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Nostalgic Paris Nightspot, Revamped

Le Divan du Monde thrives on romantic notions of Paris. Formerly Le Divan Japonais, this Paris club and concert venue used to be the haunt of seething poet Baudelaire and painter Toulouse-Lautrec (who was best known for his antics at the nearby Moulin Rouge.) Today, the Divan du Monde is one of the best nightclubs and venues the city has to offer. Fans of indie rock, reggae, world music, funk, punk, hip hop, New Wave, and fusion electro can all find their niche nights here.

The plush red neo-gothic lounge furniture and reasonably-priced drinks are a plus too.

Tip: Have dinner and a warm-up drink or "apero" at the cool Berlin-style bar across the street, La Fourmi. It's known as the place where hipsters and young urban professionals head after work, and one of the coolest in Pigalle.

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Pros

• Sumptuous two-level venue features neo-gothic design
• Cover charge and drink prices often very reasonable
• Finding a place to sit is possible even on the weekend
• Rare Paris nightclub where monotonous electropop is rarely heard
• The romantic legacy: former stomping grounds of famous poets and artists

Cons

• A bit far from the city center
• Pigalle red light district nearby can be somewhat late at night: be vigilant

Description

• Address: 75 rue des Martyrs
  9th arrondissement
• Metro: Anvers (lines 2, 12), Pigalle (Line 12), Abbesses (line 12).
• Telephone: (+33)140 050 699
• Hours: Monday to Saturday, 7 p.m.-6 a.m.
• Cover fee: Varies, but tends to range from 10 to 20 Euros for nightclub events and 15-40 Euros for concerts. Consult the official website for more information on specific theme nights.

• Drink Prices: From 4 Euros for beer on tap to 10 Euros for cocktails
• Decor: 19th-century sumptuous lounge meets spiky neo-gothic. Furniture evokes a Tim Burton film.
• Layout: On the lower level, a large stage, bar, and dance floor. Upstairs: another bar and divans.
• Capacity: 450 people. On the large side for Paris, where clubs the size of closets are common.
• Music volume: On club nights, tends to be just loud enough for dancing and just low enough for talk.

First Impressions

I was first taken to the Divan du Monde for a projection of the 1930 film that would allegedly inspire comic arist Bob Kane to create the Batman legend, The Bat Whispers.

We sat on the second floor and watched the film on three screens projected around the dramatic, high-ceilinged venue. I was charmed by the sumptuous design and the elegant old Paris lounge atmosphere at the Divan, so I decided to head there again for a night of indie rock and new wave.

A Budget-Friendly Evening

At 6 Euros (approx. $7.50), the cover charge was one of the slimmest I've encountered in Paris. We arrived shortly after 11 to secure seats, and to our surprise, we were able to get them, though the place was already abuzz with chatter and dancing.

When we approached the busy second-level bar, it was still happy hour: it starts at 7 when the club opens and extends all the way to midnight. Pints of beer on tap were 5 Euros (approx.$6.50), and a selection of cocktails was available for 6 and 7 Euros (approx. $7.50-$9), a bargain for Paris.

The Ambiance

The music, though not always very danceable, was mixed well by the resident D.J. and ranged from more recent smash indie tracks by Le Tigre and the White Stripes to nostalgic moments with the Talking Heads, Depeche Mode, and Pulp.

Aside from the constant chemical puffing of a synthetic smoke machine, the air was fairly breathable-- an important detail in a city where ventilation is sometimes nonexistent.

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