Jazz in Paris: From Standards to Swing, the Best Clubs in the City

Studio de l’Ermitage

If you’re looking for live music in Paris, you’ve got plenty of choices. But the best shows in town are dedicated one of the city’s most beloved genres: Jazz. From classic to experimental, Paris is home to a number of clubs, caves à vin and brasseries with live jazz any night of the week.

Sunset-Sunside

Here are some of the best jazz clubs to visit in the city of lights:

For Gypsy jazz lovers

Au tour du Midi et Minuit 11 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris

Wednesday nights are gypsy jam session nights at this cave à jazz in the 18th. It’s one of the last few jazz caves in Paris: Enter the club through its restaurant, go down the stairs and you’ll find a bar and an intimate performance venue. Get there early and get front row seats to the best of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.

Sunset-Sunside

For fans of the Standards

Sunset-Sunside 60 Rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris

Every other night Sunset-Sunside hosts a tribute to the great jazz artists of our time: from Billie Holiday to Frank Sinatra and even blues nights dedicated to artists like BB King. Located on the Rue des Lombards, this club is in good company. Right next door you’ll find the historic jazz clubs, Duc des Lombards and Le Baiser Salé.

Sunset-Sunside/Studio de l’Ermitage

For Latin jazz (and dancing!)

Studio L’Hermitage 8 Rue de l’Ermitage, 75020 Paris

Be sure to enter the Studio with dancing shoes. This club is an old factory turned music venue that hosts Latin and world music every week. You won’t want to sit still when you hear Cuban and Colombian jazz orchestras playing turn of the century classics, “big band” style.

Billie Holiday – Sunset-Sunside

For the kind of jazz you happily stumble upon

Au Clairon Des Chasseurs 3 Place du Tertre, 75018 Paris

Located on the Place du Tertre in Montmartre, it’s just a stone’s throw from the Sacre Coeur and the artist’s plaza below it. The in-house jazz guitarists play everything from the standards to gypsy jazz in the early evening. The terrace bar is the perfect place to grab a drink, listen, and people watch.

Studio de l’Ermitage

For those who prefer an offbeat soirée

Club Raye 26 Rue Dussoubs, 75002 Paris

In french, Club “Rayé” means “Striped club,” and everything, from the chairs, to the ceiling and piano bar, is covered in stripes. Listen to jazz standards and order a bottle of wine, for a quiet evening that might surprise you. 

Related Links

• Check out our list of Autumn jazz events in Paris.
• For the 10 best jazz clubs in Paris, head over to The Culture Trip.
• The Washington Post also rounds up the top jazz clubs in Paris.

Written by Lory Martinez for HiP Paris. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, Tuscany, Umbria or Liguria? Check out Haven In.