Best Paris Cabaret On A Budget

When you think of Paris, France, what do you think of? The Eiffel Tower? The Louvre? Or maybe Notre Dame? As I was dreaming of all the places to go and things to do while I was in the city of lovers, I knew I wanted to go to a cabaret. Of course, I had heard of the Moulin Rouge and even Crazy Horse, but as I was looking at ticket prices, I took a pause. Being a broke 24-year-old, I could not justify spending the money, even though I really wanted to go! I kept researching Paris cabarets and finally came across one that looked promising: Au Lapin Agile. This wasn’t your normal big and fancy show that we are used to seeing nowadays, but this was an artistic cabaret that showcased not only singing and dancing but also poetry. I was instantly intrigued by this traditional-style cabaret and the best part is that it was in my price range!

Once I had my reservation made, I told anyone who would listen about this Paris cabaret I had found that I was so excited about. Even when I was in Paris and going to all these sights I had been longing to go to for years, I kept thinking about the upcoming experience I would be having. The night finally came! They only had shows on certain nights, 9 pm-1 am. I took the metro from my Airbnb to the closest stop near the cabaret: Lamarck-Caulaincourt. I got there a few minutes before the doors opened. You do have to pay cash (euros) at the door. It is 35 euros and it includes one free drink! It is one room, about the size of a small bar with the middle open and booths with tables all around the edge. Being a solo traveler and one of the first to arrive, when I was escorted to a seat that resembled a piano stool. I was told it was right in the front. When the performers came out, I could feel myself smiling from ear to ear.

The night of the performance I went to, it was mostly only English speakers in the audience. If you can imagine, the Paris cabaret is in French, surprise, surprise. Even though I had no idea what they were saying, their expressions made it easy to follow along. There were seven performers in total. They sang together and they also had solos. My favorite was when they all sat around a table and sang to each other and us. A guy was playing the piano, one woman who played the guitar, and another who played the accordion! The highlight of the night was one that I will never forget. So as I stated, they had me in quite possibly the best seat in the house. And this was somewhat of an interactive show. One of the performers singled me out and sang to me. Not once, not twice, but three different times. At the end of the third song, we had a nice rapport going and I even got a kiss on the hand. Also remember, this whole thing was in French so I had no clue what he was singing about. I hope it was nice things. I had to of been beet red in the face because I was sweating and looking around the room nervously every time it happened. Alas, my night did eventually come to an end, unfortunately. I left a little bit after midnight since I had to catch the metro back to my Airbnb and I believe they did not run all night. When I was leaving, the guy who had been singing to me was acting hurt that I was leaving, even holding his hands up to his heart. A true performer until the very end. As I stepped outside into the cobblestone street, I was plain giddy with how the night turned out. 

When you are planning your trip to Paris and are looking for glitzy and snazzy cabarets, don’t look here because that is not what you will find. But I assure you, this one is worth a visit. It feels like you step back in time to the Paris of 1860 when the Au Lapin Agile opened. You feel a sense of comfort and warmth watching the performers interact with the audience in a small gathering-type setting. It feels like you are among friends. The best Paris cabarets, in my opinion, are not the ones with flashy lights or big productions and high price tags. It is the one that makes you feel as though you are at home, one that makes you feel seen and included.