Fun things to do in "GAY" Paris
 

Looking for hip gay places to go for a drink, coffee, hangout, etc. while in Paris. I'm 36 and traveling with friends who aren't gay, so will probably be solo on my evening excursions.<BR><BR>I'm not into dancing/late night clubs, but do like cool bars or coffeehouses (think "G" or Big Cup in NYC as a point of reference). Only suggestions to date from friends are Univers and Le Depot. Thanks

G (as in Go somewhere else) and Big Cup (the artic tundra in february is more inviting) are not cool places.<BR><BR>And if your wondering about XL - not cool either.

Don't know about Univers or Le Depot, but Quetzal is somewhat like G, with less attitude and more standing around. Le Gai Moulin is a terrific gay restaurant which draws a mixed crowd. Unless your friends are unaware of your scene, you could go there for dinner. <BR><BR>Nothing like Big Cup that I know of, mainly because Paris, coffee shops also serve liquor. On Rue de Vielle Temple, probably spelled wrong, is are a couple of very good ones.<BR><BR>

Thanks Jazfan for the info. Friends definitely know my scene LOL. I could probably drag them out with me some night, but they are not late night people AT ALL!<BR><BR>Nyer - thanks for the non-helpful post. Was trying to give a frame of reference not get commentary on NY.<BR><BR>Can you say "B" for Bitter. I thought you could.

ttt

the Marais district...

I'M NOT BITTERRRRRR! (ROTFL)

It might help if you pick up a copy of "Out Around Paris" from Thomas Cook publishing. It's thin (much more easy to carry around than a Damron or Spartacus guide) and it's loaded with info about Gay Paris. There are a couple of bar rags worth picking up to see what's happening that week: e.m@le, males a bar, illico and plan exes is a handy little map.<BR><BR>You and your friends would probably enjoy Chez Richard, a little nightspot tucked away on Vielle de Temple. It's fairly mixed (gay/straight), the staff is very friendly and the music is tres cool. It's pretty close (if not next door) to Amnesia, Okawa and Central if you feel the need to hit a few gay spots.<BR><BR>Le Gai Moulin is a fun place and I'll second Jazfan's recommendation. If it's too crowded and to hungry to wait for a table, try Le Petit Picard just down the street. <BR><BR>Have a great time.

Thanks guys, now I know what to avoid next time I'm in Paris!

Next time you're in Paris? LOL! I'd bet you haven't set foot out of your county, redneck.

Back onto topic.... The places mentioned in the previous posts are in the Marais. And I will second the recommendation for the Thomas Cook "Out" Guides. I haven't used the one for Paris, but I used the London one. Although I know London pretty well, I found lots of useful information. In addition to being easier to carry around than Damron, etc., they include information regarding shopping, dining, culture, etc.

Forgot to mention in my last post. Regarding Larry's suggestion to pick up a "bar rag." The problem for me is that they're in French, obviously. If you're not fluent with the language, slang terms, etc., they're not much help.

I'm not all that fluent in French and didn't have too much trouble with the bar rags. Males a Bars and e.m@le have headings ike "before", "clubbing", "sex parties" and "tea dance", so all you need to know in French is the days of the week: lundi mardi, mercredi, jeudi, vendredi, samedi and dimanche. More importantly, they are more up-to-date than a guide book in English.

First you have to be aware of the "typical" gay night schedule in Paris: aperitif (19h-21h), dinner (21-23/24h), last drink (midnight-1h), disco (1h-...). Actually, everything is concentrated within a 500 m radius, around rue des Archives in the Marais. For aperitif, I would recommend Le Cox (relatively hard core crowd, but a la Parisienne), or next door, the Open cafe, if you want something more low key. Or, for a sligthly more mixed, and definitely hip crow, Les Marronniers, a revisited traditional French cafe with very good food too. For dinner, I would recommend Le Dos de la Baleine, le Bucheron, le Rude, le Fond de Cour or Le Hangar (more mixed). If you are not into late nights, your evening should stop here. Otherwise, check the local free magazines for one nighters, the way it works in Paris. FYI Le Depot is a huge, very popular, sex club and l'Univers Gym a sauna.

Try a laundrymat in the Marais area! My husband (not gay) met several new friends who offered to help him with his laundry.

Thanks for all the info everyone. PJ - what a riot. Hopefully your husband has a good sense of humor and took the attention as a complement.<BR><BR>Thierry - Any sauna suggestions beside Univers and recommendations on time. I heard BTB is a new one right by my hotel.<BR>

I am not into the sauna scene, but I think that IDM (rue du faubourg Montmartre, 75009) is still going strong. Never heard of BTB. Saunas are pretty much busy all the time, with a peak on week end afternoons and 19-23h. In general, let's call a spade a spade, Paris is much more sex-oriented than any American city, so you shouldn't have a pb on this issue. Going back to a previous subject, a good restaurant I forgot to mention is Le Coude Fou, rue du Bourg Tibourg 75004, and L'Etoile Manquante, rue Vieille du Temple, is a stylish, good, gay-friendly bistro.