L'Arc
• ( Walking Distance from the Raphael
)
12 Rue de Presbourg
Paris, 75016
One of Paris's chicest and most exclusive gourmet
restaurants with a luxurious club-bar attached
frequented by the stars of fashion, film and finance.
Not that we'd recognise the latter. Diners and drinkers
take champagne and cocktails in the plush carpet and
leather space of the lounge bar, where the dominant
mode of dress is Chloe, Versace and Armani. The service
by uniformed staff would suit for princes and
presidents and if you look in the restaurant, you may
find them dining there. The vast length of the
adjoining club is exaggerated further when it opens up
onto the terrace-garden, the perfect spot for seeing
the celestial stars on clear nights. Bring your loved
one, but make sure you book before.
Le
Cabaret
2 Place du Palais Royal
Paris, 75001
Hours:Mon - Sat 9pm - 6am
A glamorous North African meets Middle Eastern
restaurant-bar designed by the brilliant Jacques
Garcia. Hip regulars sip cocktails on soft-cushioned
beds set in low-ceiling alcoves; the lace curtains and
walls of deep-purple adding to the exotic and sensual
mix. Colonial African art and clubby sounds rev up the
atmosphere, as does the eye-candy on the dance floor:
models, Vogue-reading beauties and boys straight off
fashion ad billboards. Cigars can be purchased behind
the bar while house drinks include wicked Cosmopolitans
and wild Caipirinhas. Be warned that the door policy is
as strict as White House security, but there's a
pleasing absence of pretentious VIP areas once past the
gate.
-VIP
Room
Batofar
11,
quai Francois Mauriac, Paris, France 75013 · 01 50 63
17 30
Add
a little novelty to your nighttime pursuits at this
funky club, which is set on a barge moored on the
Seine. Trance, house and techno tunes are spun by
world-famous DJs; during the week, patrons are treated
to jazz bands and other live performers as well. The
dance floor gets lots of action down below, and several
bars take care of liquid refreshment. However, great
music draws great crowds, especially on weekends, so be
prepared for a wait.
Bus
Palladium
6,
rue Fontaine, Paris, France 75009 · 01 53 21 07 33
Formerly
THE place of yéyé music… this place has kept a
1960’s look. This trendy dance club in the heart
of Pigalle spins to a range of musical styles (disco,
rap, R&B, soul, funk). It's a great place to
people-watch Paris's chic set.
Chez
Castel
15,
rue Princesse 75006 Paris
Le
Divan du Monde
75,
rue des Martyrs, Paris, France 75018 · 0140 05 06 99
Popular
with young crowds, this club is great for folks who
want to dance to the hottest recent hits. Performances
range from rock to jazz and feature artists from France
as well as from other parts of the world. Monday nights
are always free, and regular concerts draw mixed crowds
but are perennially lively. New French bands often
play. Ideal to see a concert in an intimate atmosphere,
and then party at the club.
Le
Queen
102,
av des Champs-Elysées, Paris, France 75008 · 01 53 89
08 90
.Although
it's not as strictly gay-only as when it premiered,
this grande dame of Paris dance clubs maintains its
legendary status as one of the city's top places to
groove and be seen. The fantastic venue attracts hordes
of gay men, along with celebrities and folks from
creative fields. While dancing is always in fashion,
other regular events include drag and strip shows and
varied theme nights. Go late, and be prepared for
crowds – with no air-conditioning, just like in
most Parisian clubs .
Les
Bains
7,
rue du Bourg-l'Abbé, Paris, France 75003 · 01 48 87 01
80
Totally
renovated and equipped with top sound quality, this
hip, late-night dance club – which occupies space
formerly devoted to Turkish baths – draws fashion
models, Hollywood glitterati and international
trendsetters. Great house, rock, and disco music
typically set the scene, but you'll also hear R&B,
soul and other genres. To ensure that you get past the
chi-chi bouncers, grab dinner in the Thai restaurant
upstairs (open Wed-Sun). A Parisian treat.
Rex
Club
5,
bd Poissonnière, Bonne-Nouvelle, Paris, France 75002 ·
01 42 36 10 96
This
Parisian dance factory always draws a crowd, just as
it's been doing since the mid-1980s. Thanks to a host
of top DJs (Laurent Garnier, Carl Cox) and a terrific
sound system, patrons can expect to be inundated by
thumping house and techno sounds. Depending on who's
spinning, you might also catch reggae, funk, rock and
even world tunes. Check out Friday night's Automatik
event, and don't be surprised to find long lines for
admittance. Closed in August.
SanZ
SanS
49,
rue du Fbg-St-Antoine, Paris, France 75011 · 01 44 75
78 78
This
Bastille club keeps bodies moving all night with funk,
Latin, and hip-hop sounds. Fun, funky, and
oh-so-French. In a pink neo-gothic, baroque design. Two
giant screens show you what’s happening within
the club…at this very minute! METRO: Bastille
(lines 1, 5, 8)
Queen
• ( Walking Distance from the Raphael
)
102 Avenue des Champs-Elysees
Paris, 75008
Ultra hip club on the Champs-Elysees still going strong
despite the demise of Wednesday's legendary 'Respect'
night. The crowd is a fun and frolicsome mix of
Armani-clad men, skimpily dressed women and a fair
share of flamboyant drag queens. The lavish VIP area
has a bizarre ceiling net which women have been known
to cling to and gyrate from, while a long, narrow
exterior balcony draws a crowd of dashing voyeurs to
watch the action on the dance floor below. Big name DJs
spin a mix of fun ambient and house, and vodka seems to
be the drink of choice. That said bar staff mix a fine
array of Cosmopolitans. Go on, be a Queen.
The
Barrio Latino
46 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine
Paris, 75012
Hours: Mon-Sun 11am-2am
Weird and wonderful four-floor restaurant, bar and
nightclub where the quirkiest of many gimmicks is the
glass-covered trolleys that wait staff push around from
which they dispense snacks. The first and third floors
are given over to dance floors that pump out funky
Latino sounds, while the second floor is a restaurant
offering regional Latin dishes such as Brazilian
feijoada and Argentine steaks (try their Bife de Ocho).
The top floor meanwhile is a nightclub where the
Caipirinhas and Mojitos flow, and dusky bodies writhe
to samba and salsa rhythm like it's Carnival. There's
even a new VIP section to which important hombres and
senoritas have a special access key. Viva la fiesta!
