Best Themed Bars and Clubs for Nightlife in Paris

Paris isn’t just about croissants and the Eiffel Tower. By 11 p.m., the city transforms. Hidden speakeasies, neon-lit jazz dens, and retro-futuristic dance floors come alive. If you’re looking for more than just a drink, you want a theme-something that pulls you into another world. And Paris delivers. Not the tourist traps with fake berets and accordion music, but real, inventive, unforgettable places where the vibe is the main attraction.

Le Perchoir - Rooftop Dreams Over the City

Le Perchoir isn’t one bar. It’s three: one in the 11th, one in the 18th, and one in the 19th. Each sits on a rooftop, surrounded by greenery, string lights, and views that stretch across Paris. The 11th location, tucked above a quiet street near Republique, feels like a secret garden. The music? Indie pop, lo-fi beats, and occasional live vocals. You don’t come here to dance. You come to sip a lavender gin fizz, watch the sunset turn the city gold, and feel like you’ve slipped into a French movie.

What makes it stand out? No one’s shouting over loud EDM. No cover charge before midnight. Just good drinks, cozy seating, and a crowd that’s more interested in conversation than Instagram poses. The 18th location, up near Montmartre, has a tiny stage where local musicians play acoustic sets on weekends. You’ll hear a 22-year-old singer-songwriter cover Billie Holiday, then realize you’ve been listening for an hour without checking your phone.

Le Comptoir Général - A Jungle-Themed Time Warp

Step through a wooden door in the 10th arrondissement, and you’re no longer in Paris. You’re in a forgotten colonial outpost, buried under vines, vintage maps, and African artifacts collected over decades. Le Comptoir Général is part bar, part museum, part art installation. The walls are lined with old suitcases, taxidermied animals, and rotary phones. A grand piano sits in the corner, often played by a guest musician who doesn’t take requests.

Drinks are named after African cities: Kinshasa Sour, Lagos Mule, Dakar Old Fashioned. The cocktails are strong, complex, and made with house-infused spirits. The crowd? Artists, expats, travelers, and locals who’ve been coming here since 2010. There’s no dress code. No bouncer judging your shoes. Just a vibe that says: be yourself, or don’t come at all.

On Thursday nights, they host Afrobeat DJ sets. On Sundays, there’s free jazz brunch. The bar doesn’t advertise these events. You find out by word of mouth. That’s how it’s supposed to be.

La Belle Hortense - Underground Jazz with Attitude

Down a narrow alley in the Marais, behind a plain black door with no sign, is La Belle Hortense. Named after a 19th-century French courtesan, this place smells like aged wood, cigarette smoke (yes, it’s allowed here), and whiskey. The lighting is dim. The seating is mismatched chairs and velvet sofas. The music? Live jazz, every night, no exceptions.

There’s no menu. You tell the bartender what mood you’re in-“something smoky,” “upbeat,” “slow and sad”-and they make you a drink. The cocktails are simple: gin and tonic with a twist of orange peel, a perfect Old Fashioned, or a house-made vermouth on ice. The band? Usually three musicians: a sax player who’s been playing since the 90s, a bassist who also teaches at the Paris Conservatory, and a drummer who used to play with Nina Simone’s backup group.

It’s not loud. It’s not crowded. But it’s the most authentic jazz spot in Paris. You won’t find it on TikTok. You won’t find it on Google Maps unless you search the exact name. And that’s why it’s still alive.

Le Baron - The Glittering, Glamorous Mess

If you want to see Paris nightlife at its most over-the-top, go to Le Baron. This place is a glitter bomb exploded in a 1920s Parisian mansion. The walls are covered in velvet, mirrors, and gold leaf. The music? A mix of hip-hop, French pop, and 80s disco. The crowd? Models, influencers, French aristocrats, and tourists who saved up for months to get in.

Entry isn’t guaranteed. They have a strict door policy. But if you get in, you’re in. The bartenders wear tuxedos. The cocktails come in crystal glasses with edible gold flakes. The dance floor? Small, packed, and electric. You’ll see a 70-year-old French count dancing with a 25-year-old Korean K-pop fan. No one cares. That’s the point.

It’s expensive. A cocktail costs €22. A bottle of champagne starts at €500. But if you want to feel like you’re in a Sofia Coppola film, this is the place. Don’t come here looking for quiet. Come here to be seen, to dance badly, to laugh with strangers who become friends by 2 a.m.

La Machine du Moulin Rouge - Not What You Think

Most people think La Machine du Moulin Rouge is just another tourist show. It’s not. The real attraction is the bar downstairs-open until 4 a.m., hidden behind a curtain, and rarely mentioned in guidebooks. It’s a surreal, steampunk-inspired space with giant mechanical birds, brass gears, and a ceiling that looks like a broken clock.

The drinks are named after inventions: The Wright Flyer, The Tesla Coil, The Gutenberg Press. Each one comes with a small card explaining the history behind it. The bartenders know every patron’s name by the third visit. The music? Experimental electronic, with live visuals projected on the walls. It’s not dance music. It’s immersive art you can sip.

It’s open only on weekends. No reservations. You just show up. If the line is long, wait. It’s worth it. The energy here is different-less party, more wonder. You leave not just buzzed, but changed.

Club 13 - The Underground House Haven

Deep in the 13th arrondissement, beneath a laundromat, is Club 13. No sign. No website. Just a single red light above a metal door. You need a password. You get it from someone who’s been there. It’s that kind of place.

Inside, it’s all concrete, strobes, and bass. This is where Paris’s underground house and techno scene lives. The sound system? Custom-built by a local engineer who used to work with Daft Punk. The DJs? Mostly unknowns from Berlin, Lisbon, and Marseille who fly in just for the weekend. The crowd? Mostly locals in black hoodies, no phones out, lost in the music.

It’s not glamorous. It’s not Instagrammable. But it’s real. The floor vibrates. Your chest feels it. People don’t talk. They move. And by 3 a.m., you’re sweating, smiling, and not sure how you got there-but you’re glad you did.

What Makes a Themed Bar Work in Paris?

Not every themed bar survives. Many open with a gimmick and close in six months. The ones that last? They don’t just decorate. They build a world.

Le Perchoir isn’t just a rooftop. It’s a quiet escape. Le Comptoir Général isn’t just African decor. It’s a story you can touch. La Belle Hortense isn’t just jazz. It’s legacy. The best places in Paris don’t sell drinks. They sell moments. And you remember those moments long after the last sip.

Don’t go to Paris looking for the ‘best’ club. Go looking for the one that feels like it was made just for you. The one where you forget your phone. The one where you don’t care who’s watching. That’s the one worth finding.