Paris gets down. Everything from Brazilian funk, jazz, hip-hop and R&B can be grooved to, along with your more traditional Edith Piaf. If you'll be headed to Paris for the holidays, try hitting up some of the spots below.
Looking for some bossa nova interweaved with Azealia Banks? Check out Favela Chic. Located at the Republique metro stop, you can muse over the current art installations, chow down on mocqueca and feijoda, and have a drink before the tables are pushed back to make way for a throbbing dance floor. Don't be surprised to hear some traditional French tunes as the evening winds down.
If you're looking for a more mellow vibe, Bizz'Art, up the canal from Favela, plays old-school neo-soul, and has an after-work party every Thursday with free entry and an enthusiastic crowd. On Thursday nights, you can catch a workout to some samba.
Thanks to my friend Nicky Lars, one of my favorite new places in Paris is Djoon. It has the feeling of the coolest of Brooklyn lofts, replete with awesome wall art. Being located in the 13th district and along the Seine river, is a cool new way to see urban Paris. The music here is on point and keeps you energized, even for a thin early crowd. However, the drinks are a bit pricey.
A go-to for American artists and performers in town is the hotel-restaurant, Mama Shelter. Located in the 20th district, the pizza is reason to go alone, but what makes the restaurant great is how fun it is. Chalk drawings and quotations decorate the black ceiling, and the music paces the tone of the atmosphere. Foosball tables welcome competition, and a gift shop caters to those with a quirky palate.
The popular jazz club, Le Duc des Lombards has jazz legends passing through it pretty often. Arriving early is a good idea, since they fill up rather quickly.
If you're trying to run into Jay-Z, Jamie Foxx or P. Diddy, try the aptly named L'Arc, located next to the Arc de Triomphe. Prepare to either wait in line, or try to make some well-known friends. Beautiful verandas and gorgeous cocktails make this one of the top clubs in Paris.
Have any more suggestions about where to go out in Paris?
Favela Chic, 18 Rue Du Temple, 75011. 7:30 pm to 2 am weeknights and 5:30 am weekends.
Bizz'Art, 167 Quai de Valmy, 75010, 7 pm until.
Djoon, 22 Boulevard Vincent Auriol, 75013. 6:30 to 1 weeknights, until 5:30 weekends.
Mama Shelter, 109 Rue de Bagnolet, 75020.
Le Duc des Lombards, 42 Rue des Lombards, 75001.
L'Arc,12 Rue de Presbourg, 75116. 11:30 pm until.