Paris Cabaret

Le Lapin Agile, 22 rue des Saules (☎01 46 06 85 87; www.au-lapin-agile.com), Halfway up a steep, cobblestoned hill that American tourists describe to be “just like San Francisco,” Le Lapin Agile has been around since the late 19th century, providing savvy and physically fit (that hill was something!) Parisians and tourists with a venue for music, dance and theatre. The tiny pink, green-shuttered theater was a hotspot of the 20th-century bohemian art scene in Paris—Picasso and Max Jacob are on the list of people who cabareted (is that a word?) there. Ticket price includes first drink. Full Price, €24, €17 for students under 26. Tu-Su, 9pm-2am. Takes credit cards.
Bal du Moulin Rouge, 82 bld. de Clichy (☎01 53 09 82 82; www.moulin-rouge.com), Ever since Christina and Co's music video, the only thing people associate with “Moulin Rouge” is that universal question:”Voulez-vous couchez avec moi?” But the world-famous cabaret and setting for the song and film isn't just about sex; it's also about glam and glitz. Since its opening in 1889, the Moulin Rouge has hosted international superstars like Ella Fitzgerald and Johnny Rey, and now welcomes a fair crowd of tourists for an evening of sequins, tassels, and skin. The shows remain risqué, but the price of admission is prohibitively expensive. The late show is cheaper, but be prepared to stand if it's a busy night. Elegant attire required; no shorts, sneakers, or sportswear permitted. Ticket for 9pm €102, 11pm show €92; includes half-bottle of champagne. 7pm dinner and 9pm show €150-180. Occasional lunch shows €100-130; call for more info. Dinner at 7pm. Shows nightly 9, 11pm. Takes credit cards.
Caveau de la République, 1 bd. St-Martin 01 42 78 44 45 (www.caveau.fr), It's mostly Parisians at this 100-year-old venue for political satire, and understandably so—the comedians are ruthlessly witty, and talk extra fast. If you don't really speak French and think Sarkozy's a popular president, then you'll probably find the tour de champs—comprised of six separate comedy and song acts—excruciatingly long, and not very funny. Those who speak French, laugh the best. Takes credit cards.