Whether you want to kick back to some blues on an authentic Parisian barge, dance to 1920s jazz in ancient underground cellars, or sit back and enjoy big band swing on a terrace overlooking the Eiffel Tower, our guide has you covered. Opening in 1975 at Le Méridien Etoile hotel with just one pianist; a flurry of jazz musician friends, such as Maxim Saury, Géo Daly and Marcel Zanini, soon joined. After this, American soloists began joining the bill, along with top French musicians. The Bar Patio boasts an authentic stage with full sound and lighting system. Over the decades, it has welcomed the most famous jazz players in the world. The venue offers a convivial and cosy ambiance, where good live music as well as fine food lovers are happy to meet, mingle and relax. Recently, the place has been completely renovated bringing stylish and comfortable furniture into the mix, along with a luminous conservatory, and outside terrace perfect for the warmer months. The violinist Aurore Voilqué schedules three-hour long concerts at 9pm, and the ultimate selling point of the place is that the concerts are free. The club hosts a wide range of jazz, Brazilian and traditional Baroque music concerts as well as more spontaneous jazz and funk jamming sessions. You might also hear big band swing, bebop, hardbop, modern, or bossa nova music. As well as this varied range of shows, there are also amateur jazz sessions to help develop the talents of budding young players. With a view that spans the gorgreous Parc de Belleville and much of the Paris skyline, is a local favourite. You can even spot the Eiffel Tower, as well as the usual flurry of Parisian rooftops, from this spectacular vantage point. The area is bohemian, just a short walk from Belleville and Ménilmontant, making it a great place to meet up with friends. As it happens, the Chef spent four years learning with Michelin star chef, Thierry Marx at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Paris, but he prefers to serve up fresh home-made produce here. There is a live jazz concert every Sunday after brunch, from 12pm until 4pm. This new venture is sure to not disappoint, as it brings together the most extraordinary contemporary musicians, while exploiting all the latest developments in the realm of sound technology. In fact, the owner says that the quality is so high, you could easily imagine you were in a recording studio. This built in 1925, offers tapas-styled delicacies such as tacos, guacamole and chorizo for bargain prices while putting on an energetic jazz show. They often host parties and have an outside bar on the terrace open from May to October. Nearly 200 people can dine at the makeshift tables of the terrace and in the main room of the barge itself, making it one of the most unusual and lively venues to enjoy jazz in the whole of Paris. This facility was most popular during the inter-war years under the name Le Bal Nègre and welcomed a whole range of famous personalities including Joséphine Baker, , Sidney Bechet and Jean-Paul Sartre. It was a particular favourite of the intellectual circles of Paris, with philosophers and writers galore. The club recently reopened its doors after three years of refurbishing. The Parisians like making the most of their ancient underground cellars, and is one of the best underground jazz venues in the whole city. This musical den, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city outside, cultivates a cosy atmosphere where dancing is almost certainly on the cards. All of the post-war jazz greats have performed at and this legacy continues with the contemporary line-up. You could easily stumble past this venue without a second glance, given its understated exterior, but this cosy little jazz spot is a gem on the music scene and well worth a visit. It gets particularly lively at the weekends, bustling with young couples and friends soaking up the relaxing jazz vibes. You can also just drop by for a coffee in the day, relaxing in the soothingly lit café.
