Entertainment in France
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Ice Kube
Reservations are essential at this bar made of ice. Admission gets you four Grey Goose vodka cocktails, which you must consume within 30 minutes. Then you leave. Best between 11pm and 1am.
reviewed
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A
Euskal-Jaï
Regular professional cesta punta matches (admission €10 to €20) are held at 9pm at the Parc des Sports d'Aguiléra Complex, 2km east of central Biarritz, between mid-June and mid-September. Bus 1 stops nearby.
reviewed
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Espace Latipolia
There's a critical mass of discos outside town in Espace Latipolia, about 10km from Montpellier on route de Palavas heading towards the coast. Major players include La Nitro, which thumps out techno and house, and Le Matchico, good for retro music.
reviewed
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B
Ciné St-Leu
An art-house cinema with nondubbed films, some in English.
reviewed
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Chés Cabotans d'Amiens
A theatre whose stars are all traditional Picard marionettes. Great fun even if you don't speak Picard or French.
reviewed
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C
Carpe Diem
An exemplary French café with a crowd of regulars, on the respectable side of 60 during the day and the carefree side of 30 at night. Regular gigs feature.
reviewed
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D
Café Bissap
An ethnically mixed crowd, including students, sips rum cocktails and West African beers (eg Guinness Foreign Extra, brewed in Cameroon) amid decor from the Senegalese-born proprietor's native land. The soundtrack is African, Caribbean and Latin American. Super-friendly. Opens at 6pm during school holidays, including July and August.
reviewed
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Bar de l'U
With live music most nights and slamming competitions every second Monday of the month, this is a student mainstay. To attend many events, you'll need a student card.
reviewed
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E
Le Cunningham
Sail away at this fabulous curved wood bar with a wall of timber-framed windows looking out over water. Year-round live entertainment includes jazz, soul and Brazilian beats.
reviewed
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F
L'Aviso
Regular live music features at this cosy place, which has more than 300 beers on offer (and over 10 - including Breton beer - on tap). If you can't decide, ask the friendly owner/connoisseur.
reviewed
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G
L'Alchimiste
Ben Harper-type music creates a mellow backdrop at this magical place filled with old books and a toy flying fox. Take a seat at the bar draped with a red, tasselled theatre curtain, on the carved timber mezzanine (including a pulpit), or in the wood-heated basement.
reviewed
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Wazemmes
A number of edgy (and undercapitalised) cafés are tucked away around the periphery of place de la Nouvelle Aventure in Wazemmes, site of the Wazemmes food market.
reviewed
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Velvet Jazz Lounge
Lodged under artful lights, 13th-century vaults and contemplative Buddhas, Blois' funkiest bar hosts regular jazz acts after dark, and in winter offers a selection of 30 (count 'em) hot chocolates in its alternative guise as an afternoon salon de thé.
reviewed
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rue Masséna student zone
Lille has several drinking and nightlife areas. Especially on Friday and Saturday nights, in the rue Masséna student zone, a university-age crowd descends on dozens of high-decibel bars along rue Masséna (750m southwest of the tourist office) and almost-perpendicular rue Solférino (as far southeast as Marché Sébastopol). London-style excess is not unknown here.
reviewed
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H
Pop White
Decadently dark and silver-kissed, this voguish lounge is a sundown favourite. Join a pre-clubbing crowd for drinks on the terrace before hitting the dance floor.
reviewed
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Opera Dijon
Dip into classical music and drama at Opera Dijon.
reviewed
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Loch Ness Pub
The Scottish theme isn't convincing, but the boozing students and late-night drinkers don't seem to mind. Big-screen sports, karaoke and occasional gigs pack 'em in.
reviewed
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Les Trinitaires
Post-rock, experimental rock and jazz bands take to the stage in the Gothic cellar and, in summer, the illuminated cloister of this soulful arts venue. Enjoy drinks before gigs at the Pop Art bar.
reviewed
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I
Le Strapontin
Jazzy beats, a cathedral-facing terrace and a neat selection of wines by the glass draw locals to this stylishly contemporary bar. All-comers are welcome at Thursday evening's salsa class.
reviewed
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J
Fnac billeterie
Event tickets are sold here.
reviewed
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K
Bar Latino
This party-lovin' Latin bar swings with svelte bodies gyrating to salsa and jiving to rock 'n' roll. Zingy cocktails and Mexican food fuel the dancing.
reviewed
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La Voile Rouge
Parts of And God Created Woman were filmed here followed by the first sightings of topless bathers and later the g-string bikini. The beach club remains hot stuff come dusk today - champagne à gogo, cocktails, dancing on tables and DJ mixes (buy the CD). Find it at the northern end of Pampelonne on Mooréa Plage. No credit cards.
reviewed
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L
Café des Phares
There is no better spot to bask in the morning sun and watch Parisian traffic twirl around the July Column than the Beacons Café, the city’s original bistrot philo (philosophers’ bistro) where pensive Parisians meet on Sunday morning to debate the meaning of life and all that. Posy Paris at its best!
reviewed
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M
Cubana Café
A post-work crowd sinks into leather armchairs beneath oil paintings of daily life in Cuba for a huge range of Cuban cocktails made with Havana rum and regular live Cuban music (check the program online).
reviewed
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N
Bauhaus Bar
Pocket-sized and overwhelmingly hip is the overriding feel of this chic little bar, a tad alternative, where a cool crowd hangs out between authentic Bauhaus furnishings.
reviewed