10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Paris
Where to Go in Paris at Night?
After dinner in Paris, the city’s vibrant pulse awakens with lively nightlife, offering an array of experiences for you. Paris nightlife is a tapestry of sophistication and spontaneity, where cobblestone streets lead to hidden gems.
Enjoy the romantic ambience of dimly lit cafes, immerse yourself in the rhythmic beats of techno and house music venues, or enjoy a night at the opera. Wander through lively districts where Paris comes alive by night, offering chic bars, quaint bistros, and stylish lounges. You’ll create unforgettable memories after the sun sets over the City of Light.
1. Moulin Rouge
Colorful cabaret performances in a classic venue
Good for: Couples, Nightlife
Moulin Rouge is known for its over-the-top, risqué cabaret performances and its classic, windmill-topped theater. You’ll find the exterior of Moulin Rouge emblazoned with red neon lights that are unmistakable on the Boulevard de Clichy. Inside the opulent theatre is a dazzling fantasy world where dancers are bejeweled with rhinestones, sequins and feathers as they deliver a series of high-energy performances.
Multiple showtimes and package options are offered for Moulin Rouge performances, including VIP experiences. This iconic Parisian experience is perfect for a night out on the town after dinner.
Location: 82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France
Open: Hours vary by season
Moulin Rouge
2. The Seine River
Relaxing cruises and leisurely strolls
Good for: Couples, Photo, Nightlife
The Seine flows through the middle of Paris, offering both beauty and practicality to the surrounding city. An after-dinner stroll along the banks of the Seine is a must-do when the evening lights of the city reflect on the dark water below. Walking tour maps of the river are readily available at travel sites, hotels and airports.
A great way to appreciate Paris is on a river cruise, where excursion boats called Bateaux Mouches offer guided tours, sailing past many historic landmarks along the waters of the Seine, including the The Louvre. Evening tours are especially beautiful on the river when sites like the Eiffel Tower are lit up against the night sky. Read more
The Seine River
3. Eiffel Tower light show
Spectacular hourly light show
Good for: Couples, Families, Budget
The Eiffel Tower light show is a nightly experience that is an absolute must-see for anyone visiting Paris. The show begins at sunset each evening, transforming the tower into a dazzling golden glow for 5 minutes every hour, on the hour. This 360-degree sparkling effect is created from a whopping 20,000 low-energy lightbulbs that illuminate the tower from the inside.
This glimmering evening light show occurs at the beginning of each hour, with the last set of sparkles at 11 pm. The finale lasts for a hypnotizing 10 minutes and offers a more dramatic version of the light show. You’ll find great spots along the Seine river to view the show between the Île de la Cité and the Pont d’Iéna. Read more
Location: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France
Open: Hours vary
Eiffel Tower light show
4. Paris Catacombs
The underground resting place of millions of Parisians
Good for: History, Photo
The Paris Catacombs comprise the largest ossuary in the world in an underground labyrinth that houses the remains of more than 6 million people. You’ll find striking patterns of carefully arranged bones covering the walls of this unique site, creating a morbid maze of tunnels deep beneath Paris.
The site is located a few miles southeast of the Eiffel Tower. Tour prices vary, and accessibility to the Paris Catacombs is limited due to the stairs on-site. The atmosphere underground stays chilly year-round, so you may wish to bring a jacket. No food or drinks are allowed within the catacombs, and it is of course forbidden to touch the bones, so keep your hands to yourself. Read more
Location: 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, France
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 9.45 am to 8.30 pm (Closed on Mondays and certain holidays)
Phone: +33 (0)143 224763
Paris Catacombs
5. Rue Oberkampf
Street art and great nightlife
Good for: Nightlife
Rue Oberkampf is a trendy street known for lively nightlife ranging from bars and nightclubs to concert spaces. The Oberkampf area sits between the Bastille and the Place de la République, and its main street of Rue Oberkampf is a great spot to look for after-dinner entertainment in Paris.
As you explore the neighborhood’s winding streets and hidden passageways, keep an eye out for some of the fantastic street art the area is known for. You’ll also find relaxed pubs, high-energy clubs and plenty of spots to enjoy live music.
Rue Oberkampf
6. Opera Garnier
Historic venue for live performance
Good for: Couples, Photo, Luxury
Opéra Garnier is a spectacular Italian-style opera house offering performances of the arts including opera, ballet, concerts and recitals. Within the 19th-century theatre, you’ll find an opulent auditorium utilizing marble, red velvet and gold gilding underneath a beautiful domed ceiling painted by artist Marc Chagall.
The theatre is located just over a mile north of the Louvre. Ticket prices vary based on performances and seating, with seating options including floor seats, balconies and galleries. The Opéra Garnier was used as the setting for Gaston Leroux’s famous novel The Phantom of the Opera. The opera house still keeps box #5 vacant and permanently reserved for its resident ghost. Read more
Location: Place de l’Opéra, 75009 Paris, France
Open: Hours vary
Phone: +33 (0)171 252423
Opera Garnier
7. Bar Hemingway
Handcrafted cocktails at Ernest Hemingway’s favorite bar
Good for: Couples, History
Bar Hemingway is located inside the Ritz Paris hotel and is named for author Ernest Hemingway, who frequented the bar and drew inspiration from it. This intimate, 25-seat space is bursting with character, housing leather armchairs, old typewriters, and unique decor honoring the bar’s namesake writer. Headed by Colin Field, twice voted ‘Best Head Bartender in the World’, this bar offers an immense range of handcrafted cocktails and classics.
To score one of the bar’s coveted 25 seats, locals suggest arriving well before the bar opens at 6 pm. Seats also open up later in the evening as visitors finish their drinks.
Location: 15 Place Vendôme, 75001 Paris, France
Open: Daily from 5.30 pm to 12.30 am
Phone: +33 (0)143 163374
Bar Hemingway
8. Rue Montorgueil
Late-night local life on a Parisian market street
Good for: Couples, Nightlife
Rue Montorgueil is an open-air market street in Paris located within the Châtelet-Les Halles district. This trendy neighborhood hosts everything from quaint local markets and cozy bistros to renowned pastry shops and quirky boutiques. Historic houses with elaborate ironwork and painted facades line the streets.
In the evenings, Rue Montorgueil transforms into a hub of lively nightlife. With no car access on the market street, locals socialize late into the night. Many of the neighborhood bars and restaurants are open late, offering lots of after-dinner entertainment with live music and signature drinks.
Rue Montorgueil
9. Piscine Pontoise
Swimming in an authentic art deco pool
Good for: Families, Adventure
Piscine Pontoise is a vintage public pool featuring authentic art deco architecture and a glass roof. This hidden gem is located centrally in the Latin Quarter and is mostly frequented by locals. Piscine Pontoise is known for its old-world charm, especially enjoyable in the evenings when the pool space is lit with multicolored lighting.
Evening swim sessions are structured between ‘fast’ and ’slow’ swim lanes within the large pool. Changing rooms on the upper-level mezzanine are staffed with attendants, and showers are available within the complex. Swimming caps/bathing hats are required for every swimmer.
Location: 19 Rue de Pontoise, 75005 Paris, France
Open: Hours vary by season
Phone: +33 (0)155 427788
Piscine Pontoise
10. Rex Club
Dance all night to techno and house music
Good for: Nightlife
The Rex Club is one of the longest-running clubs in Paris, hosting wild techno and house parties. Major national and international DJs frequent this electronic music club, located just off the Grands Boulevards.
Inside, you’ll find a killer sound system blasting music across a packed dance floor and fully lit stage. You can order drinks from the bar, and seating is available if you need a break from dancing. The Rex Club typically charges an entrance fee, and locals say the party starts going strong around 1 am.
Location: 5 Boulevard Poissonnière, 75002 Paris, France
Open: Wednesday–Saturday from 11.55 pm to 7 am (closed Sunday–Tuesday)
Phone: +33 (0)142 361096
Rex Club
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