It can be a tad challenging to find cool things to do in Paris in the evening. You might be thinking that all nighttime activities are in French, but there are actually some great options that don’t rely on language at all, like enjoying live music. Paris played an important role in jazz music history, and the city continues to have a great jazz scene, so experiencing this while you’re in the city is a fun and authentic thing to do. Whether you want to groove to a jam session or listen to top international musicians, check out our selection of the best jazz bars in Paris.
(WA = Wheelchair Accessible)
Image Courtesy of Duc des Lombards via Instagram
Le Duc des Lombards
Many of the best jazz clubs in Paris are on the same street, the Rue des Lombards, and you can see top International jazz musicians on the stage of this venue. So if you’re a BIG jazz fan, this is the place to go. That said, it’s also one of the most expensive places to see jazz in Paris with tickets at 30€ to 40€. If you’re on a budget, you don’t have to miss out because they hold free jam sessions every Friday and Saturday nights from midnight to 4 am (drink purchase required).
Duc des Lombards | 1st Arrondissement | WA
Image Courtesy of Sunset Sunside via Facebook
Sunset Sunside
This club is a more affordable option on Rue des Lombards. Its stone-vaulted cellar has perfect acoustics for jazz music and is a pretty cool setting for a concert. You’ll be among a mostly local crowd and be able to choose from traditional jazz as well as fusion and contemporary tunes. If you’re doing advance trip planning, you might want to listen to some of the headliners before booking so you can choose a style you like, but you can also swing by last minute as there are usually tickets still available and two concerts per night.
Sunset Sunside | 1st Arrondissement
Image Courtesy of Caveau de la Huchette via Facebook
Caveau de la Huchette
Okay, we have to start by saying that this well-known club is a tad touristy, but it’s one of the oldest jazz clubs in Paris and is still authentic. Since 1946 its cozy stone cellar has hosted jazz greats including Sidney Bechet, Bill Coleman, and Al Copley. There are a few good reasons to go here, namely its convenient location in the Latin Quarter and the fact that it has nightly concerts, starting at 9:30 pm, so you can go here right after dinner. The club had a little cameo in the movie La La Land, which adds another cool element to its appeal. If you do go, we recommend arriving a little early so you can get a good seat as they don’t take reservations.
Caveau de la Huchette | 5th Arrondissement
Image Courtesy of Le Studio de l’Ermitage
Le Studio de l’Ermitage
Among the best jazz bars in Paris is this unique club located in a former cookie factory. It’s nestled on the slopes of the Ménilmontant hill in the northeast of the city, which is a cool local part of the city. Its agenda has jazz as well as world music, so be sure to check their website to make sure there’s a jazz concert on the night you plan on going. Tickets are roughly 20€, a little cheaper if you buy them in advance.
Le Studio de l’Ermitage | 20th Arrondissement | WA
Image Courtesy of 38Riv
38Riv jazz Club
If you’re looking for a cheap jazz club in Paris, this jazz cellar near Hotel de Ville is a great bet. It hosts concerts every night, but look out for their jam sessions which are extra lively. Tickets can be as cheap as 6€, which is actually cheaper than a beer at most bars in Paris, so you really can’t go wrong.
38Riv jazz Club | 4th Arrondissement
Image Courtesy of Péniche Le Marcounet via Facebook
Péniche Le Marcounet
For a different venue from traditional jazz cellars, make your way to this bar found on a refurbished barge. The nice space is moored on the Seine River near Hotel de Ville and holds regular jazz nights. These are either for entirely free or at low prices under 10€, making it another great affordable jazz bar in Paris.
Péniche Le Marcounet | 4th Arrondissement
Image Courtesy of Hotel d’Aubusson via Facebook
Café Laurent
If you’d like a chic place to listen to jazz in Paris, then try the elegant lounge bar of this boutique hotel in St-Germain. All you need to do is purchase a drink to listen to its free jazz concerts, held on Wednesday to Saturday nights. It’s a good match for a romantic evening or to have more comfortable seating than that found at many of the other venues on this list. There’s no need to reserve in advance, but they always post their agenda on their website in case you’d like to take a look at this before so you know the type of jazz playing on specific dates during your trip.
Café Laurent – Hôtel d’Aubusson | 6th Arrondissement | WA
Image Courtesy of Serpent à Plume via Facebook
Serpent à Plume
Can you keep a secret? Hidden in Place des Vosges is this stylish cocktail club popular with hip Parisians which isn’t much known by tourists at all. It hosts jazz nights on Wednesdays and Sundays, so if you can plan to visit the Marais on one of these days, you could come here afterward. It has a restaurant, but you can simply get a drink and grab a seat to groove to great jazz beats.
Serpent à Plume | 3rd Arrondissement
Image Courtesy of Abricot via Instagram
Abricot
Plant-based cocktails and nibbles plus jazz? This is our kind of combination. You can get this at Abricot, a fantastic cocktail bar in the hip 10th arrondissement and near the Canal St-Martin. It’s run by two American women, Jennifer Crain and Allison Kave, who’ve added a feminine touch to the bar’s approach. The menu is sassy, cocktails are delicious, and on Sunday nights from 7 pm – 10 pm you can savor these with Jazz beats, featuring predominantly women musicians, and for free or a small fee if you want to reserve your seat.
Abricot | 11th Arrondissement
Image Courtesy of The Dissident Club via Facebook
The Dissident Club
With the motto “eat, drink, rebel” we think you can get a pretty good idea of this club’s vibe. On the alternative side, the not-for-profit cultural establishment is located in the South Pigalle neighborhood and was founded by Taha Siddiqui, a Pakistani journalist-in-exile. Among its range of cool events are regular jazz concerts. These are usually completely free, but it’s a good idea to buy a drink to help support the venue’s activities. You won’t run into many tourists here – if any at all – so it’s another great place for a local experience.
The Dissident Club | 9th Arrondissement
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