Entertainment in Southwestern France
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Absolut Lounge
Absolut Lounge is a sophisticated joint serving good food and yummy cocktails along with plenty of room to chill to the electro-jazz wafting out of the sound system. Don't wear turquoise and red or you'll blend in with the decor.
reviewed
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Le Lieu Unique
Within the one-time Lu biscuit factory (crowned by a replica of its original tower, which you can ascend for €2), this industrial-chic space is the venue for dance and theatre performances, eclectic and electronic music, philosophical sessions and contemporary-art exhibitions. Also here is an always-buzzing restaurant, a polished concrete bar, and a decadent hammam (Turkish bath) complex in the basement.
reviewed
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Casino de la Plage
In the Ville d'Été (Summer Quarter), Arcachon's sandy beach, Plage d'Arcachon, is flanked by two piers. In front of the eastern pier, Jetée D'Eyrac, stands the town's turreted Casino de la Plage - built by Adalbert Deganne in 1953 as an exact replica of Château de Boursault in the Marne. Inside, it's a less-grand blinking and bell-ringing riot of poker (slot) machines and gaming tables.
reviewed
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Miremont
Operating since 1880, this grande dame of a place harks back to the time when belle-époque Biarritz was simply the beach resort of choice for the rich and glamorous of Europe. Today it still attracts perfectly coiffured hairdos (and that's just on the poodles) but the somewhat less chic are also now welcome to come and partake of a fine selection of teas, cakes and views over the bay.
reviewed
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Hangar à Bananes
A former banana-ripening warehouse on the Île de Nantes. Here you’ll find over a dozen restaurants, bars and clubs (and combinations thereof), each hipper than the next. The front terraces of most face onto the Anneaux de Buren, a permanent art installation of metal rings that light up at night.
reviewed
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Food n' Bar
Hipsters head to this ultra-contemporary new restaurant/lounge bar of streamlined metal, and ultra-low UV-style lights in subtly changing shades of pink, blue, red and green to quaff on cocktails, champagne and nouvelle cuisine (no, you can't see it under those lights, but hey, it tastes great).
reviewed
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Bodega Bodega
Two floors of tapas, tunes and trendy types; this is the biggest and best Spanish bar in town. Mind your head on the giant hams hanging up above the bar when you order a drink. Downstairs is the boisterous bar area, while upstairs is more laidback. The food and drinks are good on either floor.
reviewed
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Bar du Vin
When in Rome do like the Romans, and when in Bordeaux drink wine in wine’s Holy of Holies. The ultrastylish but very accessible Bar du Vin, inside the hallowed halls of the Maison du Vin de Bordeaux, is the place to come for a tipple with people who really know their wine from their beer.
reviewed
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Grand Théâtre
Designed by Victor Louis (of Chartres Cathedral fame), the 18th-century Grand Théâtre stages operas, ballets and concerts of orchestral and chamber music. Guided behind-the-scenes tours of the building (€3) are possible on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons at 3pm, 4pm and 5pm.
reviewed
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Connemara
Popular with both locals and expats, this lively Irish bar gets absolutely packed during major sporting events. Get there early to bag a seat in front of the big screen. There's also darts, pool and regular live music as well as pub food.
reviewed
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Spoutnik
In a small turquoise-coloured space with a quirky collection of stainless steel and brass clocks (none of which show the same time), Spoutnik has regular live independent rock as well as 40 different flavours of vodka and good tap beer.
reviewed
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Café Pop
For a postmodern vibe and cool French tunes, pop into Café Pop or Café Populaire as it's formally known. They serve good food and drinks till the evening when the tables are cleared and moved to make a lively dance floor.
reviewed
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Café Cult
Squeezed inside a darkened half-timbered house and hung with local art, this bohemian place draws a student crowd and sometimes hosts concerts. During the day it serves megacheap but palate-pleasing lunches for around €7.50.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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Rock School Barbey
Catch regular live bands at the rock school, which has a regular stream of up-coming French and international indie bands playing as well as various exhibitions. It's almost next door to the Auberge de Jeunesse.
reviewed
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Le Calle Ocho
Le Calle Ocho (eighth street) is an institution in Bordeaux nightlife. This small bar draws fans of salsa and Latin music and the atmosphere is highly charged. On weekends, the crowd overflows onto the sidewalk.
reviewed
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Le Dubliner's
Poke your nose into Le Dubliner's. It's a rarity in France - you stand a chance of actually meeting an Irish drinker in an Irish pub; every year over 30,000 Hibernians make the pilgrimage to Lourdes.
reviewed
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Club Oxford & Club Papagayo
The dual discos Club Oxford & Club Papagayo are on the waterfront about 500m west of Tour de la Lanterne. Oxford spins techno and house, Papagayo goes for '70s and '80s, with karaoke on Sundays.
reviewed
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Le Caveau
One of the two discos near the Biarritz town centre is Le Caveau. It is a long-running temple of Euro-house, with a pumping sound system and caters to a gay and mixed crowd.
reviewed
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Arena Café Bar
Tucked into a tiny cove, this beachfront hang-out combines a style-conscious restaurant (mains €15 to €22) with a fuchsia- and violet-tinged bar with DJs on the turntables.
reviewed
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L'Autre Petit Bois
Decorated in an arresting 'modern' baroque and art deco style, this very popular wine bar full of curly-whirly sofas verges on the kitsch but pulls it off with style.
reviewed
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Cafés Ramuntcho
To sip (or buy to take home) no fewer than 380 different teas (reputedly the most in France), take a seat amid the metal canisters of this café, established in 1920.
reviewed
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Le Surfing
After a hard day's surfing, drop in here to discuss waves and wipe-outs. The bar is full of surfing memorabilia and there's an outside terrace with decent views.
reviewed
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La Maison
You have to see it to believe this trip of a place, decorated room by room like a home furnished in bad 1970s taste, playing (what else?) house music.
reviewed
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Milk Bar
If you're on the hunt for a surfer or a surfer at heart, then this place, just back from the beach, provides plenty of opportunities to get your sex wax out.
reviewed
