The best café-concerts in Paris

THE UNAVOIDABLE

The Constable

Housed in the heart of the Marais, this former mansion, looking like a medieval tavern, offers much more than a simple mug of beer. In this large rustic space on three levels, all desires mix. At the entrance, a bar, piano and a few sofas welcome the visitor, while upstairs tables covered with white tablecloths, roses and candles, offer gourmet French cuisine. But it is in the basement that everything happens. At the bottom of the large stone staircase hides a small cellar with a capacity of 40 people seated. On the small platform, only a microphone. This is where the famous singer Gauvain Sers got his start. There is a photo behind the bar, among other photos of friends and celebrities. The Connétable, named after the former count in charge of the royal stables, is a timeless address. As soon as you cross the threshold, you feel at home, walking from one floor to another in complete freedom.

The Constable. 55, rue des Archives (3e). Phone: 01 42 77 41 40.

At Abel

Adel is a character, an emblem in the world of Parisian evening parties. Originally from Syria, this old man masters the art of caf'conc '. Located in the 10th arrondissement, this old wooded harbor looks like a grand bazaar, adorned here and there with garlands of light, books and kitsch Franco-Syrian objects. The atmosphere is warm, and welcomes musicians every evening. If certain concerts are scheduled, the majority are organized unexpectedly. This is what we like about Adel. An authentic address where everyone is welcome. Even if its programming remains mainly music with jazz accents, the chef leaves no one behind. The singer Clara Ysé, who released her first EP in 2019, also has specific memories: “There is an extraordinary artistic effervescence there. Some play music, others recite poems. It's magic!"

At Adel's . 10, rue de la Grange-aux-Belles (10th). Phone: 01 42 08 24 61.

Old Belleville

Time has not driven away the old traditions of the rue des Envierges. At number 12, Vieux Belleville reigns supreme in the taverns, these bistros of yesteryear having fun using the standards of the French repertoire. On the walls of this café musette, posters bearing the effigy of Edith Piaf, Maurice Chevalier, Jacques Brel… On the other hand, no scene. Here, it is in the middle of the vichy tables that we push the song. Open since 1992 under the direction of Joseph Pantaleo, this terroir offers concerts four times a week. Tuesday is a special evening. Dedicated to the Môme repertoire, this evening invites customers to sing the texts of Edith Piaf in choir, supported by a singer and an accordionist. Do not miss Thursday also and his barrel organ player, who, according to the boss, "has not missed a Thursday for almost 28 years".

Old Belleville . 12, rue des Envierges (20th) Tel: 01 44 62 92 66.

El Alamein boat

Already a little over twenty years that the boat continues to welcome musicians and music lovers for concerts on the water. Since 1996, this place, half-garden of Eden, half-barge, completely denotes with its natural environment in the 13th arrondissement, at the foot of the BnF. On this atypical Parisian scene, concerts, "open mic" and carte blanche punctuate the Seine even in winter. Without forgetting the famous “goguette des z'énervés”, an evening organized every Monday. Open to those who wish to interpret their version of the sung news, during which the most sassy are more than welcome. How to tire of El Alamein?

El Alamein. 10, Port de la Gare (13th). www.bateauelalamein.com

The cellar of the oblivion

Reopened in 2018 after a year of closure, it is to make its voice heard better that the Caveau des oubliettes has decided to open up to other styles than jazz to which it was until now dedicated. In this former prison, a stone's throw from the Saint Julien-le-Pauvre church in the heart of the 5th arrondissement, blues, funk, soul and world music can now be heard in abundance during frenzied sets under the stones of this vaulted cellar .

Le Caveau des oubliettes 52, rue Galande (5th). Phone: 01 42 02 08 44.

Lou Pascalou (20
e) SEBASTIEN SORIANO / Le Figaro

Lou Pascalou

Established for over 100 years in the Ménilmontant district, known as the “Ménilmuche village”, this old bistro was taken over by its current manager Mohammed in 1983. In the 1990s, it experienced its golden age by producing big names of music such as Mano Negra, Bénabar, or Manu Chao and more recently Bertrand Belin. Today, Lou Pascalou has opened up to other art forms and offers jazz, salsa and opens mics concerts, as well as literary evenings and stand-up. One can also admire there each season a new exhibition which crosses the walls of the establishment. At the moment, the artist photographer Inès Pech is in the spotlight. If you do not know this flagship place, there is always time to catch up.

Lou Pascalou . 14, rue des Panoyaux (20th). Phone: 01 46 36 78 10.

MOST POP-ROCK

The Pop-Up of the label (12 th) Camille Dampierre

The Label Pop-Up

What was originally intended to be only an ephemeral place has finally become for six years a real musical meeting, going as far as programming six dates per week. Following the café-concert Les combustibles, formerly installed in the same place, the Pop-Up opens up to other horizons, “the place had a very rock identity that we wanted to expand both by programming and by 'offer by offering a catering section and a gallery space.' Not to be missed, on the weekend of February 14 and 15, an anniversary evening where some of the musicians who took their first steps will come back, such as Fishbach who will mix or the Isaac Delusion group.

The Pop-Up . 14, rue Abel (12th).

The Eurydice

New among its brothers, Eurydice opened its doors at the end of November 2018 in the heart of the Latin Quarter with an ambition, that of reviving the heyday of this old cabaret founded in the 16th century. Highly learned, its three owners wish to make it a place of cultures on the model of literary cabarets of the 19th century where all the arts mixed. Poetry, philosophy, mime, magic and of course music meet at Eurydice. On Fridays and Saturdays, the place hosts concerts of jazz, bossa-nova but also burlesque cabaret and French song of the 20-30s. Thursday is devoted to a pianist who offers to accompany budding singers for acoustic karaoke.

79, rue du Cardinal-Lemoine (5th) Tel: 09 87 70 85 72.

Punk Paradise

The former Satellit Café was given a facelift in February 2019, renamed Punk Paradise, after a change of team and artistic line. New trendy landmark located in the Oberkampf district, this vast space with an industrial decor, surrounded by a few brick walls like Brooklyn, now offers an eclectic program ranging from funk to electro, through disco and Afro. This hybrid venue, mostly hosts free concerts, but also offers a club area whose entrance is only € 5. A new friendly address to note urgently in your calendar.

Punk Paradise . 44, rue de la Folie-Méricourt (11th) Tel: 01 48 06 99 95.

The Olympic Café (18
e) Olympic Café

Olympic cafe

Since January 17, and its reopening after renovations, the hall in the north of Paris returns with a particularly neat "rock garage" program. Sacha Rosenberg, his new programmer intends to continue making the place a place where all the musicians can come to play and where everyone can come to attend this: “Until the end of February we offer a free price for entry. So we can come and see three concerts for € 3, drink a pint at € 5 and grab a slice of pizza, all without breaking the bank. The idea is that the place is the meeting place of the French underground scene and (in a near future) international ”. A program that must therefore be carefully considered to discover the rock revelations of tomorrow.

The Olympic cafe. 20, rue Léon (18th).

The Motel

Located in the Passage Josset, close to the Ledru-Rollin metro station, this small confidential address has made a name for itself in the circle of Parisian concert bars. Since 2007, Le Motel has been offering pop-folk-rock programming on voice guitar, as well as a few DJ sets on weekends. We come and take a seat around a large circular bar, and enjoy the music of many cocktails and local beers, as well as cold cuts and cheese boards. Taking up the old caf'conc 'tradition, entry is always free, and artists are paid by the hat.

The Motel . 8, passage Josset (11th) Tel .: 01 83 96 68 48.

Space B

A benchmark for indie rock, Espace B reopened its doors in 2019 with a new team after an administrative closure and work to bring standards up to standard. Since then, it has been flawless for the hall in the 19th arrondissement, which always schedules the end of the new scene. To see this week the New York electro of Kwartz (February 13), Elephant Stone the Montreal group with Indian influences (February 15), or the half-rock half-trip-hop project of Crash Meteor (February 19 ).

Space B. 16, rue Barbanegre (19th). Tel: 09 84 54 19 83.

The International

In ten years, this café-concert nestled in the heart of Oberkampf has established itself as one of the flagship places of the 11th arrondissement. In a 100% rock'n'roll atmosphere, Inter (for regulars) invites you to enjoy a modest beer (€ 6 a pint) on the ground floor - cocktails and wine too - then go down in the basement unclog the ears. On the menu, concerts ranging from folk (very little) to postpunk.

The International. 5-7, rue Moret (11th) Tel .: 09 50 57 60 50.

MOST JAZZ

The Huchette cellar

This famous family place is an integral part of the Saint-Michel district and is an essential temple of swing. Its owner, Dany Doriz, a recognized vibraphonist, has known since 1946 how to bring the biggest names in jazz (Lionel Hampton, Duffy Jackson, Nancy Holloway and many others…). Le Caveau is one of the rare places to host dance and music at the same time, like American cafes. The film La La Land in 2017, which showed a reconstruction of the legendary club undoubtedly revived the taste for dancing in pairs and rejuvenated the audience. Every evening, Be-bop, rock ... to the sound of international jazz orchestras follow one another and the magic happens. The programming is always swing, festive jazz and above all in a joyful atmosphere. Be-bop and rock swing lessons are given at the Caveau dance school on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

The cellar of the Huchette. 5, rue de la Huchette (5th) Tel .: 01 43 26 65 05.

The Salted Kiss (1
er) Salty Kiss

The Salty Kiss

In the heart of the Halles district, the café-concert which opened in 1983 is one of the benchmarks in the capital. In a subdued and very jazzy atmosphere, the place is available in a terrace, a cocktail bar and a jazz club with fifty seats upstairs. With an eclectic program - around 50 concerts per month - marked by mixed music, Le Baiser salé endeavors to offer jazz without borders (afro jazz, Caribbean jazz, Latin jazz, jazz-rock, etc.). Here, we bet on (still) unknown names and we unearth young talents, who will be the musicians of tomorrow. Because the scene of the Salty Kiss has become a must.

The Salty Kiss . 58, rue des Lombards (1st). Phone: 01 42 33 37 71.

The Universal Café (5
e) Quentin César-Desforges-Universal coffee

The Universal Café

Taken over just a year ago by Fernando Nogueira, this little bar near the Latin Quarter is steeped in the history of Parisian café-concerts. In a narrow but warm space, Le Café Universel invites you to discover groups from the jazz culture thanks to a small corner at the back of the room. If at the time, the Universal Café did not open its doors until nightfall, it is now accessible to visitors from 7 a.m. New from the boss. Throughout the day, we come to drink coffee, savor the few simple and effective dishes on the menu, then in the evening come to listen and let go of the excitement that is created in front of the stage.

Universal Coffee . 267, rue Saint-Jacques (5th). Phone: 01 71 32 64 38.

Le Jazz Café Montparnasse (14th) Pierrick Bourgault

Jazz Café Montparnasse

This legendary place on the left bank, formerly known as the Petit Journal Montparnasse, reopened in 2017. The new owner, Belaid Belharet, has revived this old club with the desire to accommodate a wider audience. As its name suggests, this new café is accessible without ticketing and offers a rich program of concerts. We come to listen to jazz and gypsy artists, who can sometimes tend to swing and blues, gypsy music, be-bop or rhythm and blues. The only condition: sit at the counter or at one of the restaurant tables in order to enjoy a quality show.

Jazz Café Montparnasse . 13, rue du Commandant-René-Mouchotte (14th).