After six months sampling the ins and outs of Paris night life I feel I am finally educated enough to give you guys the low down. So here goes...

 Clubs:

Showcase was an easy choice for a night out, because not only was it a mere kilometre from the door of my building, but it is located in one of the pillars of Pont Alexandre III - the most beautiful bridge in Paris. Golden angels and divine royalty decorate the sturdy romantic columns at all four corners of the bridge and sculpted cherubs and wine drip from the sides - perfect to view from a cruise along the river Seine that runs underneath the bridge. Coolness factor was already maxing out. The club is huge. It stretches through a former boat shed and they’ve drawn attention to the cavernous decor by patterning hexagonal florescent lights across the walls. I’ve heard it goes off when a major DJ is booked. Ticket prices double and the line stretches forever after 11pm. However, the night we went shows that there is little more draw to the place than an appearing DJ. The drinks and crowd do not sell themselves. It was empty at 1am. We left pretty quickly. My friend and I headed to the Social Club straight afterwards to try and salvage the night. Somehow we got in for free, but don’t ever count on that happening. Drinks and prices were just do-able and music kept us happy all night long. Techno and trance, but not too hard core. We tottered home as day was breaking. And I never had a bad night at the Social Club again, but be warned, your boys will never get in in jeans and scuffed shoes. Two key boxes kiwis might need to know to club in Paris: 1. Pay the price (or just head to a simple bar) 2. Dress properly.

Queen was my favourite. The bouncers keep it exclusive and cool. It is meant to be a gay club and music varies greatly. Given that it is located on Paris’ famed Champs Elysées predetermines drink prices – but they do come in plastic frapuccino style cups with lids – a real novelty I thought. It’s also free for girls on Ladies Night – Wednesdays.

Le Scopitone that used to be called Le Paris Paris is a tiny, but glam joint in the first arrondisement that plays great bands. It was the first club I ever visited in Paris and found the bouncers very nice. This has left me very disappointed ever since. It’s a great place to go with a few friends. Get dressed up and dance the night away together.

CAB is nearby and a lot less class, but easy to get into. It is nevertheless full of young people who haven’t dressed up too much either and just want to pick up. Plays whatever’s on the radio, as well as some dinky old eighties favourites. The French listen to most of their music in French, but aren’t always up to date, nor do they have the greatest taste. Enough beers and we all sing along to Grease Lightening though. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but a place to do shots and groove on the sweaty dance floor in your oldest, but comfiest pair of heels. Not dissimilar is Duplex near the Arc de Triomphe. It has four levels with different music in each room. Hip Hop, Trance and mainstream tunes, like Queen bejeweled and slightly tired looking dancers entertain you on podiums most of the night. I was not a fan. Sleazy and nasty.

If you actually like to dance you wont get a more enthusiastic crowd, who’s really into the music, anywhere else but REX club. Nothing much happens until about 1am, but it’s lively until 6am. Everyone’s just dressed as suits them, some could have just rolled out of bed. However, the DJ is always very cool. If you are short on cash have a few drinks somewhere before you head to any of the above locations, but if you are looking for a great place for cocktails and to chat look below.

Bars:

I picked my favourites to share with you, hoping you’ll have as good a time as me running around rive gauche if you visit Paris. I have to admit that I am a big snob for the left bank - close to uni and chez moi.

Alcazar was one of my favourites for bellinis and mojitos. Apparently Jim Morrison overdosed in their bathrooms. Nowadays it’s a chic little bar/restaurant, but I head to the mezzanine level for tapas and drinks. Can be hard to get a table and often has reserved areas sectioned off for parties, but it’s modern and the greatest place to show off your best shoes as celebrity spottings are not infrequent. Pub Saint Germain is close by and just a bit pricier. Also likes to charge a bizarre “night tax,” as if the Screaming Organism I just ordered is something I would order in the morning. Nevertheless great Screaming Organisms and very cool. Leather chairs and low lighting make it great for a snuggle or a lazy chat with friends. Yet it’s prices meant it was only a treat, for when I was looking my prettiest.

The Lizard Lounge is just one recommendation of a groovy little place in Paris’ Le Marais, which is full of groovy places. Happy hour is my favourite time to visit, flirt with the English-speaking bartenders and hideaway downstairs to enjoy my first drink of the night and reggae tunes. Not sure the latter is a staple, however. The cocktail menu is great and inexpensive, in league with a great little cocktail bar I have nattered away to friends in for hours near Alcazar and Pub Saint Germain. We often retire there is we can’t get a table in Alcazar and cannot stand up in our shoes anymore. Or if I want several cosmopolitans (or even a long island ice tea) for half the price offered at Alcazar and Pub Saint Germain. I cannot remember the name of the place. I spent about 15 minutes searching Google maps at street level, but cannot read its name in the photo. It is just down from sports bar Le Mazet on Rue Saint André-des-Arts, which is generally speaking a pretty cool area. It’s not too pricey as it’s hidden off Boulevard Saint Germain. I believe its number 63 or 65 on this street and the cool, chilled out atmosphere is just right. It’s never too busy and the prices are perfect.

My friends and I always headed to Rue Mouffetard when we were either 1. Poor 2. Looking to celebrate 3. Lazy 4. Just wanted to have a good time. It’s a crazy street – I was always somehow overdressed. Although I was often heading elsewhere afterwards. There’s a great array of cheap (for Paris) bars and friendly French guys were always happy to have me practice my French on them. Yes! I just said friendly French guys. We loved that street. Especially The Wall. This was mine and my friend’s favourite bar in Paris. It was in Place de la Contrescarpe and many a great night was spent there enjoying 3 euro shots and each other’s company. I will miss that busy, slightly dirty little bar. Don’t wear anything silk. Beer WILL end up on your clothing somewhere.

Pigalle and Montmartre host a number of clubs and bars. These areas are just two among an array of seedier, but nevertheless always entertaining quarters in Paris. I would love to hear any of your suggestions and tales of night spots around the city of Paris.

Addresses are all listed below. Clubs/bars situated near one another are grouped.

Scopitone

5 Avenue de l'Opera 75001 Paris

CAB

2 Place du Palais Royal 75001 Paris

Queen

102 Avenue des Champs-Elysées 75008 Paris

Le Duplex

2 bis Avenue Foch 75116 Paris

REX

5 Boulevard Poissonnière75002 Paris

The Social Club

142 Rue Montmartre 75002 Paris

Alcazar

62 Rue Mazarine 75006 Paris

Pub Saint Germain

17 Rue de l'Ancienne Comédie 75006 Paris

The Lizard Lounge

18 Rue du Bourg Tibourg 75004 Paris