Paris Montmartre (18ème)

Nightlife in Montmartre comes, of course, with the burden of not getting too drunk and staying away from the shady cabarets/strip clubs. The best way to stay safe is to keep your wits about you.

Le Rendez-Vous des Amis, 23 rue Gabrielle (☎01 46 06 01 60; www.rdvdesamis.com), You know that you're in for a night of bebauchery when the bar's owners and bartenders drink harder than their customers, pounding shots and beer at random. A true Montmartre institution, Le RVDA has been around for 17 years, and it's not hard to see why. Convivial and untouristed, this bar has a live free or die ethos. Patrons rock out to house music and experimental hip-hop, and occasionally live music. The mixed drinks are a rip-off, so stick to the beer, can also get pricy. Welcome to Montmartre. Cigarettes are sold out front on an informal basis, but don't bring your drink outside—the burly but friendly bouncer will have words for you. Small appetizers are available to help you stomach the beer. Beer €2.30-7, pitchers €7. Open daily 8:30am-2am. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.
L'Escale, 32bis rue des Trois Freres (☎01 46 06 12 38), A very popular spot among the students of Montmartre, this restaurant serves famously strong cocktails for just €4.50. Young folks huddle around cozy, small tables, and the owner proudly proclaims on the website that L'Escale and its strong drinks are the #1 enemy of the police. There's generally a guest DJ playing house music, or whatever else is super hip at the moment, on Sunday nights. Beer €3.50-8. Cocktails €4.50. 2pm-2am. Happy hour 4pm-10pm. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.
Chez Julien, 2 rue Lepic (☎01 42 64 21 20), The vibe is, like, totally relaxed here dude. Old records and images of'60s celebrities decorate the walls. Locals flock here for the martinis served in beer glasses. While the attached restaurant is a bit pricey, the drinks are affordable by Red Light standards. A nice spot to start out the night, but it closes at midnight, so don't get too comfortable. Aperos €2.60-6, wine €2.50-5, cocktails €7.50. Daily 7:30am-midnight. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.
The Harp, 118 bld. de Clichy (☎01 43 87 64 99), Feel like starting the day off wrong with a beer or two? The Harp's got your back. Open till 9am on weekends, this sports bar revolves around rugby, soccer, and booze, and hosts plenty of late-night partiers. Boasting a great selection of beer on tap, a pint costs only €6, a hell of a deal for the Red Light District. If the Harp had an anthem, it'd be James Brown and Betty Newsome's “It's a Man's World”; expect lots of bros and the women who love them. Several big screen TVs make this the ideal spot to watch the game. Open late (or early). Beer €4-6. Open Th-Sa, 5pm-9am. Su-W, 5pm-4am. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.
Brasserie L'Epoque, 38 bd. de Clichy 01 42 52 36 00 Looking for a Euro-trash vibe with a characteristically snooty French welcome? You've found the right place. Disco lights flash and techno pulses from the speakers at this bar in the heart of the Red Light District. Drinks get pretty expensive (shots start at €9, and don't get us started on cocktails), and the bartenders constantly hassle customers to either drink faster or more. A place to visit if you're looking for a bearable, but classically Red Light District experience. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.
La Fourmi, 74 rue des Martyrs 01 42 64 70 35 This chic option seems to have attracted the young, wealthy, and classy Parisian crowd, along with a bunch of Montmartre's other non-creeps. Wine bottles decorate the dimly lit interior. We recommend drinking here in the summer, when the outdoor terrace buzzes with progressively emphatic French and conversation as the bar's collective BAC begins to rise. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
L'Art Scenik Café, 48 bd. Clichy 01 42 57 38 70 A variety of potted plants hang in a canopy that rings L'Art Scenik Café's low-ceilinged bar, generating a Parisian-jungle vibe (if that's even possible?). Bartenders are most likely getting down behind the bar; come here if you want to get down with them and some incredibly rowdy, sweaty soccer fans. The happy hour prices are off the chain; don't miss 'em. Look for the bright neon sign hanging over the terrace. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol. Has outdoor seating.
Le Bel-Air, 6 rue Germain Pilon 01 42 54 92 68 (www.myspace.com/lebelair), This little mom-and-pop operation is on the first floor of what used to be an apartment; the old family pictures are still on the wall. There's always some type of entertainment going on here, even if it's just chill reggae flowing in the background. Weeknights often feature a movie on the big-screen TV, while weekends can get a bit rowdier, with small rock concerts. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.
Le Doll, 104 bd. de Clichy 01 82 09 47 42 (www.ledoll.com), A newcomer to the Pigalle neighborhood, Le Doll is new, sleek, and shiny. Fashion-conscious Parisians sidle up to the bar, lit up a striking shade of pink, then settle onto cube-shaped orange stools or into plush black leather couches. Come here if you like to live (or look like you live) the fast life. This is the spot to be on weekends after 10pm, when house and guest DJs get Le Doll jumping with house and techno. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.
Just Be, 46 rue Caulaincourt 01 42 55 14 25 (www.justbe-paris.com), A warm maroon exterior invites you into this cozy neighborhood bar and bistro. The warm walls are brick and painted purple. While nothing too crazy ever happens here, this is a meditative spot to grab a drink before or after dinner. Younger and older crowds mix together, vying for one of Just Be's extremely comfy arm chairs. Some couples interpret these to be love seats. A very small terrace is available for those who need some fresh air. Takes credit cards. Serves alcohol.