The lively nightspots are situated around place de l'Horloge, place du Palais, trendy rue Carnot and place des Corps-Saints and all become frenetic during the Avignon Festival. Licensing hours are not strict in France and bars stay open quite late, some past midnight, while some clubs are open well into the small hours. Dress codes and admission requirements to clubs are not an issue in Avignon, where smart-casual rules the day.

The Avignon Tourist Office (see Sightseeing) distributes the free monthly arts, events and music listings magazine, Rendez-Vous (also available in arts centres). This is well worth getting, as it provides up-to-the-minute information about what is on in Avignon.

Bars: Bars with a buzz include Pub Z, 58 rue de la Bonneterie. Open until 0130, the bar is owned by a rocker, enamoured of zebras, which dominate the décor. A medley of arty types hang out amid the mirror-lined walls and modern sculptures of Le Grand Café, located at cultural hub La Manutention, 4 rue escalier Ste Anne, where decent food is served. Le Cid Café, 11 place de l'Horloge, is a popular gay bar.

Clubs: Avignon is not a clubbing centre, although there are some small venues, such as the eclectic Red Zone, 25 rue Carnot (website: www.redzonebar.com), which plays anything from salsa to house and is open until 0300. Bokao's, 9 bis boulevard quai St Lazare (website: www.bokaos.fr), has a chill-out cafe as well as a dancefloor and VIP area. The biggest clubs are located around a 10-minute drive from Avignon and include Le Privé Club, route de Tavel in Les Angles (website: www.leprive.fr), a techno and house venue in an old quarry.

Live Music: AJMI Jazz Club at La Manutention, 4 rue escalier Ste Anne (website: www.jazzalajmi.com), is a popular jazz venue on Thursday night. Rock is played at Le Bistroquet bar, Quartier du Mouton, on Ile de la Barthelasse, while regular concerts are held at Les Passagers du Zinc, 23 route de Montfavet (website: www.passagersduzinc.com).