Unlike Berlin or London, decent nightclubs in Paris are rather hard to come by. There tends to be a lot of hype, high cover charges, excessive posturing and, sometimes, bouncers who can be rather unpleasant– or even discriminate unfairly. I’ve separated the wheat from the chaff to come up with a list of the top 10 Paris dance clubs- not necessarily always the most well-known of the lot, or the ones with the flashiest facades– but the ten actually worth forking out a few euros for to dance the night away.Once you’ve browsed and bookmarked this list, peruse our guide to the top nightlife districts in Paris for more ideas on how to live the nightowl’s life in the city of light.
Batofar
Sitting on a converted barge floating on the Seine, Batofar is one of those Parisian clubs that has managed to stay fresh through the years, with crowds consistently showing up to line up outside. The lightship sways every evening till the early hours to beats of underground hip hop, rock, electro, techno, and dubstep. When you need to rest your feet, check out the fantastic view from the club’s bridge.
Address: Facing 11, Quai François Mauriac
Metro: Bibliotheque Francois Mitterand or Bercy
Chez Moune
Featuring low ceilings and mirrored-tiled walls, and a distinctively 1930’s style decor, Chez Moune caters to the Parisian branché(hipster) crowd. DJs mainly spin electro-rock here. Unlike the majority of Parisian nightclubs, this one is free, so expect a big queue outside filled with young 20-something’s looking to stay up through the “petit matin” (early morning hours).
Address: 54, rue Jean-Baptiste Pigalle
Metro: Saint-Georges
Chacha Club
Dark and imposing on the outside, and featuring lush art deco labyrinth within, the Chacha Club offers the style of a private club, minus the onerous and elitist membership requirement. The hottest electro, pop, and techno DJs of the moment take over the posh dining room at midnight, while those seeking a bit of calm can escape into the in-house recording studio, fumoir, or the giant posh bathroom, complete with a huge claw-footed tub.
Address: 47, rue Berger
Metro: Chatelet-les-Halles
To get the rest of the list, read more: Nicole Smith, About
