This little restaurant tucked away in the heart of St Germain holds title of the best Latin American restaurants in Paris. It is full of noise and laughter and singing and the sun shines inside, even on the rainiest of nights. It is a great place to go with friends, share a couple of cheese dips and guacamole bowls to start, then follow by a chicken quesadilla or a burrito. Add a few one-liter margarita pitchers for 10 euros and you still will not come out paying more than 30 euros per person. If you can, save room for the creme caramel at the end. Call ahead to make sure you have a table.

Practical Information

Telephone: 00 33 (0)1 43 54 41 56
Address: 31, rue St Jacques, 75005
Metro: Cluny-La Sorbonne
Opening hours: noon-midnight every day
Average price: lunch: 8 euros/person; dinner: 15-30 euros/person

Don’t miss this legendary Paris cabaret. Recently taken over by new art director,Philippe Découflé,  Le Crazy keeps its intimate charm while updating its lighting, choreography and music. No big feathers or cancan here – this cabaret is all about sultry sexy fantasies.

Practical Information

Address: 12, avenue George V, 75008
Metro: Alma Marceau, George V
Reservations: 00 33 (0)1 47 23 32 32
Shows: Sunday-Friday: 20h15 & 22h45;  Saturday:  19h, 21h30 & 23h45
Tickets: 80 euros and up, show or show & champagne
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It can be said that this bar is a victim of its own success but I prefer to just stick with the success part. It can also be said that the crowd is bobo-barf  but I will just call them hot! Andy WAHLOO does happy hour, it serves food ( North African tapas ) has a dj ( playing dance table elctropop ) there is a huge terrace ( the courtyard of a hotel particulier that it is housed in ) and its fun. What else do you need?

Practical Information

Tel: 00 33 (0) 1 42 71 20 38
Address: 69, Rue des Gravilliers, 75003
Metro: Arts et Metiers
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 16h-02h00
Average price: 12 euros mojito

It can be difficult to find a nice authentic cafe that is not a chain directly in Place de Republique, but Les Parigots which not that long ago replaced the Cafe des Syndicats lives up to its mission and its name.

Steps away from the hustle and bustle of the politically-charged square and Paris’s largest metro station, its long terrace invites you for a glass of wine and a plate of charcuterie. For those with a hungry stomach, there is a typical French brasserie menu as well. Inside the atmosphere is chatty,  especially at night.  A big plus is the pleasant attitude of the wait staff.

Practical Information

Tel: 00 33 (0)1 42 00 22 26
Address: 5, rue du Chateau d’eau, 75010
Metro: Republique
Restaurant hours: lunch and dinner, bar everyday until 1 am
Average price: average meal is 13 euros, Drinks 6 euros

A popular cafe, bar, restaurant between Belleville and Menilmontant with a beautifully restored interior of moulding and tile. Great place to get some work done on your own before your friends join you for an originally fashioned burger and a beer. If you have no other plans, stick around for mix sessions every Friday and Saturday nights. Sundays are dedicated to brunch and live music starting at 18h.

Practical Information

Tel: 00 33 (0) 01 49 29 95 59
Address: 93, Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011
Metro: Couronnes, Ménilmontant
Cafe hours: Everyday 8 am – 2 am, from 9 am on weekends
Restaurant hours: Everyday noon-midnight; Brunch from noon-17h on Sundays and holidays
Average price: Cocktails 6 euros, small beer 2 euros, brunch 18 euros
Website: http://www.myspace.com/lecannibalecafe

 

Premiere table dance de France!

A chic strip club and discotheque. Dress smartly, behave and enjoy the show! Keep your bills at home, this club has its own currency -Pink Money! Drinks are around 20 euros, bottles from 200 euros. One table dance is 30 euros. Ladies, if you get inspired, join their Pink School!

Practical Information

Tel: 00 33 (0)1 58 36 19 20
Address: 49-51, rue de Ponthieu, 75008
Metro: George V, FDR, Saint-Phillippe-du-Roule
Entry price: 20 euros
Website: www.pinkparadise.fr

NYC has Lower East side, SF has the Tenderloin, London has Camden. For Paris, the gritty hip neighborhood is slowly but surely becoming the 10th arrondissement. And testament to that is the addition of LA FIDELITE Brasserie. In the small unassuming street by the same name, in the building previously housing LES ZINGOTS, a beautifully renovated brasserie opens up and surprises you with its clean white glow. Designed by the ubiquitous Parisian artist, Andre, the room is full of alcoves for privacy, brimming with beautiful people. The menu evolves but always stays in the ‘brasserie’ field. Try the morel starter and save room or share ‘pain perdu’ at the end! Reservations are recommended from Wednesday on.

Practical Information

Tel: 00 33 (0) 1 47 70 19 34
Address: 12, rue de la Fidélité, 75010
Metro: Gare de l’Est
Restaurant hours: Lunch 12h -15h, Dinner 20h-23h30; Closed Sunday & Monday
Average price: 1 starter + 1 main course + 1 glass of wine =40 euros
Website: http://www.lafidelite.com

Presentation

They understand the true meaning of cocktail.

France is known for its wines but when it comes to cocktails…yes,  in a fine martini glass iced before use… yes, with proper ingredients properly shaken…yes, not watered down by one lone ice cube floating desperately to stay alive…this gourmand nation seems to be still learning how to properly pronounce the word.

Several Paris establishments, though, are quickly mastering the art of cocktails and the ‘Experimental’ easily competes for the top spot.

Bartenders are true maestros here, professional in their demeanor and execution. On the menu are classics with a twist. Try a “blend of torn lemongrass stock, organic elderflower and lemon juice freshly squezed along with a premim vodka; better with a london dry gin” as recommended by Romee, one of the owners.  Once you have your martini in hand, you can proceed to mingle with a rather hip international crowd and groove to the guest dj. The boudoir rustic chic decor completes the ambiance. If it becomes too crowded, the centrally located, Montorgueil district, has many other bars to have fun in, just stick to a mojito or a beer.

Practical Information

Tel: 00 33 (0) 1 45 08 88 09
Address: 37, rue Saint Sauveur, 75002
Metro: Sentier, Reaumur-Sebastopol
Open: Monday-Saturday 18h-02h/04h
Average cocktail: 11 euros

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Presentation

Trendy democratic new bar with a lounge and a functioning fumoir. Yeah!!!
The element-themed bar opened in Spring 2009 in Republique giving the neighborhood bobos a new place to party. Bartending wonders shouldn’t be expected here, but one can have just as much fun with a beer when there are live dj’s, chatty sexy patrons, a cellar remodeled into a fumoir,  and the occasional erroneous ass pinch. If that is not enough, the ‘earth element’ lounge toward the back features a massage table and the ‘water element’ bathroom unites the sexes around a communal washing basin. Claustrophobes be ware!

Practical Information

Tel: 00 33 (0)1 47 00 34 11
Address: 149, Rue Amelot, 75011
Metro: Republique
Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 18h-…h
Average price: 4 Euros for draft, 8 Euros for cocktail

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As the name suggests this is a great alternative to the big crowded and rowdy night establishments. The sound still competes, the decor is boudoir red, the music is electro, the crowd is  happy and hip. A glass of champagne is 12 euros and a bottle is 200 and up. Its a place to dress up.

33 01 42 96 20 27
5, rue Molière, 75001
M: Palais Royal, Pyramides

www.lalternative.fr