Paris isn’t just about cafés and croissants after dark
When the sun sets, Paris transforms. The city doesn’t just switch on lights-it reinvents itself. You won’t find just another wine bar or crowded pub. Instead, you’ll stumble into a speakeasy hidden behind a fridge in a butcher shop, a jungle-themed lounge where monkeys hang from the ceiling, or a 1920s underground jazz den where the bartender knows your name before you do. The best themed bars and clubs in Paris don’t just serve drinks-they create worlds.
Le Comptoir Général: A Forgotten Continent Come to Life
Step through the unmarked door on the Canal Saint-Martin and you’re no longer in Paris. You’re in a forgotten African colonial outpost, repurposed into a dreamy, cluttered lounge. Wooden crates stack to the ceiling, vintage maps cover the walls, and a giant stuffed giraffe watches over the crowd. The bar serves rum cocktails made with ingredients sourced from West Africa, and the playlist mixes Afrobeat, jazz, and Haitian kompa. No one here is dressed up. Everyone just feels like they’ve wandered into someone’s eccentric uncle’s attic-except this uncle owns a whole continent’s worth of artifacts. It’s not a club. It’s an experience you can drink.
La Chambre aux Oiseaux: Where Birds Sing and Cocktails Are Art
Tucked away in the 11th arrondissement, this place looks like a Victorian bird sanctuary crossed with a cocktail lab. The walls are lined with glass-fronted cabinets filled with taxidermied birds-parrots, owls, hummingbirds-all frozen mid-flight. The lighting is soft, golden, and warm. The drinks? Each one is a miniature sculpture. The ‘Blue Tit’ comes with a sugar bird perched on the rim, and the ‘Raven’s Whisper’ is served in a hollowed-out orange with smoked rosemary floating above it. Music is barely audible-just a whisper of vinyl jazz. You come here to slow down, to savor, to forget the city outside. It’s not loud. It’s not flashy. But it’s unforgettable.
Le Baron: The Glamour of the 90s, Reborn
If you’ve ever imagined what it felt like to be in a 1990s Parisian party scene, Le Baron delivers it in full color. The entrance is unassuming-a plain door near Place de Clichy. But inside? A neon-lit dance floor, mirrored ceilings, and a crowd that looks like it stepped out of a Karl Lagerfeld ad. The music shifts from French house to disco to early 2000s pop, and the bartenders serve champagne by the bottle with a side of attitude. It’s the kind of place where models, artists, and tech founders all end up dancing next to each other. The dress code is loose but real: if you look like you’re trying too hard, you might get turned away. It’s not about being rich. It’s about being cool. And it’s still one of the only places in Paris where the party doesn’t end until 5 a.m.
Le Perchoir: Rooftop Jungle Above the City
Perched on the seventh floor of a building in the 11th, Le Perchoir doesn’t just have a view-it has a whole ecosystem. Vines crawl up the walls, palm trees dot the terrace, and strings of fairy lights make it feel like a secret garden floating above Paris. The bar serves craft gin cocktails with edible flowers and local herbs. On weekends, DJs spin indie electronic and soulful beats that blend with the hum of the city below. You’ll find people lounging on bean bags, couples sharing charcuterie boards, and groups laughing over shared bottles of wine. It’s not a club. It’s a rooftop oasis where the city feels close enough to touch but far enough to forget.
La Belle Équipe: The Neighborhood Bar That Feels Like Home
Don’t let the simple name fool you. La Belle Équipe in the 10th arrondissement is one of the most authentic nightlife experiences in Paris. It’s not themed in the flashy way. Instead, its theme is warmth. The walls are painted a deep green, the tables are worn wood, and the barkeep remembers who likes their whiskey neat and who always orders the same beer. The crowd? Local artists, students, old-timers, and tourists who found it by accident. The music? A mix of French chanson, Motown, and indie rock. The cocktails? Simple, strong, and perfectly made. You won’t find a reservation system here. You won’t find a cover charge. You’ll just find people who keep coming back because this place feels like it was made for them.
Le Secret: The Underground Jazz Hideout
Down a narrow staircase beneath a bookstore in the 6th arrondissement lies Le Secret. No sign. No website. Just a single red light above the door. Inside, it’s dim, intimate, and packed with vinyl records and leather armchairs. The band plays live jazz every night-sometimes a trio, sometimes a solo pianist. The drinks are classic: Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and a house-made vermouth on tap. No one talks loudly. No one takes photos. The silence between songs is as important as the music. This isn’t a place to be seen. It’s a place to listen. And if you’re lucky, the pianist will play ‘Autumn Leaves’ just for you.
Why Themed Bars in Paris Work Better Than Elsewhere
Paris doesn’t do gimmicks. A themed bar here isn’t about costumes or over-the-top decor. It’s about atmosphere, history, and emotional resonance. The best ones don’t shout-they whisper. They pull you in with texture, scent, sound, and memory. A bar like Le Comptoir Général isn’t just a bar-it’s a museum of stories. Le Perchoir isn’t just a rooftop-it’s a refuge. Even La Belle Équipe, with its plain walls, tells a story: the story of a neighborhood that still knows how to gather.
What to Expect When You Go
- Timing matters. Most themed spots don’t get lively until 10 p.m. or later. Arrive too early and you’ll be the only one there.
- Dress smart-casual. No flip-flops, no sportswear. Parisians notice. You don’t need a suit, but you should look like you care.
- Reservations aren’t always possible. Some places, like Le Secret, don’t take them. Others, like Le Baron, require booking days ahead.
- Prices vary. Cocktails range from €12 to €22. Champagne starts at €15 a glass. It’s not cheap, but it’s not overpriced for what you get.
- Language isn’t a barrier. Staff speak English. But a little French-‘Merci’, ‘S’il vous plaît’-goes a long way.
Where to Go Next
If you’ve hit all these spots and still want more, head to the 18th or 19th arrondissements. Places like La Bellevilloise (a converted factory with live music) or Le Clos des Lilas (a hidden wine bar with live accordion) offer different flavors of Parisian nightlife. Or take a late-night walk along the Seine-you never know when you’ll find a pop-up jazz set or a street performer with a vinyl record player.
Final Tip: Don’t Just Drink. Explore.
The magic of Paris nightlife isn’t in the drinks. It’s in the surprise. The bar you didn’t plan to visit. The stranger who invites you to share a bottle. The music that stops you in your tracks. Let yourself get lost. The best themed bars in Paris aren’t on maps. They’re in memories.
Are themed bars in Paris expensive?
Cocktails usually cost between €12 and €22, with champagne and premium spirits higher. While not cheap, prices reflect quality, atmosphere, and the experience-not just the alcohol. Many places offer small plates or charcuterie boards for €8-€15, making it easy to turn a drink into a full evening.
Do I need to make a reservation?
Some do, some don’t. Le Baron, Le Perchoir, and La Chambre aux Oiseaux accept bookings online. Le Comptoir Général and Le Secret don’t take reservations-arrive early or be ready to wait. Walk-ins are welcome at La Belle Équipe, but weekends get busy after 11 p.m.
What’s the dress code for Parisian themed bars?
No shorts, flip-flops, or athletic wear. Smart-casual works: jeans with a nice shirt, a dress, or a blazer. You don’t need to look like you’re going to the opera, but you should look like you made an effort. Staff notice-and so do other guests.
Are these places safe at night?
Yes. Most of these spots are in well-lit, busy neighborhoods like the 10th, 11th, and 18th arrondissements. Paris is generally safe for nightlife, but always stay aware. Avoid walking alone through empty streets after 2 a.m. Stick to main roads, and use Uber or a taxi if you’re tired.
Can I visit these places if I don’t speak French?
Absolutely. Staff at these venues speak English fluently, especially in tourist-heavy areas. Menus often have English translations. A simple ‘Merci’ or ‘Bonjour’ goes a long way, but you won’t be turned away for not speaking French.
For more hidden gems, check out the 19th arrondissement’s La Trépassée-a bar built inside an old funeral parlor-or Le 1920 in Montmartre, where the decor is pure Art Deco and the cocktails are named after 1920s poets. Paris nightlife doesn’t repeat itself. It evolves. And if you’re willing to wander, it’ll surprise you.
