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Entertainment Overview

Paris at night is whatever you want it to be. Whether you're a jazz fiend or a dance freak, a patron of the arts or a lounge lizard seeking refuge in a bar where the model count is high, you can sate your cravings here. The hottest nightspots are in the northeastern districts of Paris, particularly around Ménilmontant, Canal St-Martin, and Belleville, while the Bastille clubs and the Marais bars are still going strong. The Grands Boulevards and Pigalle/Montmartre are also lively places with plenty of theaters, bars, and concert venues. The Gucci-and-Vuitton-clad jet set can still be found around the Champs-Élysées and Rue St-Honoré, with prices (and some seriously surly bouncers) to match the ritzy surroundings. By comparison, the Rive Gauche is a relatively minor player, dominated by student pubs and jazz bars in the Latin Quarter and a sprinkling of chic hangouts toward St-Germain-des-Prés. In warmer months Parisians flock to the floating clubs and bars, moored along the Seine from Bercy to the Eiffel Tower. Most night spots are open every night, usually from 8 PM, but it's best to call ahead. A good way to spend an evening is to pick an address in a neighborhood that interests you, then give yourself time to browse. People love to bar-hop and atmospheres shift throughout the evening, so be prepared not to stay in one place all night. In addition to the areas mentioned above, excellent bar-browsing can be had in the following neighborhoods: Bibliothèque (Batofar is not alone!), rue Montorgueil (just north of Les Halles), and the Champs Élysées. Midweek, people are usually home after closing hours, around 2 AM, but weekends mean really late-night partying (until 4 or 6 AM). Take note: the last métro runs between 12:30 AM and 1 AM every night. After that, you can take a cab, but it can be hard to find one between midnight and 2 AM on weekends. Your other option is the Noctilien, the new and improved night bus system; look for the blue signs at regular bus stops or plot your route in advance on the Internet at www.noctilien.fr. Or it may just be worth staying out until the métro starts running again at 5:45 AM.