The Top 10 Cabarets in Paris

Cabarets originated in Paris – or boho Montmartre to be specific – in the 1880s. They were little pockets of rebellion against the “bourgeois conventions” of the monied French upper classes, and their humble beginnings saw a few amateur performers getting together over dinner for a sing-song, comic sketches and poetry readings lorded over by a compere. 

Parisians flocked to the smoky bars and burgeoning cabaret houses of Montmartre – the most famous was Le Chat Noir, overseen by impresario Rodolphe Salis. From there, the genre slowly spread out from France and seeped into different cultures, changing slightly along the way. In post-war Berlin, cabaret became something dark, satirical and sinister, while in the USA the genre morphed into jazz clubs and Prohibition-era speakeasies. 

And yet Paris still holds its crown as the home of cabaret in legendary venues full of shine, sparkle and dancing showgirls. The can-can, amazing choreography and spectacular acrobatics are now all part of the dazzling package, but cabaret is ever-changing and today you’ll also find cabaret shows for families, dinner cruises with cabaret, and cabaret crossed with circus performances. 

Famous names have reinvented themselves too. The Lido on Avenue des Champs-Élysées was long the home of the gorgeous feather-and-sequin-encrusted dancing Bluebell Girls, while Edith Piaf, Josephine Baker, Eartha Kitt, Elton John and Johnny Hallyday all performed there. It closed its doors on 30 July 2022, and reopened in the following December as musical theatre Lido2Paris. Appropriately enough, Cabaret was its first performance.

Two pieces of advice for all you show-goers: when attending the most traditional Parisian cabarets, there is a strict dress code. If you want to feel part of the spectacle, dress smartly and leave the trainers behind in your hotel room. Secondly, book your chosen cabaret online well ahead of time, as performances inevitably sell out.

More about the music than dancing, Au Lapin Agile is a tiny, pink-fronted venue that’s been part of the Montmartre scene since 1860. It’s a relatively cheap Paris cabaret, where musicians gather around a piano and belt out traditional songs to an informal audience that comes and goes over the course of the evening. Take your seat in the bar once frequented by Baudelaire and Picasso, order the signature cherry brandy and get ready to join in with those much-loved French folk songs! 

22 rue des Saules, 75018. Métro line 12 to Lamarck. Show 9pm Tue, Thur–Sat.

Renowned as the “sexiest” of the Paris cabaret shows, Crazy Horse opened in 1951 and serves up its famous squad of 12 statuesque and shimmering female dancers, the Crazy Girls – along with some nudity. Expect catchy songs accompanied by creative and superbly slick choreography and kaleidoscopic light shows, all interspersed with polished turns by internationally acclaimed variety artists. Order a bottle of Cuvée Crazy champagne and settle down to watch 90 minutes of risqué, seductive entertainment.

12 avenue George V, 75008. Métro line 1 to George V or FD Roosevelt; line 9 to Alma-Marceau; Shows 8pm and 10:30pm Sun–Fri; 9:30pm and midnight Sat.

Revelling in its reputation as the oldest cabaret in Paris, Le Paradis Latin first opened its doors in 1803. Today, the exquisite dinner menu designed by multi-Michelin-starred chef Guy Savoy is an added draw, alongside a breathtaking melange of burlesque comedy and dance enhanced by new lighting technology to create one of the best stage shows in the French capital.

28 rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 75005. Métro line 10 to Cardinal Lemoine or Jussieu. Dinner 7:30pm; Shows 9:30pm and 11pm daily.

Make sure you adhere to the smart dress code at Le Moulin Rouge, quite simply the most famous cabaret on the planet. Just 15 minutes by cab from the prestigious Sofitel Paris le Faubourg, the venue sits under its landmark windmill and behind a barrage of flashing crimson illuminations; it was the birthplace of the skirt-swishing, high-kicking can-can, which scandalised France when first performed back in the 1830s. The nightly extravaganzas feature more than 1,000 glittering costumes and feathery head dresses adorning the 60 regal Doriss Girls, who’ll dance you into an evening of breathtaking Parisian entertainment. What’s more, Moulin Rouge is the only cabaret to have been recognised by the Gault & Millau gastronomic guide.

82 boulevard de Clichy, 75018. Métro line 2 to Blanche. Dinner 7pm; Shows 9pm and 11pm daily. 

La Nouvelle Eve is another of Montmartre’s famed dinner-and-cabaret venues. With an eye-catching, midnight-blue Roaring Twenties-styled theatre adorned with glimmering stars, this is a more intimate experience than Le Moulin Rouge, with tightly choreographed routines being bawdy and sexy by turn (expect topless dancers and some stripping). There’s also an element of old-school variety, with the inclusion of clowns, singers and acrobats – and of course, each show rounds off with a spirited (12-minute!) rendition of the Cancan. 

25 rue Pierre Fontaine, 75009. Métro lines 2 and 12 to Pigalle. Shows 6:30pm, 8:30pm and 10:30pm daily.

Sitting in a vaulted, 13th-century former cellar, Aux Trois Mailletz opened its doors in the 1950s as a jazz club where Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Louis Armstrong once strutted their stuff. Today it is one of the Latin Quarter’s more informal cabaret venues and piano bars, managing to fly surprisingly low under the tourist radar. If you’re looking for an informal hidden gem, with an inspiring mixed bag of singers and dancers from across the world – from Brazilian samba dancers to African drummers – this is the spot for you.

56 rue Galande, 75005. Métro line 4 to Saint-Michel or line 10 to Cluny-La Sorbonne. Open daily 8pm–5am. 

Introducing a new and flamboyant show every week, Madame Arthur’s cross-dressing cast has been rocking the Parisian nightlife scene since 1946. Choose between the main show with its cheeky humour, or the 11:30pm performance with wild drag acts – think sequin-studded beards, endless fluttering eyelashes and impossibly high heels – and a slightly more ribald tone. The chaotic fun doesn’t end there either, as you get the chance to hit the dance floor yourself when the cabaret turns into a club after midnight – and stays open until 6am. 

75 rue des Martyrs, 75018. Métro lines 2 and 12 to Pigalle. Open Thur–Sun 10pm–6am; Shows 10pm and 11:30pm.

Liking the sound of Michelin-starred dining and wines selected by an expert sommelier, combined with a cruise along the River Seine after dark? All accompanied by tinkling tunes from a jazz pianist? If you’re considering proposing to your beloved, it’s hard to think of a more romantic setting than Maxim's sur Seine, featuring the divine culinary expertise of Maxim's, the most famous restaurant in Paris. Toast your future happiness with a glass of chilled champagne as you float past the Eiffel Tower lit up against the night sky.

Port Solferino, outside Musée d'Orsay, 75007. Métro line 12 to Solférino or RER line C to Musée d'Orsay. Dinner cruises 6pm and 8pm Thur–Sat.

It’s all aboard a converted péniche barge for a night of floating cabaret with the added bonus of extraordinary views of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Multi-tasking as a theatre, restaurant and cocktail bar, La Nouvelle Seine is where you can join a cool and trendy Parisian crowd in checking out the latest talent in stand-up, improv, singing and comedy. 

3 quai de Montebello, 75005. Métro line 4 to Saint-Michel or line 10 to Maubert-Mutualité. Open for food Tue–Sun; several shows Fri–Sat, and a child-friendly event Sun pm. 

Definitely one to take the kids, Le Zèbre de Belleville is more avant-garde circus with dining than mainstream cabaret, showcasing acrobats, tightrope walkers, jugglers and contortionists… So rest assured you’re not going to be blindsided by a sudden flash of nudity. In fact, so all-encompassing is the family atmosphere at this cosy former cinema that the artists will join you after their performance to chat about their skills, and workshops are on offer should you all be inspired to run away to the circus. 

63 boulevard de Belleville, 75011. Métro lines 2 and 11 to Belleville-Couronnes. Circus workshop 2pm Wed; Kids' shows 2pm Sat and 2:30pm Sun; Evening shows various times Tue–Thur; dinner show 7:30pm Sat.

So what are the best cabarets on offer in Paris today? There's so much choice that we'll leave you to decide for yourselves!