Entertainment in Paris
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La Chapelle des Lombards
This perennially popular Bastille dance club has happening Latino DJs and reggae, funk and Afro jazz concerts – in a word, a bit of everything. Concerts usually take place at 8.30pm on Friday and Saturday.
reviewed
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B
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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C
La Fourmi
A Pigalle institution, La Fourmi hits the mark with its high ceilings, long zinc bar and unpretentious vibe. Get up to speed on live music and club nights or sit down for a reasonably priced meal and drinks.
reviewed
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D
Point Éphémère
This arts and music venue by the Canal St-Martin attracts an underground crowd from noon till past midnight, for drinks, meals, concerts, dance nights and even art exhibitions. At the time of writing gourmet-hamburger food truck Le Camion qui Fume was setting up shop here on Sundays.
reviewed
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E
Au Rendez-Vous des Amis
If you need to ease your way up or down the steps of Montmartre, look no further than this kick-back cafe-bar, which serves inexpensive espresso and pitchers of beer. Sandwiches and snacks are prepared in Hell’s Kitchen.
reviewed
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F
Little Café
What you see is what you get at this unpretentious yet fashionable corner cafe where street-smart locals linger between boutiques to chat ‘n relax over great coffee, good wine and tasty food. Sunday brunch (€21) packs out the place, both inside and outside on the pavement. Electronic music predominates after dark.
reviewed
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G
Les Jacasses
Girls looking for something a bit more authentic in the Marais should cross over rue des Écouffes to the 3W’s sister bar, which looks like it’s been transplanted from Normandy. Softer music, more hard-core evenings.
reviewed
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H
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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I
Académie de Billard
Beneath stained-glass ceilings, this old-fashioned pool hall lit by antique lamps is staffed by bow tie-wearing waiters, who deliver your drinks while you snooker your opponents. Players must be over 18; bring photo ID.
reviewed
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Palais Garnier
The city’s original opera house is smaller than its Bastille counterpart, but boasts perfect acoustics. Due to its odd shape, however, some seats have limited or no visibility. Ticket prices and conditions (including last-minute discounts) are available at the box office.
reviewed
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K
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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Cinémathèque Française
A two-minute walk south from the metro along rue de Bercy, this national institution is a temple to the ‘seventh art’ and always leaves its foreign offerings – often rarely screened classics – in their original language.
reviewed
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M
Au Général La Fayette
With its archetypal belle époque decor and special beers on offer, this old-style brasserie is a dependable stop for an afternoon coffee or evening drink.
reviewed
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N
Le Baiser Salé
One of several jazz clubs located on this street, the salle de jazz (jazz room) on its 1st floor has concerts of jazz, Afro and Latin jazz and jazz fusion. Combining big names and unknown artists, it is known for its relaxed vibe and has a gift for discovering new talents. Sets start at 7.30pm and 10pm.
reviewed
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O
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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P
Théâtre des Marionnettes du Jardin du Luxembourg
Luxembourg Garden offers all the delights of a Parisian childhood a century ago. At the pint-sized Théâtre des Marionnettes du Jardin du Luxembourg, marionette shows guarantee a giggle, whether you understand French or not.
reviewed
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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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R
Crazy Horse
This popular cabaret, whose dressing (or, rather, undressing) rooms were featured in Woody Allen’s film What’s New Pussycat? (1965), now promotes fine art – abstract 1960s patterns as they appear superimposed on the female nude form.
reviewed
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S
Café de la Gare
The 'Station Cafe' in the erstwhile mews of a Marais hôtel particulier (private mansion) is one of the best and most innovative cafe-theatres in Paris, with acts ranging from comic theatre and stand-up to reinterpreted classics.
reviewed
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Social Club
These subterranean rooms showcasing electro, hip hop, funk and live acts are a magnet for clubbers who take their music seriously. Across the street at No 146 is the cafe where French socialist Jean Jaurès was assassinated in 1914.
reviewed
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U
Les Disquaires
This oh-so-Bastille club and music venue spins a variety of beats (Latin, funk, soul) and also hosts the occasional live concert. This being France, there’s usually some decent food (cheese and charcuterie) to be had alongside the drinks.
reviewed
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Le Petit Fer à Cheval
A Marais institution, The Little Horseshoe is a pocket-sized cafe-bar with an original horseshoe-shaped zinc bar from 1903 leaving little room for much else. But nobody seems to mind at this genial place, overflowing with regulars from dawn to dark. Great apéro spot and great WC – stainless-steel toilets stall straight out of a Flash Gordon film (inspired, in fact, by the interior of the Nautilus submarine in Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues under the Sea).
reviewed
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Satellit Café
A great venue for world music and not as painfully trendy as some others in Paris, come here to hear everything from blues and flamenco to African and Bollywood.
reviewed
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X
Le Vieux Belleville
This old-fashioned bistro and musette at the top of Parc de Belleville is an atmospheric venue for performances of chansons featuring accordions and an organ grinder three times a week. It’s a lively favourite with locals, though, so booking ahead is advised. The ‘Old Belleville’ serves classic bistro food (open for lunch Monday to Friday, dinner Tuesday to Saturday).
reviewed
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De La Ville Café
This erstwhile brothel fuses history (original mosaic tiles, distressed walls) with industrial chic. Its terrace is among the best along the grands boulevards and DJs play Thursday to Saturday, making it a hot ‘before’ venue for the nearby Rex Club.
reviewed