The 5 must-visit gay bars in the Marais, Paris

It’s hard to talk about the Parisian gay scene without starting with the Marais. The 4th arrondissement is home to the vast majority of Paris’s LGBT bars, all concentrated within a few hundred metres, mainly around Rue des Archives and Rue du Temple. The good news is that everything is within walking distance, and you can hop from one venue to another in the same night without ever having to take the metro.

Le Ju’ is probably the most versatile spot in the neighbourhood. Located at 16 Rue des Archives, it opens early — serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and pre-dinner drinks — and the atmosphere really starts to liven up from 5 pm onwards. Its large terrace and spacious interior make it a place that welcomes everyone: a predominantly gay clientele, but also tourists drawn by the setting, and even families during the day. What really sets this place apart is the staff — incredibly friendly, attentive, and a major contributor to the venue’s warm atmosphere. Rated 4.8/5 by the community, and frankly, it’s well deserved.

Just two doors down, at 15 Rue des Archives, COX caters more to a bear crowd. The atmosphere is friendly and laid-back — no dance floor, no DJ, just some good music in the background and space to hang out standing up with friends. It’s the ideal place to kick off the party without any fuss, over a drink between 5 pm and 8 pm, before moving on to something else. Open until 2 am on weekdays, 3 am on Saturdays.

Le Raidd Bar, at 23 rue du Temple, deserves its status as a must-visit spot. What few people realise before they go is that the bar is centred around a glass-walled shower cubicle where performers dance — on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. It creates a unique atmosphere, somewhere between a meet-up bar and a mini-show. Free entry, with no door policy, but there are a few unwritten rules: don’t turn up drunk, and it’s a men-only venue in the evenings. As for the cost, drinks are very affordable — especially during happy hour, early in the evening. It opens at 6 pm, and on Fridays and Saturdays it closes at 5 am.

The Labo, at 37 Rue des Lombards in the 1st arrondissement, is a bit off the beaten track — in Châtelet rather than the Marais — but well worth a visit. It’s the most diverse venue in this selection, with a young crowd that mixes locals and tourists in an inclusive atmosphere. Its large terrace is one of its main attractions. It opens at 3 pm on weekdays, and at weekends it closes at 6 am — making it a sure bet for night owls looking to carry on after the other bars in the Marais have closed.

Café Voulez-Vous, at 18 rue du Temple, is the perfect choice if you want to bring along friends who aren’t familiar with the LGBT scene — the atmosphere is gay-friendly without being exclusive, and you can pop in without a booking. Ideal for brunch (opens at 11.30 am) or a relaxed pre-dinner drink. The décor is reminiscent of New York coffee shops, the music is kept at a level where you can still have a chat, and the terrace on Rue du Temple is lovely during the day. For a first visit to the Marais with friends who are a bit hesitant, this is the place we’d recommend to break the ice.

How to find it: Le Ju’, COX, Le Raidd and Café Voulez-Vous are all less than a five-minute walk from the Hôtel de Ville metro station (lines 1 and 11). The Labo can be reached from Châtelet. The classic plan for a great night out in the Marais: drinks at Le Ju’ from 5 pm to enjoy the terrace, a stop at COX early in the evening, then Raidd for the atmosphere from Thursday to Saturday. Save The Labo for the end of the night or for a separate outing.

To find these bars on the map and see what’s on in the Marais, check out the Paris section on Agenda LGBT — events are updated continuously.