Where to go out in Paris: restaurants, wine bars, rooftops, and clubs

Paris doesn't sleep much, but it goes out in its own way: a dinner that stretches on, a glass of wine at the bar, a rooftop at sunset, and sometimes a club until the first metro. Everything happens by neighborhood, and the best hidden gem is often two streets away from the one everyone is talking about. This is the city we carry with the Beauséjour Paris collection. So, where should you go out in Paris for a weekend, without ending up in a touristy brasserie? Here are our honest recommendations.

Hours and opening times change with the seasons: check before you go.

Where to eat before going out

Bouillon Chartier — the grand bouillon from 1896

Rue du Faubourg-Montmartre, in the 9th. A huge Belle Époque dining room, waiters in vests who write the bill on the paper tablecloth, and basic French cuisine at low prices: egg mayonnaise, beef bourguignon. No reservations. The line moves fast, especially early in the evening.

Bouillon Pigalle — the same concept, over in Pigalle

Boulevard de Clichy, in the 18th. Same idea: classic dishes, low prices, fast service. Convenient for an early dinner before a night out in Pigalle or a concert in the area.

Bistrot Paul Bert — the quintessential Parisian bistro

Rue Paul-Bert, in the 11th. Tile floors, chalkboard menus, pepper steak-frites, and Paris-Brest for dessert. Mentioned by the Michelin Guide, always full: make a reservation. The street is ideal for moving on to a drink in the 11th.

Clamato — seafood, Charonne style

Rue de Charonne, the seafood bar from the Septime team. Oysters, raw bar, small plates to share, and natural wines. Come early or late: it's often booked out at dinnertime.

Les Arlots — the sausage and mash that everyone talks about

Rue du Faubourg-Poissonnière, in the 10th. A neighborhood bistro whose sausage and mash has a reputation all over Paris. Small room, generous cooking. Book ahead, and save room for dessert.

Wine bars and cocktails

Le Baron Rouge — wine by the barrel

Among bars in Paris, this is our favorite place to start. A stone's throw from the Marché d'Aligre, in the 12th. Barrels, wine by the glass served without fuss, and a crowd that spills onto the sidewalk, drinks balanced on the barrels. It's the Paris of yesterday, and it still works.

Septime La Cave — a glass before or after Septime

Rue de Basfroi, in the 11th. The wine cellar of the Septime team, small room, well-chosen natural wines, a few plates for snacking. You stop by for one glass, you stay for three.

Frenchie Bar à Vins — across from the restaurant

Rue du Nil, in the 2nd, across from the Frenchie restaurant. Burgundy and Rhône wines by the glass, precise small plates. No reservations: show up when they open.

Le Syndicat — exclusively French spirits

Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis, in the 10th. A facade covered in posters, and behind it, cocktails made exclusively with French spirits: cognac, calvados, armagnac, pastis. A neighborhood bar that set the trend.

Little Red Door and Candelaria — Haut-Marais cocktails

Little Red Door, rue Charlot, regularly ranked among the best bars in the world, with a menu reinvented every year. A ten-minute walk away, Candelaria, rue de Saintonge: you walk through a taqueria and push through a door in the back to find the bar. You can do both in the same night.

Rooftops and sunsets

Le Perchoir — the Ménilmontant roof

Rue Crespin-du-Gast, in the 11th. At the very top of a building, a terrace overlooking the rooftops of eastern Paris, with the Sacré-Cœur in the distance. Arrive before sunset: the line forms early on summer nights.

Terrass'' Hotel — Montmartre with the Eiffel Tower in front

Rue Joseph-de-Maistre, in the 18th. The roof of this Montmartre hotel offers one of the widest views of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower. Perfect before dinner in Pigalle.

Madame Rêve — above the old Louvre Post Office

Rue du Louvre, in the 1st. A large terrace on the roof of the old Post Office building, facing the Saint-Eustache church and the city's rooftops. Chicer, calmer, perfect for a first drink.

Bonnie — the Seine from the 16th floor

At the top of the SO/ Paris hotel, quai Morland, in the 4th. A 70s vibe, and the Seine flowing toward Notre-Dame. Book for sunset. The full list of rooftops is kept up to date by the Paris Tourist Office.

Where to go out in Paris at night: clubs and concerts

Rex Club — techno under the Grand Rex

Boulevard Poissonnière, in the 2nd, in the basement of the Grand Rex cinema. Paris's historic techno club, renowned sound, a room that isn't too big. Nights sell out fast: buy your ticket online.

Badaboum and La Java — the East end dancing

Badaboum, rue des Taillandiers, near Bastille: a club on a human scale, solid electronic programming, a bar upstairs. La Java, rue du Faubourg-du-Temple, is an old-school basement dance hall, low ceilings, tight dance floor, mixed crowd.

Djoon — house in the 13th

Boulevard Vincent-Auriol, in the 13th. The Parisian home of house and soul music, where you come for the music more than to be seen. Check the schedule: the programming changes every weekend.

Point Éphémère — concert by the canal

Quai de Valmy, in the 10th, along the Canal Saint-Martin. Concert hall, bar, terrace on the wharf: you go for a band, you stay for the DJ. A great night out with no dress code.

Rue des Lombards and Caveau de la Huchette — jazz

Rue des Lombards, in the 1st, three clubs side by side: the Duc des Lombards, the Sunset-Sunside, and the Baiser Salé. On the Left Bank, the Caveau de la Huchette, in a vaulted cellar, plays swing music and has a dance floor. For a broader range of music, the New Morning, in the 10th. Schedules are gathered on the tourist office website.

Sunday, the day after

Marché d'Aligre — the 12th arrondissement market

Place d'Aligre. Vegetable and fruit stalls outside, the covered Beauvau market hall for cheese and charcuterie, and some antique dealers in the square. Sunday morning, it's packed. End it at Le Baron Rouge, right next door.

Marché des Enfants Rouges — lunch at the market

Rue de Bretagne, in the Haut-Marais. The oldest covered market in Paris. You eat at shared tables, world cuisine and fresh produce. Arrive before noon, seats go fast.

Canal Saint-Martin — the car-free quays

On Sundays, part of the Quai de Valmy and Quai de Jemmapes are turned over to pedestrians and cyclists. You walk from lock to lock, sit by the water with a coffee. Perfect for recovering from a night that was too short.

Les Puces de Saint-Ouen — antiquing in the North

Porte de Clignancourt, just past the ring road. Dozens of markets, from vintage furniture to old posters. Open on weekends. Come with comfortable shoes and time to spare.

Les Buttes-Chaumont — the Sunday lawn

In the 19th. Hills, a lake, a cliff, and a little temple at the summit. On Sundays, half of eastern Paris comes here to lounge. Bring a picnic.

A typical Saturday in Paris

• 11 AM: brunch in the Haut-Marais, then a stroll along Rue de Bretagne.
• 3 PM: Les Puces de Saint-Ouen for vintage hunting.
• 6:30 PM: sunset at Le Perchoir.
• 8:30 PM: dinner at Bistrot Paul Bert, booked in advance.
• 11 PM: cocktails at Little Red Door or Le Syndicat.
• 1 AM: Rex Club, or jazz on Rue des Lombards for a quieter end to the evening.

Practical questions

What is the best time to go out in Paris?

May, June, and September offer the most options: the terraces and rooftops are open, the evenings are long. In July and August, many Parisians leave and some restaurants close. In winter, clubs and jazz cellars take over.

How many days for a weekend in Paris?

Three days for a real Parisian weekend: one evening for dinner and wine bars, one evening for a rooftop and a club, and Sunday for markets and the canal.

How do you get around at night in Paris?

The metro closes around 1 AM on weekdays and a bit later on Friday and Saturday. Afterward, there are Noctilien night buses, taxis, or ride-sharing apps. For two nearby neighborhoods, walking or taking a Vélib' bike is often faster.

Take Paris with you

Everyone has photos of the Eiffel Tower. A T-shirt, you wear it months later and see yourself back on the roof of Le Perchoir. That's the whole point of wear your memories. The Beauséjour Paris collection translates the city into T-shirts and sweatshirts, for her and for him.

For the daytime, our guide what to do in Paris off the beaten path complements this one. And for the history of our Parisian T-shirts, read how the Paris collection was born.