The Paris Music Scene
The Paris Music Scene

Since Josephine Baker’s heyday in the 20s and 30s, Paris has been a hub for live music, dancing, drinking, flirting and fun.  After all, the City of Light is brightest after dark, when nightlife is at its well-dressed, glittery finest.  On your next trip to Paris, break out your finest duds (or even better—buy yourself some new ones!) and visit one of these nightspots for an evening of Parisian music you will never forget:

L’Alternative in the 1st arrondissement is one of the newer clubs to grace Paris’s night scene.  Though the venue was once a traditional cabaret bar, it’s now home to rock and techno beats for arty locals and visitors alike.  This will be the perfect place to show off your latest tat and take in the newest fashions on the dance scene.  In fact, the doorman is instructed to follow the policy of “no effort, no entry,” so have a great time choosing your outfit and makeup to ensure that you can enjoy the old-fashioned cabaret décor of red lights and black leather while you dance the night away.  Visit L’Alternative at 5 rue Molière, Paris 75001.

The European techno scene is no better represented than by Rex Club, located in the busy 2nd arrondissement.  This late night dance club—things often don’t really start hopping here before 2 or 3 am—is a coveted venue for well-known DJs throughout Europe.  Both the incredible acoustics and the beautiful 1920s Art Deco interior make this a must-see nightspot for visitors who need to get their dance on.  You’ll find Rex Club at 5 bd Poissonnière, Paris 75002.

If you’re itching to see live up-and-coming bands while in Paris, look no further than Le Nouveau Casino in the 11th arrondissement.  With such big name acts as Hot Hot Heat and Cage the Elephant, the Nouveau C. (as its friends call it) is the club for fans of the indie music scene.  In typical Parisian fashion, the club itself is a beautiful space, even if the music weren’t enough to draw you out.  The huge dance club is a former movie theater—giving you plenty of room for dancing and sidling up to the iceberg-shaped bar.  Le Nouveau Casino is found at 109 rue Oberkampf, Paris 75011.

Stepping onto the checkered floor of Le China’s downstairs bar and restaurant in the 12th arrondissement will make you think you’ve gone back in time.  The gorgeous Art Deco furniture and décor feels stolen from a 1930s novel, and the smooth house music will wash over you as you relax with a cocktail.  The upper floor of Le China holds the stage for live music, with plenty of room for dancing.  You’ll feel chic and stylish here.  Visit Le China at 50 rue de Charenton, Paris 75012.

If you were born too late for Studio 54, Djoon in 13th arrondissement is the nightclub for you.  With a strict dress code and an eclectic mix of disco, funk and afro beats, this club is the perfect place to dance, see, and be seen.  Even the façade of glass and steel is reminiscent of the New York loft clubs that inspired this trendy spot.  Djoon is on 22 bd Vincent Auriol, Paris 75013.

If you’re ready to get down in the city, check out these Paris apartment rentals available right now from New York Habitat.  They will be the perfect spot to greet the dawn after a night of dancing in Paris’s hottest clubs:

Feel bohemian in this 1 Bedroom Vacation Rental – Pere Lachaise – Nation – Paris (PA-1737).  With gorgeous hardwood floors, a colorful kitchen, and splashy mosaic tiles in the bathroom, this rental will leave you feeling ready for anything an evening might bring.

Continue the dance party after hours at this spacious 3 Bedroom Loft Duplex Vacation Rental – Marais – Les Halles – Paris (PA-3530) (https://www.nyhabitat.com).  With a high-ceilinged living room right off the loft, plenty of lush greenery, and natural light in every room, this gem of an apartment will be any clubber’s preferred pied-a-terre in Paris.

What is your favorite way to enjoy a late night in Paris?