With Le Marais, Paris has one of the best-known gay districts in the world. Among the historic lanes are bars, cafés and clubs that are full from the aperitif until late at night.
The scene at a glance
Le Marais – in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements around Rue des Archives, Rue Vieille du Temple and Rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie.
Other meeting places – queer parties also take place in Pigalle and in the east of the city.
Good to know
The Marche des Fiertés passes through the city at the end of June. Many bars in the Marais have a happy hour in the early evening – ideal for getting started.
Queer city tours
Want to get to know the scene during the day too? A tour with local guides is a great way to do it:
- LGBTQ tour of Le Marais – guided walk through the gay district
- Queer Paris: cocktails & stories – evening tour through Le Marais
Tours & activities in Paris
See all tours and activities in Paris on GetYourGuide
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Map
Places in Paris
Nightlife
ClubÀ la FolieGuinguette & party venue · Paris La Villette (19e)Large guinguette with bar, restaurant and club in the Parc de la Villette, with a 900 m² garden terrace. Regular queer dates…Karaoke & Drag BarArtishow CabaretDrag cabaret · Paris Bastille / Charonne (11e)Small dinner and drag cabaret between Bastille and Charonne, run by LGBTQ+ people. Drag and travesty shows with French and international artists.BarBanana CaféGay bar · Paris Les HallesGay bar that has been around for decades on the pedestrian street Rue de la Ferronnerie by Les Halles. Known for go-go…BarBears’ DenBear bar · Paris Le Marais / ChâteletBear bar on three floors on Rue des Lombards between Châtelet and the Marais. A meeting point for bears, otters, cubs and…BarBonjour MadameQueer bar · Paris Faubourg Saint-Antoine (11e)Queer café and bar on Rue de Montreuil in the 11th arrondissement. Known for its relaxed atmosphere, tapas, live music and cultural…BarCabaret des MerveillesLesbian-queer bar · Paris Saint-Michel (6e)Lesbian and queer bar near Saint-Michel with a cosy stone cellar, DJ sets, cabaret and games nights.Karaoke & Drag BarChez MylèneQueer bar & pizzeria · Paris Bastille (12e)Queer bar with pizza on Boulevard de la Bastille, opposite the Port de l'Arsenal marina. Known for Drag Race nights and outdoor…BarCOXGay bar · Paris Le MaraisThe corner where the Marais comes together: in the evening half the scene stands on the pavement outside COX on Rue des…Cocktail BarDirty LemonQueer cocktail bar · Paris Oberkampf (11e)Queer cocktail bar with restaurant near Oberkampf, founded by chef Ruba Khoury. Known for unusual cocktails and food.BarFreedjBar with basement club · Paris Le MaraisTable football and apéro upstairs, DJ sets into the night in the basement: Freedj on Rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie is the Marais’ young party…Fetish & Leather BarKrash BarCruising bar · Paris Le MaraisCruising bar for men near the Centre Pompidou, with a bar on the ground floor and a dark area in the basement.…Karaoke & Drag BarL’EnchanteurKaraoke bar · Paris Le Marais (3e)Gay bar on two levels in the northern Marais: cocktails upstairs, karaoke in the vaulted cellar.Fetish & Leather BarL’ImpactCruising bar · Paris Bourse / Grands Boulevards (2e)Cruising bar for men on Rue Greneta with a bar at the front and a dark cruising area at the back. Many…BarLa BoiteGay bar · Paris ChâteletSmall gay bar on Rue des Lombards by Châtelet. Known for cheap happy-hour drinks and a video DJ who shows music clips…BarLa ChampmesléLesbian bar · Paris Bourse / Palais-RoyalThe oldest lesbian bar in Paris, on Rue Chabanais near Palais-Royal since the late 1970s. A small bar with cabaret, chanson nights…BarLa MutinerieQueer feminist bar · Paris Beaubourg (3e)Self-managed queer feminist bar near the Centre Pompidou, since 2012. Made by and for lesbians, bi women, trans and non-binary people and…BarLe CactusGay bar & bistro · Paris Le MaraisSmall gay bar with a bistro on Rue des Archives, opposite Cox. Neon-lit bar, terrace and tapas.ClubLe CudParis Le MaraisWhen the bars in the Marais close, things really get going at CUD: the small basement club on Rue des Haudriettes is…BarLe DuplexGay bar · Paris Le MaraisNo glitter, no show, but art on the walls and conversations at the bar: since 1980, Duplex on Rue Michel-le-Comte has been…Fetish & Leather BarLe KellerFetish bar · Paris Bastille (11e)Men-only fetish and cruising bar near Bastille, in business for decades. Bar upstairs, dark play area in the basement, themed and dress-code…Fetish & Leather BarLe MenschCruising & fetish bar · Paris Le Marais (3e)Cruising and fetish bar for men in the upper Marais. The dress code ranges from naked to full leather, and themed nights…Fetish & Leather BarLe Secteur XCruising bar · Paris Le MaraisSmall, dark cruising bar for men in the Marais with a bar at the front and a cruising area behind. Busiest on…ClubLe Tango – La Boîte à FrissonsQueer dance hall · Paris Le Marais (3e)Queer dance hall in an old ballroom on the northern edge of the Marais, running since 1997 as Boîte à Frissons. Same-sex…Cocktail BarLe VelvetGay cocktail bar · Paris Les HallesGay cocktail bar on two floors by Les Halles, with a daily happy hour and themed nights from Tuesday to Saturday.BarLes Aimant·e·sQueer bar · Paris Beaubourg (3e)Small queer bar on Rue Saint-Martin, a few doors from La Mutinerie. Geared towards conversation, with a focus on a queer and…BarLes SouffleursAlternative gay bar · Paris Le MaraisAlternative gay bar in the southern Marais with a quiet lounge upstairs and a vaulted cellar for dancing. DJs play at the…Cocktail BarMerci·MarshaQueer cocktail bar · Paris Bastille (11e)LGBTQ+ bar and cultural venue in the 11th arrondissement, named after Marsha P. Johnson. Known for cocktails, alcohol-free drinks and a varied…Fetish & Leather BarOne WayCruising bar · Paris Le Marais (3e)Small neighbourhood bar in the upper Marais with a leather, denim and bear crowd. In the basement there is a video room,…BarQuetzalGay bar · Paris Le MaraisLarge gay bar in the Marais with DJs, pinball and table football. Packed and flirty at the weekend, with a crowd mostly…BarRAIDD BarGay bar · Paris Le MaraisLate at night a dancer showers behind glass: RAIDD on Rue du Temple is known for its shower show, with a long…BarRosa BonheurGuinguette · Paris Buttes-Chaumont (19e)Guinguette in an old pavilion in the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, a popular meeting point for the queer and especially lesbian scene since…BarThe LaboGay bar & club · Paris ChâteletLGBT bar with a club area on Rue des Lombards by Châtelet, formerly The Eagle. Themed nights, karaoke, DJ sets, drag shows…BarZe BaarGay bar · Paris Le MaraisSmall bar on two floors on Rue des Blancs-Manteaux, part of the restaurant Ze Restoo. A place for drinks and conversation with…
Wellness
SaunaEuro Men’s ClubGay sauna · Paris Bourse (2e)Mid-sized gay sauna in the 2nd arrondissement near Bourse and the Grands Boulevards, with steam room, dry sauna, whirlpool, video room, cabins…SaunaIDM SaunaGay sauna · Paris Grands BoulevardsIDM is one of the more explicit saunas in Paris: several floors with sauna, XXL hammam and jacuzzi downstairs, and themed cabins,…SaunaKey West SaunaGay sauna · Paris Gare du Nord (10e)Gay sauna on four floors near Gare du Nord, completely rebuilt in 2025. With pool, hammam, gym, cabins, darkroom and bar.SaunaLe RiadGay sauna · Paris Ménilmontant / Gambetta (20e)Gay sauna in the 20th arrondissement with oriental decor, pool, hammam and massages. Known for its warm welcome and mint tea.SaunaLes Bains d’OdessaGay sauna · Paris Montparnasse (14e)Gay sauna for men near Montparnasse station, fairly large and with lots of bears and daddies.SaunaLes Bains ThaïGay sauna · Paris Vaugirard (15e)Smaller gay sauna in the 15th arrondissement with a double hammam, eucalyptus steam room and massages.SaunaSun CityGay sauna · Paris Le MaraisWith 3,000 square metres on three floors, Sun City is by its own account the largest men’s sauna in Paris: pool, sauna,…
Stay
HotelHôtel D’winParis Le MaraisD'win is a simple two-star hotel on Rue du Temple, right in the gay Marais. Travel Gay lists it in its Paris…HotelHôtel du Petit MoulinParis Le MaraisPetit Moulin is a four-star boutique hotel in the oldest bakery in Paris, whose façade is a listed monument. The 17 rooms…HotelHôtel DuoParis Le MaraisHôtel Duo is a four-star design hotel on Rue du Temple, just a few steps from the bars of the Marais. Travel…HotelHôtel Jules & JimParis Le MaraisJules & Jim is a four-star boutique hotel in a former precious-metals workshop in the Haut-Marais, named after the Truffaut film. Paris…HotelHôtel Le Relais du MaraisParis Le MaraisRelais du Marais is a three-star hotel on Rue de Turbigo, right by Temple metro in the Haut-Marais. Travel Gay has counted…HotelHôtel Les TournellesParis Le MaraisLes Tournelles is a modern three-star hotel on Rue de Turenne, near Place des Vosges. Travel Gay recommends it as a good-value…
Community
Culture
Events in Paris
- 14. Nov – 25. NovFestivalChéries-Chéris 2026 – 32nd Festival du film LGBTQIA+MK2-Kinos in Paris
FAQ: Paris
Which gay bars and clubs are there in Paris?
The Atlas currently lists 33 bars and clubs in Paris, including Chez Mylène, Le Cud, La Mutinerie and Freedj. Each listing has the address, opening hours and our take on the place.
Is there a gay sauna in Paris?
Yes, for example IDM Sauna, Le Riad, Euro Men’s Club and Les Bains d’Odessa.
Which gay-friendly hotels are there in Paris?
Recommended options include Hôtel du Petit Moulin, Hôtel Jules & Jim, Hôtel D’win and Hôtel Duo.