Paris Nightlife: Places and Districts to Go Out in Paris
- Paris Information
- Eating & drinking in Paris
- Night life in Paris
- Getting around in Paris
- Things to do in Paris
- Where to stay in Paris
- Paris street map
When the sun sets in Paris, the city really comes alive. Studiously laid-back, Paris is a wonderfully nocturnal place that moves effortlessly from ultra-hip clubs to grand opera houses, and from atmospheric cafés and jazz clubs to sleazy cabaret venues.
Across the city there’s a host of exciting and stylish venues on almost every street corner. And from live student bands to highly-accomplished experimental house and hip-hop scenes, it’s almost invariably at the cutting edge of European music.
The Latin Quarter – a popular hangout for students and backpackers – is comprised of about half a dozen narrow streets full of ethnic cafés and restaurants. A range of small bars and a smattering of clubs can be found around the main street, Rue de la Huchette.
Locals of a hip, alternative leaning gather in the east around Bastille, Rue Oberkampf and (a little further out) Canal St-Martin in the evenings. The many bars in these areas serve drinks in an atmosphere of rarified cool before the clubs get going.
In the heart of the city, the Marais offers an impressive collection of chic cafés and bars and has a lively gay and lesbian scene. A little further out, Ménilmontant in the 20th arrondissement is another home to the large population of artsy, bohemian folk in Paris.
Elsewhere, Montmartre, with its achingly romantic Parisian feel, is another great spot for a night out. In addition to its many chic bars, crowds can be found drinking coffee outside old-fashioned cafés until late, illuminated by the pools of light cast by nearby street lamps.
On summer nights, the restaurants, cafés and bars on the banks of the Seine, from Bercy to the Eiffel Tower, fill up. The wealthier crowd make for the Champs-Elysees and elsewhere in the 8th arrondissement, where the prices match the exclusive surroundings.
And from the classy to the downright sleazy… Like London’s Soho and Amsterdam’s Red Light District, the infamous Pigalle area of Paris (in the 9th arrondissement) is awash with the garish neon signs of sex shops and live shows.
The traditional cabaret shows – the Crazy Horse, le Lido and the infamous Moulin Rouge – are probably a little expensive (and touristy) for budget travelers. But the entire area is infused with their colorfully seedy spirit, making up yet another an essential element of Paris nightlife.