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There are two kinds of cabaret in France: the kind most tourists have heard of, featuring a perfectly choreographed troupe of identical topless dancers; and the intimate, artistic cabaret that celebrates French chanson, humorous wit, and artistic talent. You can enjoy both in Paris if you’re willing to stand in line with tour groups for the former, and potentially understand very little of the French language in the latter.
Bal du Moulin Rouge: 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 18th, M° Blanche, ☎ 01 53 09 82 82, www.moulinrouge.fr. Dinner from 7pm, shows from 9pm and 11pm daily. Tickets from €82, dinner and show from €130. No kids under age six; formal attire requested.
Opened in 1889 to an enthusiastic public, the Moulin Rouge has remained the most famous cabaret in the world. Its trademark red windmill, lively French cancan, sumptuous décor and beautiful dancers have been immortalized in Toulouse Lautrec’s paintings and, more recently, Baz Luhrmann’s hit musical film starring Nicole Kidman. Catering to the visiting masses, the Moulin Rouge today feels a bit too commercial to be titillating, but there’s no disputing the beauty and talent of the performers.
Le Paradis Latin: 28 Rue Cardinal Lemoine, 5th, M° Cardinal Lemoine, ☎ 01 43 25 28 28, www.paradis-latin.com. Show tickets €75 (includes champagne), dinner-show tickets €109-€200. Closed Tuesday. Dinner from 8pm, shows from 9:30pm.
Set in a theater built by Gustave Eiffel, the Paradis Latin calls itself the most Parisian of the Paris cabarets. Its Left Bank location gives it a bit of an off-the-beaten-track feel, but it has a similar show to the one at the Moulin Rouge, with dazzling choreographed dancing and music.
Crazy Horse: 12 Avenue George V, 8th, M° Alma-Marceau, ☎ 01 47 23 32 32 32, www.lecrazyhorseparis.com. Nightly shows at 8:30pm and 11pm, three shows on Saturday. Show with drinks only, €29-€110. Dinner shows €130-€160.
The relatively small theater of this cabaret allows for no elaborate special effects, just the enviable perfection of the 20 nude dancers and their elaborate Teasing show. Like other cabarets of its kind, there are also magic and comedy acts while the ladies change their barely-there costumes.
Au Lapin Agile: 22 Rue des Saules, 18th, M° Lamarck-Caulaincourt, ☎ 01 46 06 85 87, www.au-lapin-agile.com. Shows Tuesday through Sunday, 9pm to 2am. Entry €24 (includes first drink). Reservations recommended.
This tiny Montmartre country house has been a popular cabaret for over 150 years. The main room is low-lit, with red lampshades, dark walls covered in old paintings and drawings, and set with ancient wooden tables and benches to hold about 60 people. There is a piano, but no stage. The performers sing and play their instruments right in the center of the room, everything from old Edith Piaf songs with an accordion to piano-accompanied poetry. If you can imagine being in a small restaurant where suddenly the group at the next table starts singing – and expects you to join in – you have the idea. This is the perfect place to come if you really want to get a peek into old Montmartre. Make sure to eat first, then show up anytime between 9pm and 2am. No one expects you to sit for five whole hours on a wooden bench, but you’re more than welcome to try!
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