Where to Party in Paris During the Week?

Saturday Night Fever, has the concept been redefined? We asked night owls about the new codes of Parisian nightlife, and the verdict is clear: with age (where did the inexhaustible energy of our twenties go?), they prefer to enjoy the energy of their well-paced weeks, combining work and appointments with feel-good evenings in cool places in the capital. And on weekends, it's a wrap: please do not disturb. Nice touch: we've found (for them and for us, of course) non-tedious parties to fill every day of the week, from jazz bars to comedy club apéros, trendy bashes in a palace, or hilarious drag bingo. Now, all that's left is to stash away makeup and fancy shoes in the secret drawer of your desk!

The fiesta plan: La Nuit Sauvage, a blind test dinner and karaoke every Wednesday at Babille, from 8 PM to 2 AM.

The mood: An acoustic concert during aperitif time, where you sip on cocktails as delicious as they are surprising, leading into a crazy blind test with live musicians making the whole electrified room guess great classics… all while enjoying a mind-blowing dinner, to be savored while singing. And a round of shots for those who guess correctly! Then, it's karaoke: you write down your name, the song you want, and wait your turn to shine (or scream) on stage. Cool: The festive atmosphere is truly on point (even the waiters join in)!

On the menu: You’ll fall for this cheeky menu featuring the signature dishes of chef Juan Arbelaez (€59), perfect for a table of friends, with starters and desserts to share. Otherwise, you can pick à la carte: trout carpaccio with orange, sweet pepper, and ginger, smoked duck breast with thyme, orange sauce, and mashed potatoes (€36), or trout fillet with sautéed spinach (€27). For dessert, Basque cheesecake (€11) or tarte tatin (€12).

La Nuit Sauvage, at Babille, 5 boulevard de Bonne Nouvelle, Paris 2nd district. Every Wednesday from 8 PM.

The fiesta plan: A cocktail bar open every evening from 5 PM to 11:30 PM, with DJ sets from Thursday to Saturday and drag performances once a month.

The mood: Le Bar des Muses, a satellite of the chic and sensual hotel Le Boudoir des Muses, is the place to be for partying in the Marais! From Thursday to Saturday, starting at 7 PM, the DJ sets are waiting for you in an enchanting setting, where cocktails are served with an always-surprising presentation (we’ll keep the surprise for you!). The glamorous event not to miss? Once a month, on a Thursday or Friday, showgirl Maud Amour and her performers put on a sexy and creative show, with breathtaking aerial drapes inspired by burlesque. This Rendez-Vous des Muses—including the show, dishes, and cocktail—is available by reservation for €60 per person!

On the menu: You’ll savor elegant and inventive small plates, from chimichurri oysters or champagne jelly (€13) to charred avocado with roasted beetroot (€19) or Black Angus beef tataki (€23). The cocktails: true elixirs. Dare to order the Verset 6.9: thyme-infused vodka, gin, bay leaf, Lillet Blanc, and olives (€18), or succumb to the Forbidden Fruit, a gin-based cocktail infused with wheat, elderflower apple brandy, and fig essence mist (€18).

Le Bar des Muses, 6 rue de Saintonge, Paris 3rd district. Open every evening from 5 PM to 11:30 PM.

© Nicolas Anetson

The mood: subdued ambiance, intimate setting, candlelight… We are far from the kitschy karaoke of our college years! Just a stone’s throw from the Jardin du Luxembourg, an immediate dive into another era, live from this charming hotel, whose restaurant feels like stepping aboard an ocean liner or a train. Around the piano, we let ourselves be carried away by the music and dare to join in on chic and festive tunes from Abba, The Beatles, or great French classics like those of Aznavour. Just whisper your song choice to the pianist, and the stage is yours!

On the menu: a selection inspired by a journey between Paris and New York—from a yellowtail ceviche (€17) and mac and cheese balls (€15), to a wagyu burger (€32), crispy sea bream fillet with lacquered cauliflower (€27), and a lobster roll with spring onions and pickled red onions (€27), best paired with a great selection of wines (French or American!) and lemon-based cocktails (€16–17)... For dessert, we’re tempted by the cheesecake with salted butter caramel topping (€12) or the lemon tart with yuzu gel (€13).

Karaoke nights at Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs, 92 rue de Vaugirard, Paris 6th. Every Thursday from 9 PM to midnight.

The fiesta plan: The Swinging Mondays at Bar des Maillets d’Argent, every first Monday of the month from 6 PM to 10 PM.

The mood: On the ground floor of the Tour d’Argent, the chicest bar on the Left Bank hosts musical evenings perfect for ditching the Monday blues with artists who seriously groove—it swings hard! It’s hard to find a warmer setting for what feels like a private showcase, making it a perfect second-date spot. When will this become a weekly thing?

On the menu: You order whatever tempts you from the bar menu, and we can assure you—everything is divine. Starting with duck saucisson and pickles (€14), duck croque-monsieur with cheddar (€18), and the Parisian soufflé omelet with ham and cheese (€14), all to be paired with the house’s delightfully old-school cocktails, like the Terre d’Argent (buckwheat soda, apricot brandy, Cocchi Americano Bianco)—ultra-refreshing—or the McCartney (pollen wine, ginger water)—smooth as can be.

You’ll be tapping along in your seat, only to finish off strong with their killer lemon and yuzu meringue tart (€9).

The best: The €65 Swinging Mondays menu, including a cocktail and two delights of your choice!

The Swinging Mondays at Bar des Maillets d’Argent, 15 quai de la Tournelle, Paris 5th district.

The party plan: Dame’s Comedy Club every Tuesday, every other week, at Hôtel Dame des Arts.

The mood: Dame’s Comedy Club at Hôtel Dame des Arts is the newest stand-up spot in Paris. This venue, which used to be a former theater school, offers a brand-new stage for the most promising French comedians of the moment. Every evening, a small group of comedians performs their sketches for 1.5 hours in the intimate lounge of the hotel, nestled beneath the lobby. Large sofas, dimmed lighting, small group: the ideal conditions to enjoy the lineup. Prepare the tissues to wipe away your tears... from laughing.

On the menu: the bar and restaurant at Hôtel Dame des Arts offer a trip to Mexico. Between laughs, sip on one of their wonderful cocktails. Good deal #1: one drink is free with the ticket. Choose the Fleur de Lys at the Select, made with palomino fino sherry, red pepper, orange blossom, and French Bloom Le Rosé sparkling wine (€22) or the Santana, a mix of Tequila, tomato water, Espelette chili liqueur, grapefruit cordial, and tomato pickle (€18). Want to extend the evening with good deal #2? You can enjoy a 20% discount at the hotel’s restaurant after the comedy club. Find grilled avocado, clementines, pickles & toasted crackers (€13), and grilled yellow pollock, celery risotto, and maltaise sauce on the menu. Vamos!

Dame’s Comedy Club at Hôtel Dame des Arts, 4 rue Danton, Paris 6th. Every Tuesday, every other week, starting at 7 PM. Show starts at 8 PM. €15, information and reservations online.

© Ludovic Balay

Party plan: Bristol After Dark, every week from Tuesday to Saturday at the Bristol Paris.

Vibe: Don't say Bristol After Dark, say B.A.D.! In short, dress sharp and glamorous: the palace hosts the most sought-after parties in the upscale neighborhoods, inevitably attracting successful thirty-somethings who come to dance to electro house playlists under disco balls and in an indigo atmosphere that will shine on your Insta stories. Each evening has its own vibe! Our favorites? Those of Le Monde Nouveau, where creatives (new faces, stylish influencers, art directors...) dance and network to the beats of DJ Lumijay in an atmosphere as cutting-edge as it is uninhibited. And because we’re nice, we’ll tell you how to get in: contact @hugovlt on Instagram and ask to be on his guest list...

On the menu: Behind the bar, you'll find exquisite 5-star cocktails (€32, it’s a palace after all) including Mangroni (Di Poli grappa / St Germain / Mango-infused Suze / Bitter orange), Talismin (vodka / Italicus / lime / jasmine syrup / fresh mint / ginger ale) or Marga & Co (Volcan Anejo Cristalino tequila / lime / coriander syrup / saline emulsion).

Bristol After Dark, from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 PM to 2 AM at the Bar of the Bristol Paris, 112 rue du Faubourg St Honoré, Paris 8th.

The party plan: the club is open every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 7 PM until 5 AM.

The mood: a restaurant that knows how to party, where bucolic wallpaper and velvety banquettes see cocktails and beautiful plates passing by, all set to live music and DJ sets that get more intense as the night goes on. Once finished with dinner, we head to the basement, where the "party hard" version of Giulia awaits with a chic club where night owls groove to deep house until the early morning.

On the menu: before hitting the dance floor, enjoy Italian cuisine at its finest. Order: a beef tartare with Genovese pesto (€28), Ravioli al tartufo (truffle ravioli, €40), or the fish of the day alla puttanesca (tomato sauce, chili, capers, olives, and anchovies, served with mashed potatoes, €34). Finish on a high note with hazelnut & mandarin panna cotta (€16).

Giulia Paris, 20 rue Quentin Bauchart, Paris 8th. 01 89 71 01 11. Tuesday to Saturday from 7 PM to 2 AM for the restaurant. Wednesday to Saturday for the club, from midnight to 5 AM for the club.

Also, discover the revival of 3 iconic Parisian tables and riviera escape: the trendy barge.