Paris, the city of love, the city of lights … but also, (sorry New York), the city that never sleeps! Paris’ nightlife is thriving, and there are options to suit anyone’s tastes, mine being techno.
So here’s the curated list of my Top 5 favorite techno night outs in Paris.
Panic Room
101 rue Amelot, 75011 Paris
My go-to place!
This tiny underground club is one of my favorites. On the top floor is a bar, but down the graffitied stairs is where the fun is. The crowd is lovely, and the venue is authentic. Whether it’s New Year’s Eve or a random night out, the entry is always free, although every exit is definitive – this is important to know because it is a crowded club and can get very, very hot.
The ceiling lights are trippy and in sync with the music, which truly adds to the experience. It’s not a well-known club, but I’ve never had one bad night out there.
Panic Room is open from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. on Thursdays, and from 8 p.m. until 5 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Here’s the link to their Facebook page.
Rex Club
Dubbed the Temple of Techno, the Rex is a Parisian institution. It boasts great and famous guests, such as French producer Laurent Garnier and godfather of EDM Carl Cox. But club management also invites lesser-known guests who are just as good.
Once again, I cannot recall a single bad night out there. The club is underground, in the centre of Paris. Ideally, aim to get there at around 2 a.m. or 3 a.m.; it will be quite empty before that – like most clubs in Paris to be honest.
Rex Club is open from Thursday to Saturday, from midnight until 7 a.m. (the ideal time to head home and grab a croissant on the way. That’s clubbing the Parisian way baby!)
Here’s the link to their Facebook page.
Possession
TBD
If you’re a techno aficionado, needless for me to introduce Possession. This techno collective puts on moveable raves – sorry Hemingway, you’re outdated – which are always sold out ahead of time.
They tend to keep the location secret until the day of the event, which adds to the excitement.
Will it be a 20-minute Uber or an hour Uber?
Some will say it has lost its authenticity and edginess, I say they always put on amazing events and the music is insanely good. This is a queer-friendly collective, that places great importance on inclusivity and respect.
The address and times depend on the event. So here’s the link to their Facebook page to find out the details.
Kilomètre 25
8 Boulevard MacDonald 75019 Paris
This is the new Parisian techno venue as it opened in the summer of 2021. It’s not just a club, but rather a venue combining concerts, relaxation areas and food trucks. On weekends, it transforms itself into a huge open-air nightclub with a capacity of 2,500 people.
Kilomètre 25 is open on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.; Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., then 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.; Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. then 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. till midnight.
Here’s the link to their Facebook page.
La Gare, Le Gore
1 Avenue Corentin Cariou 75019 Paris
Located underneath a jazz club called La Gare, Le Gore is a techno club that is open every night of the week. I love the versatility of this place, and the variety in the genre does not impede on the quality of the music played there, whether it be jazz, techno or house.
This venue is based on the concept of free participation; if you can afford to chip in, you do so. If you can’t, you’re still welcomed to come and enjoy the music.
It’s open from noon to 4 a..m from Sunday to Tuesday, and from noon to 6 a.m. from Wednesday to Saturday. The jazz club closes at midnight every evening, which is the time when the club opens.
Here’s the link to their Facebook page.
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You can read more of Pauline’s posts here.
After completing her Digital Anthropology Masters at University College London (UCL) Pauline Lemaire currently is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Pauline grew up in Singapore and Morocco, but her family has now relocated to Paris.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in French Literature and Philosophy from the University of Oxford.
