Blogathon June 26
When a 30-year-old friend from a small city in northern France came to visit my boyfriend and me in Paris, she asked, “Where do you two go clubbing.”
Ha! I didn’t go clubbing when I was in my twenties—too much smoke. But now that the interior air has cleared in recent years, we do occasionally venture out away from our computer screens and our Netflix’s films to join in the fun at one of the local clubs.
My favorites below offer choices beyond wine or sitting around a bar, which makes an evening out a more appealing prospect. But remember, if you’re sitting at outdoor terraces anywhere in Paris, expect smoke.
2nd Arrondissement
Club Rayé
26 Rue Dussoubs, http://clubraye.com/
Phone: 01 40 13 72 93
Metro stops
Wine, imaginative cocktails, jazz, and small plates in an intimate, black & white striped (rayé) art deco setting. Though their food is quite tasty, it’s more like munching on tapas. If you get hungry early, I suggest stopping for dinner elsewhere or eating a late lunch. I’ve been here with a large group of about 10 and also with just another couple, which is much more preferable. The tables are bistro size so really it’s just right for two or four at a table. The air is charged with enthusiastic chatter, then attention turns to a jazz singer (male or female) and a jazz pianist. Club Rayé is a perfect after-dinner spot. It’s a mellow way to blend into the Paris evening.
Hours:Tuesday – Saturday 5 PM – 2 AM.
Sunday Jazz Brunch 12 PM – 4 PM.
Closed Mondays. Check their website for their music schedule and their cocktail of the day.
4th Arrondissement
La Belle Hortense
31, rue Vieille du Temple
Tel : 01 48 0421 60
Métro: Hôtel de Ville/ St-Paul
Sip wine in a nineteenth-century library in the heart of the historic Marais. Enter the Wedgewood blue façade and you’ll soon discover a bit of tranquility amidst the bustling Marais streets. Stocked with classics, poetry, rare volumes, and new releases, this literary café is a combination wine bar / bookshop. Settle in with a book and a bottle. What could be more civilized?
Hours: 5 PM- 2 AM
No website but you can call for special events and readings.
11th Arrondissement
Le Baron Rouge
1 rue Théophile-Roussel
Tel: 01 43 43 14 32
Métro: Ledru-Rollin
Yes, this is a repeat (see my restaurant blog post: http://kathyborrus.tumblr.com/post/122124143148/photo-above-from-one-thousand-buildings-of-paris) but one worth including here. In the 11th arrondissement, this joint is close to the d’Aligre market and has a working class ambience. Join the locals at the zinc bar or fill an empty bottle from the large wine kegs at the bar entrance while downing freshly shucked oysters.
Closed Sunday afternoons and Mondays, no website.
13th Arrondissement
Batofar
http://www.batofar.org
11 quai François Mauriac
75013 Paris
Phone: 01 53 60 17 00
Metro BNF ou Quai de la gare
Bus 325 – 89 – 64
This unique club on a boat makes waves, so to speak, gently swaying as the DJ plays music or a band entertains you. I’ve not recaptured the mood recently, but the couple of times I’ve been there in the past, the experience was pleasant, the staff cordial, and the drinks flowed along with the dancing. Dine here also or just take in the ambience along the Seine. Don’t fret if you’re prone to seasickness. The boat is moored and never leaves the dock. Club, restaurant, theater, heated terrace (smoke), or beach—you’ll find it all very late night near the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand.
Hours:
Tuesday 7:30 PM- Midnight
Wednesday- Saturday 7:30 PM-3 AM
Closed Sunday & Monday
For a larger helping of clubbing, I refer you to this website: http://girlsguidetoparis.com/nightlife-for-gals-in-paris/
Kathy Borrus 