At any point during the year, Paris is brimming with world-class art fairs, star-studded fashion shows, and buzzing restaurant openings. The City of Light draws art lovers, fashionistas, and foodies from around the globe eager to experience its creative energy. This comprehensive guide reveals the hidden gems in Paris including hottest events, exhibits, runway shows, and dining destinations in Paris this fall. Read on for an insider's look at immersing yourself in the city's vibrant arts, fashion, and culinary offerings.
The art season kicks off in a big way, with Paris + par Art Basel as a run up to the spring 2024 shows taking over the Grand Palais from October 20-22. Now in its second year, this prestigious fair cements Paris as a global art capital.
Over four days, over 160 galleries from 30 countries come together to exhibit works by over 4,000 modern and contemporary artists. Expect to see iconic pieces by Picasso, Matisse, Warhol, and more, plus boundary-pushing installations and special projects that transform the Grand Palais galleries into an artistic wonderland.
Beyond the booth presentations, Art Basel Paris offers a full program of talks, film screenings, and events to engage with the artworks on view. This is also a key moment for creative collaboration between art and fashion. Each year, artists are invited to produce unique pieces inspired by fashion.
Major museums and art centers across Paris host special exhibitions and events alongside Art Basel, making the city a bonafide artistic playground. Some highlights on this spring's calendar include:
Paris is renowned for its stylish bars, restaurants, and clubs frequented by the fashion elite. When the sun goes down in the City of Light, these hotspots come alive with models, designers, and celebrities living art de vivre. This guide uncovers the top 10 fashionable haunts defining the Paris nightlife scene.
With luscious red leather seats and glowing amber lights, Le Bar at Hôtel Plaza Athénée sets the glamorous tone for the Parisian cocktail hour. Inside this opulent hotel in the 8th arrondissement, top models, editors, and couturiers meet to see and be seen over creative drinks and snacks from star chef Alain Ducasse. Sip a Plaza Athénée cocktail under the shimmering glass canopy and join the buzzing, fashionable crowd.
First opened in 1936, the Ritz Paris Bar hearkens back to turn-of-the-century glamour. Dark oak paneling, brass fixtures, and plush bar seating give the impression of stepping back in time. Waiters in white jackets glide by pushing bar carts piled high with bubbly while live piano music completes the air of sophistication. Favored by the literary set in its early days, today, this jewel box of a bar attracts Parisians and visitors who appreciate old-world opulence.
Of all the Parisian spots for celebrity spotting, L'Avenue on Avenue Montaigne reigns supreme. Sitting on the terrace during lunch or cocktails means a prime view of the luxury flagship store shoppers. Watch for Chanel-clad ladies who lunch and dapper men emerging from Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Celine. Enjoy classic bistro fare like escargots, seafood platters, and steak frites while gazing at the constant parade of the fashionable set.
French-Japanese chef Sasha Visser's restaurant Glass attracts a buzzing crowd on the chic Rive Gauche. Celebrities and fashionistas flock here for the vibrant ambiance and small plates blending global flavors. Diners mingle over cocktails at the copper bar before sampling Visser's market-driven cuisine. With an extensive wine list and Pierre Frey decor, Glass offers fashion-forward dining in a relaxed, modern setting.
When David Lynch opened Silencio in 2011, it instantly became one of Paris' most exclusive haunts. Hidden near the Champs-Élysées, its strict members-only policy and secretive vibe intrigue celebrities and artists. Once inside, guests find a theatrical setting for live music, dining, and late-night revelry. Red velvet, mirrored walls, and graded color lighting set the moody tone. Come late for modern French fare and dance parties where you may brush shoulders with models or movie stars.
For hushed elegance, few lounges rival Le Bar at Hôtel Costes. Concealed off ritzy rue Saint-Honoré, its unmarked red lacquered door opens to reveal a sultry interior with crimson velvet sofas perfect for discreet celebrity spotting. Lit by flickering candles and draped with exotic greenery, this seductive space attracts fashion's elite crowd. Sip expertly mixed cocktails under the watchful eye of the bartenders dressed in black as mellow music plays.
Situated near the Arc de Triomphe, Le Montana has been the legendary nightclub for models, musicians, and stars since the 1980s. Behind its ornate facade lies a lavish world of plush banquettes, mirrored walls, and glittering chandeliers. Head here around midnight to mingle and dance until the first light with Paris' glamorous party crowd. Be prepared to undergo the strict door policy for entry into this exclusive world of champagne, VIP service, and energetic ambiance.
For those who crave a more eccentric vibe after hours, Prescription Cocktail Club delivers. Hidden behind an old pharmacy storefront in the Marais, visitors ring a doorbell to access its moody 1920s-style interior. Inside, bartenders Rx and Dr. Good shake up creative concoctions with ingredients like activated charcoal, smoke bubbles, and medicinal herbs. Jazz, hip hop, and French pop set the spirited scene in this cocktail speakeasy, seemingly tailor-made for night owls.
The buzziest new addition to the Paris nightlife circuit is CRAVAN in the hip Marais district. This first-ever bar and dining concept by luxury brand Moët Hennessy celebrates French art de vivre through exceptional cocktails. The menu spotlights their iconic champagnes, wines, and spirits like Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Belvedere, and Hennessy.
The stylish interiors evoke Parisian joie de vivre with brass accents, terrazzo floors, and colors paying homage to Moët Hennessy's portfolio. Stop by for a pre-dinner Negroni sourced from their Italian wineries or a nightcap featuring Scotch from Glenmorangie. With acclaimed chef Simone Tondo helming the globally inspired food menu, CRAVAN is set to become the city's new fashionable destination for dining and drinks.
Andy Wahloo pays homage to Andy Warhol and his muse Edie Sedgwick with its Pop Art decor in the bohemian Montparnasse neighborhood. The kitschy bar is decked out in a melange of Arabic and Moroccan motifs, velvet couches, and exotic lighting. This creates a transportive mood for expats, artists, and fashion industry creatives to drink inventive cocktails until the early hours. Andy Wahloo is known for never closing before 3 am, making it a favorite late-night refuge. With DJs spinning eclectic world music beats it's an only-in-Paris place to mingle off the beaten path.
As this guide shows, Paris offers a plethora of glamorous spots for eating, drinking, dancing, and reveling in style. Though their ambiance ranges from old-world opulence to cutting-edge eccentricity, these destinations have one thing in common – attracting the fashionable crowd that defines Parisian allure. Followers of design, photography, mixology, and more flock here to be immersed in art de vivre at its pinnacle. So whether soaking in history at the Ritz or the electric new energy at CRAVAN, visitors will surely feel the creative spirit that makes Paris' nightlife unparalleled.
As Picasso said, "To live in Paris is to be reborn." There's never been a better time to discover why.
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