Paris Gay and Lesbian Travel

With an openly gay mayor and a 800,000-strong Gay Pride every summer, Paris is the gayest city in France. GLBT Parisians crowd le Marais, with its shops, bars and restaurants on and around rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie. Girls who like girls should head south, to rues du Roi de Sicile and des Ecouffes, for Paris’ three biggest lesbian bars and its only sapphic sex-shop. And don’t be afraid to cruise other parts of the city, too. Parisians have seen it all and hardly wink at same-sex public display of affections, whether with Jacques on the street or a menage à trois in the club.

Banana Café, 13 rue de la Ferronerie (tel: 01 42 33 35 31; www.bananacafeparis.com). Situated in the heart of one of Paris’s liveliest areas for nightlife, Banana Café is the self-declared, and rightly so, most popular GLBT bar in the 1er. The club suits a wide range of clientele, ranging from the somewhat reticent and straight patrons who occupy the outdoors terrace, to the pole/striptease dancers stationed outside on nice days. During the summertime, there’s always some kind of hot deal on beer or drinks, and the party regularly spills out onto the rue de la Ferronerie. Head downstairs for a piano bar and more dancing space. There are weekly theme nights; “Go-Go Boys” takes place every Th-Sa midnight-dawn. Happy hour pints €3, mixed drinks €4. Cover F-Sa €10; includes 1 drink. Beer €5.50. Mixed drinks €8. Open daily 5:30pm-6am. Happy hour 6-11pm.
Le Club 18, 18 rue Beaujolais (tel: 42 97 52 13; www.club18.fr). Le Club 18 might be the oldest gay club in Paris, but the owners have certainly managed to keep up with today’s LGBT partiers. Flashing lights and pop, house, and dance beats make for a wild night. Whether you partied at Studio 54 or you grew up on Gaga, the mixed crowd at Le Club 18 will welcome you with open arms. It’s simply fabuleux. Cover €10; includes 1 drink. Mixed drinks €6-9. Open W and F-Sa midnight-6am.
La Champmeslé, 4 rue Chabanais (tel: 01 42 96 85 20; www.lachampmesle.com). This welcoming lesbian bar is Paris’s oldest and most famous; the owner still works the bar and enthusiastically promotes the bar’s late-night spectacles (they don’t always happen, but when they do it’s at 2am). The crowd is friendly; straight folks are warmly welcomed. The club hosts weekly cabaret shows (Sa 10pm) and monthly art exhibits. Wi-Fi, but don’t bring your computer at night, you nerd. Beer €5 before 10pm, €7 after. Cocktails €8-10. Open M-Sa 4pm-dawn.
Raidd Bar, 23 rue du Temple (tel: 01 42 77 04 88). If you want a penis or just want to see one, come here. Sparkling disco globes light up the intimate space, as do the muscular, topless torsos of the sexy bartenders. After 11pm, performers strip down in glass shower cubicles built into the wall (yes, they take it all off every hour on the hour starting at 11:30pm). Notoriously strict door policy—women are not allowed unless they are outnumbered by a greater ratio of (gorgeous) men. Beer €4. Mixed drinks €10. Open M-Th 5pm-4am, F-Sa 5pm-5am, Su 5pm-4am. Happy hour 5-9pm for all drinks, 5-11pm for beer.
Open Café, 17 rue des Archives (tel: 01 42 72 26 18). Popular almost to the point of absurdity, this GLBT-friendly bar draws a large crowd of loyal, mostly male customers to its corner. Though women are officially welcome, they might feel slightly uncomfortable in the ever-expanding sea of Y-chromosomes. Outdoor terrace seating, and sleek metal decor have (appropriately enough) rainbow accents. Happy hour ½-price beer only. Beer €3.70. Wine €3.90. Open Su-Th 11-2am, F-Sa 11-3am. Happy hour 6-10pm.
Okawa, 40 rue Vieille du Temple (tel: 01 48 04 30 69; www.okawa.fr). Despite the fact that it glows red, Okawa never says stop; it says, “I’ll be what you want me to be.” Plop down on one of the leather tufted stools and ogle passersby or head down to a cabaret-concert in the basement (W 8:30pm; €40 for dinner and show), which features chunky stone walls from the reign of Philippe-Auguste. Gay travelers welcome. Happy hour beer €3.50-3.70, wine €3.50-4. Open M-Th 10pm-2am, F-Sa 10pm-4am, Su 10pm-2am. Happy hour 7-9pm.
Le Dépôt, 10 rue aux Ours (tel: 01 44 54 96 96; www.ledepot.com). A gay club that revolves around sex.. literally. Winding passages with heavy walls lead to dance floors that shoot off into private rooms. Meanwhile, porn stars get off on mounted TVs. A steady stream of men and boys filter in at all hours, hoping for success in the designated “cruising” area. Women, as a rule, are not allowed. Cover M-Sa before 9pm and Su before 4pm €8.50, increases incrementally after that. Open daily 2pm-8am.
Le Queen, 102 Ave. des Champs-Élysées (tel: 01 53 89 08 90; www.queen.fr). A renowned Parisian institution where drag queens, superstars, tourists, and go-go boys get down and dirty to the mainstream rhythms of a 10,000-gigawatt sound system. Her Majesty is one of the most accessible GLBT clubs in town, and has kept its spot on the Champs for a reason. Women have better luck with the bouncer if accompanied by at least one good-looking male. M Disco, W Ladies Night, Su 80s. €20 cover includes first drink. All drinks €10 after that. Open daily midnight-6am.