Bar entertainment in France
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A
Les Étages
Students and expats find the ‘Storeys’ (all three floors) with its faded sage-green façade a viable alternative to the standard Marais fare, and happily appropriate the upgraded lounge rooms upstairs. Happy hour is 5pm to 9pm.
reviewed
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B
Quai des Artistes
Tucked beneath awning at the port, with a glass façade and terrace overlooking the boats, this Art Deco metropolitan space with Parisian-style metro entrance is a great spot to drink, hang out, chat and dine on seafood. Kitchen closed afternoons.
reviewed
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C
Le Flag
It might be gay (with fabulously gay, as in colourful, interior to boot and a house cocktail called Rainbow), but this modern art gallery and lounge bar has its finger bang on the pulse for pleasing punters of all shapes and sexual orientations.
reviewed
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D
La Perle
Notorious for being the bar next door where shamed fashion designer John Galliano hung out (and, indeed, was arrested in February 2011), this party bar is where bobos (bohemian bourgeois) come to slum it over un rouge (glass of red wine) in the Marais until the DJ arrives to liven things up. Unique trademarks: the (for real) distressed look of the place and the model locomotive over the bar.
reviewed
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E
La Boîte à Bières
Affectionately known as BAB, this lively, half-timbered corner bar is a good place to down a few local bières artisanales (microbrews) in the company of a loyal student following. Sometimes has karaoke, disco and concert nights.
reviewed
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F
Montana
From Sunday to Wednesday it's a bar with a DJ, from Thursday to Saturday a disco featuring Latino, salsa and House - but no 1980s! Attracts lots of students on Thursday and has a drag queen cabaret starting at 01:00 on Sunday.
reviewed
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G
Le Scarron
This rather chic bar de nuit (night bar) hots up as the evening progresses, especially in the vaulted basement. There’s a rather subdued piano bar on the ground floor much more suited (key word) to quiet conversation.
reviewed
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H
Le Balatum
This funky, dimly lit place, decorated with artwork that changes monthly, is ideal for a tête-à-tête. There's live music at 19:30 on Sunday and a DJ from 22:30 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Gay friendly.
reviewed
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La Caravelle
Look up or miss this standout, upstairs hideaway, styled with rich wood and leather, zinc bar and yellowing murals. If it's sunny, snag a coveted spot on the portside terrace. Fridays hear live jazz 9pm to midnight. They also do a good breakfast.
reviewed
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La Terrasse
The Terrace, atop the casino, is Menton's only really serious drinking space with sea view. Ambiance lounge face à la mer (lounge bar atmosphere facing the sea) is its marketing line. Saturday is disco night.
reviewed
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K
Red Bar
You mightn't think a rugby bar would attract trendsetters, but this temple to Biarritz Olympique (their colours are red and white – hence the name), with reggae and '70s rock in the background, will make you think again.
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Zazoo
The owner of this quirky bar has a real thing about the colour purple - just check out the royal-purple cushions, mauve walls and lilac furniture. There are even a few plum-coloured cocktails to try if you're in the mood.
reviewed
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Le Couche Tard
If you're too cool for school, check out the 'go to bed late', a grungy pub that actively encourages you to graffiti its walls. The merrier you become during happy hour (until 10pm daily), the more imaginative those doodles become...
reviewed
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N
L’Alimentation Générale
A rue JPT stalwart, the ‘Grocery Store’ is a massive space, with crazy retro decor and some outrageous toilets. Music is a very big deal here. DJs rock the joint on weekends.
reviewed
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O
Carignan
Taste wine safe in the knowledge that Léandre Piquet (a former sommelier at the Majestic) is an authority. Find him behind the bar in his pocket-sized bar à vins (wine bar) atop the hill in Le Suquet.
reviewed
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Café le Refuge
This gem of a café du quartier (local café) has fantastic interior vintage tiling, a gleaming timber bar and sympa (cool) staff. Perfect for a sundowner and oysters on the terrace in season.
reviewed
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Q
Le Duc Étienne
This long-standing hang-out in the medieval quarter has a hip little bar supplying European beers and late-night coffee to a pre-club crowd. In summer things spill onto the terrace in front of Église St-Aurélien.
reviewed
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R
Café de l'Univers
This ground-floor bar, with walls covered in mirrors and beer ads, has its menu on a chalkboard. In the cellar there's live music from 9pm to 1am on Friday and Saturday. Popular with students but ages are varied.
reviewed
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S
Utopia Bar
Behind Palais des Papes, adjoining an art-house cinema and jazz-music center, l’Utopia draws smart crowds to its verandah, lined with red-velvet banquettes, ideal for drinks and light bites pre- or post-theatre.
reviewed
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T
Le Bistrot du Peintre
This lovely belle époque bistro and wine bar could just as easily count as a restaurant rather than a drinking place; after all, the food is great. But it’s the 1902 art nouveau bar, elegant terrace and spot-on service that has put it on the apéritif A-list of local artists, bobos and local celebs.
reviewed
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Café La Fusée
A short walk from the Pompidou, the Rocket is a lively, laid-back hang-out with red-and-white striped awning strung with fairy lights outside, and paint-peeling, tobacco-coloured walls evoking 101 great nights out inside. Its wine selection by the glass (€2.70 to €5.50) is notably good.
reviewed
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Karé(ment)
One glimpse of the stunning waterside terrace and you'll be fighting for a bar stool at this celebrity-cool lounge bar in the Grimaldi Forum. Fashion shows, DJ mixes and cultural happenings are held here.
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W
Grand Hotel Aston
If you're above the sort of shenanigans you'll find in the backpacker bars of Nice, head for the rarefied rooftop bar at the Grand Hotel Aston which has champagne views over Nice and the Med.
reviewed
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X
Bar 1er Consul
This bar is a good spot for a morning coffee on the terrace overlooking busy place Foch. Inside, brown leather banquettes, smoke-stained walls and giant mirrors add to the period atmosphere.
reviewed
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Y
Wolf Bar
Bear bar a short distance from Forum des Halles attracts a clientèle poilue (hairy crowd) who are very seriously OFB (out for business). Happy hour is every day from opening to 9pm.
reviewed