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Paris Nightlife

The Paris nightlife scene is spread out and ever changing. The temptation to make a beeline for the Champs-Elysées and Trocadéro should be avoided. The livelier action moved on long ago to the likes of bustling Bastille, which may have been deserted by the real local cognoscenti, but still boasts plenty of colourful small bars, popular clubs and unique little drinking dens. Parisians these days head to Ménilmontant, which boasts a sophisticated and eclectic nightlife scene that was kicked off by the legendary Café Charbon on rue de Oberkampf. Fashionable again, after the hedonistic days of the Moulin Rouge, is Marais.

Tickets for concerts and shows of all kinds can be purchased at FNAC Forum des Halles, 1 rue Pierre Lescot, 1st (tel: 01 4041 4000; www.fnac.com), Carrousel du Louvre, 99 rue de Rivoli, 1st (tel: 01 4316 4747; www.carrouseldulouvre.fr), located directly beneath the Louvre, or Virgin Megastore, 52 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 8th (tel: 01 4953 5000; www.virginmega.fr).

Bars in Paris

Ave Maria

Eclectic, kitsch, cheesy; Ave Maria is an interesting place for a drink in Paris. But unlike many kitsch-styled Parisian bars, Ave Maria has the substance to go along with the style. The menu is Brazilian and wholesome, the cocktails are good and not extortionate, and the music policy très cool. A bar in Paris to spend the day chilling out in.

1 rue Jacquard, 11th, Paris
Tel: 01 4700 6163.

Café Charbon

Set within a carefully restored Belle Epoque building, this Parisian café has become the centre of the Oberkampf thriving nightlife scene. This is the original of all the bars along here and still the best. Next door is Nouveau Casino – an equally exciting music venue and club.

109 rue Oberkampf, 11th, Paris
Tel: 01 4357 5513.

Merce and the Muse

An excellent little Parisian café in that it brings a taste of New York to Paris. Why? You may ask. Well, New York does community-feel well – and this has attracted enough regulars to give it a sense of solidarity, or perhaps it’s just the well-roasted coffee or the organic salads and tarts.

1 bis rue Dupuis, 3rd, Paris
Tel: 09 5314 5304.
Website: www.merceandthemuse.com

Clubs in Paris

Batofar

This fun little Parisian club is housed in a boat on the Seine and boasts a wide range of musical styles and events. It has always been, nevertheless, at the forefront of music, often the first to be springing on new crazes: dubstep, dancehall and breaks. It’s a late night bar, with revellers continuing to come until daylight.

11 quai Francois-Mauriac, 13th, Paris
Tel: 01 5360 1730.
Website: www.batofar.org

La Perle

This is a seriously cool Parisian club with a balance of gay and straight clubbers – all equally well dressed. The vibe is Parisian hedonism, done the old way, with an absinthe, a good-looking boy and dubious moral standing.

78 rue Vieille-du-Temple, 3rd, Paris
Tel: 01 4272 6993.

Le Régine

As the burlesque springs across Paris like a wayward garter, so many clubs follow. Le Régine has always been an important club, but it’s now emerging out of a lean period. Along the eclectic – although dance-orientated music – are dancers, showstoppers, cabaret acts and sexy burlesque dancers.

49 rue de Ponthieu, 8th, Paris
Tel: 01 4359 2113.
Website: http://lafrench.com

Live Music in Paris

Caveau de la Huchette

A jazz mainstay in Paris for the last 60 years, Caveau de la Huchette has seen the likes of Memphis Slim, Harry Sweet Edison and Dany Doriz. Far from being a fingers-in-your-ears club, dancing is encouraged, and has been since 1946, the heady days of be-bop.

5 rue de la Huchette, 5th, Paris
Tel: 01 4326 6505.
Website: www.caveaudelahuchette.fr

La Cigale

This is a favourite for touring indie bands, cultish French rockers and cutting-edge musicians. The vibe is sweaty and lairy and is one of the best music venues in Paris. Cabaret and flamenco sit alongside Seu George and Mark Ronson. Always check out the venue website before visiting.

120 boulevard de Rochechouart, 18th, Paris
Tel: 01 4925 8175.
Website: www.lacigale.fr

Nouveau Casino

Despite being achingly hip, Nouveau Casino appears to have some longevity. As part of the alternative lifestyle that surrounds the Oberkampf, this Parisian club, next to Café Charbon, has live concerts almost every night, with DJs afterwards.

109 rue Oberkampf, 11th, Paris
Tel: 01 4357 5740.
Website: www.nouveaucasino.net

Theatre in Paris

Comédie Française

One of the most respected theatres in the world, the Comédie Française is renowned for its classic productions. Of course, if your French is rusty then some of the meaning will be lost. However, an evening here is no doubt an experience.

Place Colette, 1st, Paris
Tel: 01 4458 1515.
Website: www.comedie-francaise.fr

Music and Dance in Paris

Cité de la Musique

Set in the Parc de la Villette, Cité de la Musique is a fabulous cultural centre that offers an eclectic mix of musical events, workshops and exhibitions. A glance at the programme displays its breadth and depth: it’s the home of the internationally renowned Ensemble Intercontemporain (www.ensembleinter.com) and also puts on travelling modern composers and a good selection of world music.

Parc de la Villette, Paris
Tel: 01 4484 4484.
Website: www.cite-musique.fr

Opéra National de Paris

The Opéra National de Paris performs ballet and opera at the Opéra Garnier, place de l'Opéra, 9th, and Opéra Bastille, place de la Bastille, 12th, as well as a few selected places, with large opera productions performed at the Châtelet Théâtre Musical de Paris, 1 place du Châtelet, 1st. Along with an excellent programme of opera events, also check its website for ballets, meetings, classical concerts, workshops and one off events.

Tel: 0892 899 090.
Website: www.operadeparis.fr

Théâtre de la Ville

The works of high-profile choreographers, such as Karine Saporta, Maguy Marin and Pina Bausch, are frequently shown in Paris’s Théâtre de la Ville. The theatre has another venue, Les Abbesses, with the same contact details at 31 rue des Abbesses, 18th.

2 place du Châtelet, 4th, Paris
Tel: 01 4274 2277.
Website: www.theatredelaville-paris.com

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