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There are certain activities in Paris that are better left unplanned. You could easily spend a week in the city drinking cheap wine and people-watching at a sidewalk table at one of the city’s countless brasseries and call it time well spent. Getting into the city’s nightlife scene is a slightly different story.

With bars semi-hidden in discreet locales or dance floors opening up in restaurants after hours, a night out in Paris takes either planning or know-how. But it’s well worth the effort, particularly when fashion week rolls around and a sizable chunk of the global fashion industry descends on the city.

There is no one central hub for Parisian nightlife. The eastern arrondissements like the 10th and 11th are home to some of the city’s hipper venues, but you can find a dose of nightlife sprinkled all throughout the city – if you know where to look, that is. When possible, make a reservation. And when in doubt on what to wear, err on the side of chic. Parisian bouncers are well within their rights to refuse entry to schlubby tourists. And if you’re lucky enough to be in town for this season’s Men’s Fashion Week, do make a stop at Highsnobiety’s Not In Paris afterparty.

La Gare / Le Gore

In a former train station in the 19th arrondissement at the edge of the city limits is one of Paris’ best music venues. Live jazz performances transition to house and techno mixes as the night goes on, and on warm nights crowds flock to the outdoor terrace for drinks and bites.

Le Popup du Label

Popup does a bit of everything, coffee by day, dinner by evening, and music by night. Fortunately it does all of them well, with international DJs and live jazz and pop acts throughout the week.

Bambino

Bambino shows that the vibe of a Tokyo record bar feels right at home in Paris. Come early for inventive food like fried pigeon and tonkatsu sandwiches, and stay for cocktails on tap and vinyl record sets.

Little Red Door

You don’t become one of the world’s best bars for nothing. Little Red Door is for the discerning cocktail crowd that’s willing to wait for entry to the storied bar, or is well-connected enough to stroll right in.

Jangal

Where do you go when the cocktail and dinner hours are long gone? If your energy is still riding high, the answer is Jangal. The late night spot a stone’s throw from the Louvre spins hip-hop beats well into the early hours of the morning.

Doublevie

Doublevie does the Parisian supperclub formula just right. The Montmartre restaurant begins the night with modern Mediterranean fare before setting the stage for drinks and dancing up the central winding staircase.

Le Syndicat

Le Syndicat makes the case that French liquor is about far more than just wine. The bar serves up exclusively French spirits in endless combinations, but you don’t need to be a Francophile to appreciate the creative cocktails.

Bar Bisou

Bar Bisou straddles the elegant 3rd and trendy 11th arrondissements and offers up an eclectic cocktail program to a vibrant crowd. There’s no menu here, instead bartenders make drinks to your preferred style.

Carbone Club

Highsnobiety / Bob Foster

Freshly opened last September (and hosting Highsnobiety's FDLM after-party with 99 Ginger & NTS for Not in Paris), Carbone brings a touch of German brutalist aesthetics to the 10th arrondissement with minimalist concrete decor and a techno-focused lineup. And like that other famous German club, there are no photos or videos allowed inside. You’ll have to make do with your memories of a night out.