Les bons spectacles de Whathello - Paris
 

Le Lapin Agile, Montmartre.

In some thread I saw StCirq mentioning it. So I finally went to le Lapin Agile...
It is a very old house in front of the vineyards of Montmartre, and started to have shows in 1860. The place has a low ceiling, blackened walls due to smoking for more than a century, old pictures of celebrities who went to le Lapin since decades : Aristide Bruant, Georges Brassens, Claude Nougaro, Philippe Debussy performed here at one time or another.
Today there are about a dozens not so young but quite crazy people singing old french songs and some of their own in a room that can house at max 35 people ...
I was surprised to sing along 'Fanchon' (Fanchon, quoique bonne chrétienne, fut baptisée avec du vin) and some others that rang a bell (mostly 'chansons à boire' - songs to drink).
A very good evening. Real typical french, lots of fun and laughter, but better to come if you understand (some) french.
Cost is low (28 € comprising a glass of welcome and I had a Leffe for 5€).

We had dinner close by (chez Ginette, at metro Lamarck Caulaincourt), an old café-brasserie where the 'planche côte d'azur' is excellent. (charcuterie and cheese).

I had a hotel close by - 40€ for a very acceptable room - in the 18th.
When Kerouac says you can find correct hotels in the outer arrondissements he is right !
Whathello.

40€ for a hotel room in Paris? I sure it was a tent.

I've read about that for tourists for decades now, it seems. Nice to read an on-site report.

So why mention the 40 euro room without saying exactly what hotel and kind of room this was? I presume cheapest double but what hotel?

Hotel should make another thread about 'budget hotels'.
It was hotel Ramey rue Ramey in front of restaurant Ateliers Ramey (good one btw).
My second stay. First was in a large and quiet room here a single - with a bed we could have slept two.
Clean with some decoration bathroom with small shower but functional.
A nice lady welcomes you. Only drawback was the bar in front, quite loud. I needed earplugs despite double glazing.

Last time we were in Paris we were in that area of Montmartre, What, but didn't know about the Lapin club.

Next time!!

The room looks ugly and run down but it's a good value for those willing to forgo aesthetics.
I would not recommend staying in this part of Montmartre if you're a solo woman, though. The hotel is close to Gare du Nord station. Not exactly the safest area at night.

The room looks ugly and run down but it's a good value for those willing to forgo aesthetics.
I would not recommend staying in this part of Montmartre if you're a solo woman, though. The hotel is close to Gare du Nord station. Not exactly the safest area at night.

We tried the Lapin Agile a few years back. In the States my wife had been in the play, "Picasso at the Lapin Agile", written by Steve Martin, so we just had to go to the real place when in Paris.

We did not enjoy ourselves, but that was our own fault because we did not recognize any of the drinking songs or lyrics so could not sing along, or follow the jokes because of our inadequate French.

The place is exactly as described by Whathello, but he forgot to mention the tiny glass of wine must have been vinegar dyed red, and that the cramped benches upon which one is crammed were excruciatingly uncomfortable.

I've been to Au Lapin Agile a few times and always enjoyed it, but I did already know a lot of the old drinking songs. We always got a small glass of cherry brandy, not wine, and not of high quality, but we weren't expecting that.

Loacker, if you think that this area is close to Gare du Nord and therefore unsafe, you are wrong on two counts.

But I wonder where you would feel safe.

However I read threads on TA where I was told girls had to run akk the way to their hotels in that area and that I felt safe before I have no boobs.

Some people are strange...

Anyone know this story? bonjourparis.com/archives/cafe-lapin-agile-montmartre-lolo-infamous-art-hoax/

Thanks, Whathello. DH and I walked past it during the day. We were rarely awake late enough for night life.

Wonderful history, TDudette! Thanks for posting.