Paris Batignolles (17ème)

If you're thinking of a wild night on the town in the 17ème, forget it. If the people who live here drink here, they do it by themselves; the craziest it'll get is a few drinks with old friends and maybe a couple of new ones. Sometimes, though, that's all you need.

Le Bloc, 21 rue Brochant (☎01 53 11 02 37), Like a good mistress, Le Bloc is always open, accommodating, and kind of cool. This former clinic turned industrial cafe/bar caters to the neighborhood's turtleneck-wearring types from morning till dawn, and will be whatever you want it to be. The food is decent enough (penne au pisto; €8.80), and drinks range from whatever to shocking (kir €2.90, cosmo €7.50). Look for the little nook under the stairs with the brown couch, pink walls, and fake skeleton. Brochant. Free Wi-Fi. Salads €9-10.20. Most cocktails €6.50. Open Daily 8:30am-2am. Has internet.
Sans Gêne, 122 rue Oberkampf (☎01 46 27 67 82; www.sansgene.fr), Like many of the hotspots in the 17eme, Sans Gêne is a good place for casual after-dinner drinks. Hot pink and black interior attracts a bigger crowd than neighboring bars, probably because it manages to be both punk and cutesy. Brochant. Brunch every weekend noon-4pm. Cheese ravioli €14.50. Lamb with gratin dauphinoise €19. Cocktails €8.50. Wine €4. Open Daily 9am-2am.
L'Endroit, 74 rue Legendre 01 42 29 50 00 Set at the center of the tree-lined Place du Dr.Felix Lobligeois, l'Endroit attracts a mixed crowd. But its almost indecent opening hours, expansive terrace, and revolving liquor display make it a consistently good place to sit for a drink French-style: over food and into the wee morn. Brunch Sa-Su 11am-4:30pm.
Jazz Club Étoile, 81 Boulevard Gouvion-St-Cyr 01 40 68 30 42 (www.jazzclub-par.com), Disclaimer: this is probably the kind of place your parents would go to. Older crowd aside, the club gets the atmosphere right with high-quality jazz performances every night. Before being bought by the Hotel Meridien, this used to be one of Paris's premier clubs, bringing in big names like BB King and Ike Turner.