinds of beer, the choices are nearly endless. This bar serves mainly Belgian beers on tap, but the bottles have an impressive variety of origins. The food is snack fare, good for those with a lust for artery-clogging grease. 88 boulevard de Port-Royal. Bus 83 to Observatoire-Port Royal. Banana Café
Rainbow flags hang proudly outside of this popular gay bar. With tacky tropical decorations and a gung-ho party atmosphere, "fun" is an understatement. Check out the theme evenings – people pull out all the stops when creating their costumes. And don't miss happy hour, when drinks are 2-for-1. 13-15 rue de la Ferronnerie. RER A, RER B, RER D to Châtelet-Halles; M4 to Les Halles. Corcoran's
The starting point on the NEW PARIS Pub Crawl, this Irish/French hangout is located just off the famous Place St-Michel in the Latin Quarter. Live music, football, rugby and cricket on overhead TVs, and a pint of Guinness; it doesn’t get much more Irish than this (unless, of course, you’re in Ireland). 28 rue Saint André des Arts. M4 to Saint-Michel. Le Bar Dix
If you’re looking for a hole in the wall with style, this is it. Sit on the well-cushioned, black couches in the cellar bar as you sip sangria and engage in the deep, intellectual conversations you've always imagined having in a smoke-filled Parisian bar. The quintessential dive for students and romantic, philosophical bohemians. 10 rue de l'Odeon. M4, M10 to Odeon. Harry's New York Bar
Yeah, yeah, we know you came to Paris to experience croissants and champagne and all things French – what would you possibly want with a New York bar? Well, this place has been around since 1911, has stood there through two world wars and is the birthplace of the Bloody Mary! It can get kind of expensive for drinks, but nonetheless is a great place to go for cocktails if you want to sit yourself down in the middle of Parisian history. 5 rue Daunou. M3, M7, M8 to Opéra. L'Imprevu
This comfortable, eclectic cafe is perfect for a fun night out. Plop down on beanbag chairs and sofas while sipping on extremely reasonably-priced cocktails. 7 rue Quincampoix. M1, M4, M7, M11, M14 to Châtelet. Le Palmier
A fantastic bar/lounge with a mix of great music, good cocktails and a friendly crowd. But the part that really shot it straight into our hearts is the fact that Le Palmier is an oasis for the drink-, dance- or conversation-starved on Sunday and Monday nights, when most other dance bars and clubs in the city are shut. There's also no cover, so you can save your depreciating dollars for the mojitos. 16 rue des Lombards. M1, M4, M7, M11, M14 to Châtelet. Le Petit Chat
The name is French for ‘the small cat,’ which (allergy-sufferers take note) we've never seen on the premises. It probably has more to do with the bar being centrally located in the Châtelet neighborhood, at the beginnings of Rue Saint-Denis, which used to be the holiest street in Paris. Times have changed (ask your tour guide when you're old enough), but hopefully this bar never will – cool people, good music, affordable drinks, great food until 10:30 pm and a terrace for those warm evenings with a hint of romance in the air. 9 rue Saint-Denis. M1, M4, M7, M11, M14 to Châtelet. La Rose des Halles
This bar dates back to a rosier time when Parisians were happy to be overrun with giant American-made automobiles and refrigerators, and the beer everywhere was cheap (and always cold, thanks to the fridges). La Rose des Halles was founded by its Algerian owner in the 1950s and often he’s the only one in the bar, as most passing through this neighborhood head further up the street to trendier (and more expensive) locations. Tell him the tour guides with red shirts sent you, have a €3 glass of candy-flavored Pastis and enjoy a classic French afternoon of yesteryear. 19 rue du Roule. M7 to Pont Neuf. The Thistle
If you think that a Scottish bar has no place in Paris, you might have picked up some of that famous Parisian ethnocentrism, or you might just not know your European history. It turns out that since the 13th century the Scots and the French have been best friends, getting together for drinks and to plan the downfall of their shared enemy, the English. The Thistle boasts friendly staff and nice prices and is thus a NEW PARIS Pub Crawl favorite. 112 rue Saint-Denis. M4 to Étienne Marcel. Le Troisième Lieu
It's a rare bar in Paris that achieves pure cool – both in look and attitude – while still staving off the temptation to sucker tourists for a small fortune. Le Troisième Lieu is just that. Right behind the (gorgeous at night) Centre Pompidou and festooned with a beautiful zinc bar and bohemian décor, such as women's underwear (no joke). 60-62 rue de Quincampoix. M4 to Étienne Marcel; M11 to Rambuteau. CLUBS Barrio Latino
This four-storey restaurant/bar draws in the crowds with catchy Latin beats and tasty South American cuisine. The decor is kitsch but fun – check out the Che Guevara mosaic on the top floor. If you're going on a weekend, expect to stand in line for awhile. 46-48 rue du Faubourg St-Antoine. M1, M5, M8 to Bastille. Batofar
You'll be literally dancing on water in Batofar, which is located in a docked barge on the Seine. The music, which ranges from techno to house to trance, is spun by famous DJs and there are plenty of bars to help you cool down with a drink or two. Entrance is usually about €12, but definitely worth the money! 11 Quai Francois Mauriac. M6 to Quai-de-la-Gare; RER C, M14 to Bibliotheque F. Miterrand. Caveau des Oubliettes
Enter this medieval dungeon on the weekends to find live jazz, funk or soul (alongside decorative torture devices, of course). On Sundays and weekdays there are pop, blues and groove jam sessions. 52 rue Galande. RER B, RER C to Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame; M4 to Saint-Michel. La Java
Edith Piaf got her start in this now-Latin music haven. Drop in on Friday nights for Cuban jam sessions, where you're sure to be impressed by the live musicians and the expert dancers – just don't expect to get away without dancing! If you don't feel comfortable with being thrown into the crowd on a Friday, stop in for Thursday night's mambo lessons. 105 rue du Faubourg du Temple. M2, M11 to Belleville; M11 to Goncourt. New Morning
This Parisian jazz haven has hosted performers like Chet Baker and Miles Davis and is a must-go for anyone who claims to be a jazz fan. Cover charges can be pricey (€15 and up), but hey, so can everything in Paris! 7-9 rue des Petites-Ecuries. M4 to Château d'Eau. Le Rex
You might have to line up to get into this place, which is one of Paris' oldest and best-known clubs. Work off some energy getting down to techno, electro and house beats with about half of the Parisian youth. Well, that's an overstatement, but the crowds at this place certainly make it seem that way! Most weekend nights cost about €12 to enter, but check the schedule during the week for some free-entry nights. 5 Boulevard Poissoniere. M8, M9 to Bonne Nouvelle. www.rexclub.com SIX SEVEN
In the middle of the chic Champs Elysées, the Six Seven is one of the swankiest places to be seen in Paris. If you want to experience the famed Parisian club scene in one of the city's most exclusive and renowned venues, the Six Seven is the place to be. Enterance can be pricey (up to €30 at the weekend!) but hop along on the New Paris Pub Crawl and enterance is included with the price of your wristband. 65 rue Pierre Charron. George 5 on line 1. Le Wax
This club has got a retro-look with bright plastic chairs and booths. Funk and electro reign supreme on the dance floor and the DJs are top-of-the-line. In a city where cocktails can reach upwards of €15, the €4-€10 drinks here are really appreciated. 15 rue Daval. M1, M5, M8 to Bastille. |
