Have you ever been lucky enough to go out in Paris at night? If so, did you get the distinct feeling that somewhere, something wonderful was happening without you? Because you’d be correct. Footloose and fancy things tantalisingly just out of our reach, probably behind an imposing Art Nouveau door.
Parisian nightlife is notoriously elusive, but we have five favourites to share with you…
1. Secret night garden in Montmartre
Set in a fabulous 19th century family residence is the Hôtel Particulier Montmartre. It’s one of the most tantalising neighbourhoods in Paris, and welcomes a select crowd to relax under the trees and in its underground Le Très Particulier bar with an Americano- and absinthe-based Laura Palmer cocktail.
2. Stumble across a back-room speakeasy
Head for the back of this 11th-arrondissement pizzeria and into what would have been a former cold store to reach Moonshiner, a candlelit speakeasy. We recommend a Vieux Carré and trying your hand at the combination safe in the smoking room - if it opens, the bottles inside are yours - worth a try?
3. Be thrilled by a modern Moulin Rouge
The Moulin Rouge cabaret may still exist today, but for a less touristy crowd, settle into a booth at Le Crazy Horse. Since curtain-up in 1951 it has been the city's most infamous and spectacular all-female stage show. Lights! Girls! Music! And lots and lots of perfect bottoms – seriously we need to know ow they do it! The show is updated every season with new numbers and choreography, sometimes with big-name collaborations from the fashion world, including Christian Louboutin.
4. Night swimming
As if night swimming wasn’t enough. Night swimming in the heart of Paris! What could be more divine? In the Latin Quarter in the 5th arrondissement, Piscine Pontoise is a public swimming pool and is completely out of this world - in a listed Art Deco building, with rows of vintage changing cabins - water is illuminated with blue lights at night and a non-stop after-dark easy listening soundtrack.
5. Parisian style
There’s a place where you can borrow the style secrets, and the entire wardrobe, of one very well dressed Parisian women. Near the Louvre, there is a place where one very well dressed Parisienne, Axelle Bonamy will dress you in YSL, Lanvin, Balenciaga, Sonia Rykiel – everything from evening gowns to accessories, which you can hire for your evening. Plus she'll style you so you get the true Parisian look. Voila!
Ready for Paris? Book with Grazia Escapesand travel in true style.
