The key addresses in Paris — verified and regularly updated. Clicking takes you straight to the location page.
Near Les Halles, the Banana Café is one of the well-known addresses of the Parisian LGBTQ+ scene. Tropical accents and banana decorations characterize the room, which is a café during the day and becomes a bar in the evening. The menu features creative cocktails with fruit notes and happy hour offerings. Live shows, drag performances and theme evenings are part of it, and in summer the terrace beckons.
Near the Marais, the Bears' Den is aimed primarily at bears, daddies and their friends. Upstairs there is a lounge bar with a small smoking terrace, in the basement there is a cave with a dance floor, disco ball and its own bartender. Beer, cocktails and house wine taste at fair prices. The audience is international, the atmosphere friendly, and stairwells lead to the balcony and darkroom.
One of the big gay parties in Paris is BigWolf, which takes place regularly at YOYO in the Palais de Tokyo. Top DJs such as Dim Wolf and Offer Nissim play electro, plus dancers and an international audience from all over Europe. Gay-friendly women and straight men are also welcome. Since the events sell out quickly, advance tickets are worthwhile.
At 3 Rue Royale in the 8th arrondissement lies the Bizarre Love Triangle, a party club for a mixed queer community. House is played on the dance floor, played by international DJs such as Mihai Popoviciu or Emmanuel Caurel, plus live performances. An adults-only policy applies, and a bar rounds off the offer.
At 15 rue des Archives in the Marais, COX is a café with strong coffee and snacks by day, and a bar with cocktails and music by night. Red lighting, leather benches and a long counter characterize the room. The happy hours, the cruising areas in the back and events such as drag shows are popular. The Centre Pompidou is close by.
In the Marais, the CUD is one of the popular party locations of the queer scene. The bar is on the ground floor, the dance floor in the vaulted cellar; it gets really crowded from 2 a.m., when the other bars in the district close. Two bars and a DJ with pop and house will characterize the evening. The club is primarily aimed at gay and trans men.
Located in the Marais, the FreeDJ gay bar is spread over two levels: upstairs a bar, foosball table and a glass-enclosed smoking area, downstairs a small dance floor with changing DJs from pop to house. Especially on weekends, it pulsates until the early hours of the morning. Prices are moderate for Paris, admission is free and the cloakroom is pay-what-you-want.
In the 11th arrondissement near the Place de la République is the Gibus Club, which is one of the well-known addresses of the queer nightlife scene. On the large dance floor, theme nights such as BBB alternate with RnB, Bitch Party with pop or Excite with house. Well-known DJs and live acts perform, and up to 900 guests celebrate here in front of an international audience.
John Dixon/UNDER is a party club known for its after-parties. Resident DJ John Dixon will play underground house and psy-progressives, plus themed events with a focus on T-parties. Located on Boulevard Macdonald in an industrial district, the club relies on a strong sound system and dark, immersive lighting.
Located in the Marais, La Boite is a bar and café that combines cozy corners and lively evenings. There are creative cocktails, wines and coffee variations made with local ingredients, plus light snacks and tapas to share. With regular events such as drag shows and live music, the venue attracts the LGBTQ+ community, with vintage elements and warm lighting.
The Champmesle on Rue Chabanais is one of the most famous lesbian bars in Paris. With homemade cocktails, champagne and soft drinks, a mixed, international crowd meets here. The programme includes cabaret shows, theme evenings and sessions with card reading, and special performances on Thursdays. Landlady Josy and her team provide a family flair.
At 17 Rue Saint-Martin is La Mutinerie, a bar and café and meeting place for the queer community. Between colorful walls and cozy seating areas, there are cocktails, local wines, coffee as well as tapas and vegetarian snacks. Drag shows, live music, readings and discussion evenings take place regularly.
On Rue du Faubourg du Temple in the 11th arrondissement, you'll find La Nuit des Follivores, also known as Crazyvores. In addition to techno and house, there are several dance floors, a cocktail bar and a darkroom. The Follivore parties are known for their animalistic themes, plus guest DJs and live shows. The dress code often extends to the revealing and fetish-oriented.
Located on Rue Saint-Honoré, Le Velvet combines bar and café with dim lighting and plush seating. The menu includes cocktails such as classic martinis, wines and champagne, coffee during the day, homemade lemonades and snacks such as croissants or cheese platters. In addition, there are regular LGBTQ+-friendly events.
In the Marais lies Les Souffleuses, bar and café for queer guests and curious visitors. During the day, the place is suitable for a coffee, in the evening drag shows and DJ sets with alternative music create the atmosphere. In the basement there is a small cave bar for techno evenings. The menu includes cocktails, rhums millésimés and homemade punches, plus a happy hour.
In the 17th arrondissement at 39 Avenue Wagram is the Matinée Paris, which is part of the Matinée group. Light shows, go-go dancers and international DJs such as Offer Nissim or Chris Cox characterize the nights. In addition, there are themed events, areas for different music genres and a bar. The spacious rooms offer space for thousands of guests.
MENERGY is a gay party that takes place at the Gibus Club and other locations. Resident DJs such as Babybear and guests play house with electro and techno influences, red and black lights set the mood. There are no go-go dancers or backrooms. The crowd ranges from muscle bears to alts and often celebrates shirtless. Dates can be found on the Facebook page.
Located on Rue Charlot in the Marais, the One Way Bar and Café combines dimmed lighting and cozy seating areas. There are creative cocktails, wines and local beers, coffee, croissants and light meals during the day. Regular drag shows and theme nights bring the community together, locals and travelers alike.
The Quetzal is one of the well-known gay bars in the Marais. The industrial look with chrome and neon lights attracts a crowd of men in their 30s and 40s on weekends, in-house DJs play techno, house and trance, and the bar serves beer at happy hour, pastis, Ricard and cocktails. In addition, there is a small terrace, mirrored toilets and events on public holidays.
In the Marais, the RAIDD Bar combines café atmosphere with club energy. The daily shower show, in which performers perform in a glass shower, is famous. Happy hour runs until 10 p.m., and theme evenings such as Disco Tuesdays or Brazilian Wednesdays bring variety. In front of a mixed crowd of locals, tourists and students, topless bartenders and go-go dancers shape the atmosphere.
For decades, gay bars in Paris have been concentrated in the Marais, the queer heart of the city in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. The core is formed by Rue des Archives, Rue du Temple and Rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, where bar after bar is lined up. During the day, you can sit on the terraces for an aperitif. As soon as it gets dark, the neighborhood fills with a mixed crowd of locals and travelers. The range is also wide, from classic terrace bars to bear hangouts and leather and fetish clubs to small clubs with DJ sets.
The Marais is compact and easy to explore on foot, as most of the shops are within walking distance. If you want to party more, you will also find the larger dance floors and late clubs in and around the district. Often they do not open until around midnight. Unlike in some cities, the Parisian scene is hardly spread over the entire city area, but remains clearly concentrated in the Marais, which makes bar hopping easy. During the Semaine des Fiertés in June, the district is transformed into a non-stop celebration. The following selections range from the relaxed bar for the early evening to the address for the long night.