Pigalle, a busy neighbourhood located between the 9e and 18e arrondissements, welcomes an eclectic crowd 24/7. Yes, you read it right: this little “village” in the City of Love never sleeps! Down the hill from Montmartre, there are cafés, restaurants, bars, clubs and shops for everyone, from hipsters to partygoers. And, of course, many tourists visit the lively neighbourhood for its legendary Moulin Rouge.
During the day or in the middle of the night, find out the best places to visit in Pigalle!
The former red light district is now trendy!
Once a source of inspiration for artists like Salvador Dalí, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso or Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the Pigalle district has long been called “Paris red light district”, in reference to Amsterdam red light district. In the past, Pigalle was mostly known by locals and tourists for its numerous sex shops, peep shows, cabarets and brothels. Today, you still find neon-light sex shops and world-famous cabarets, but most of the adult-only “addresses” have been replaced by popular cafés, art galleries or chic boutique hotels.
South Pigalle, also known as SoPi, is becoming one of the trendiest areas in Paris, competing with Le Marais, the capital’s most welcoming and open-minded district where the party is always ON.
During your next visit in the Right-Bank neighbourhood, make sure to check out the places we recommend below. During daylight or after dark, you’ll always find an original activity to do or a place to eat, drink and dance in Pigalle.
A day in Pigalle (and Montmartre)
Pigalle is only a stroll away from Montmartre and its must-see places, such as Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. That’s why we decided to include some places located in Montmartre in our list of recommendations.
Must-see places and original activities
Start the day by pushing the door of a café in Pigalle, then enjoy a hot, yummy, caffeinated beverage while people-watching from the comfort of a terrasse or near a window. You’ll find plenty of cosy coffee shops in Rue Blanche and Rue Lepic. Pairing your café with a pain au chocolat or croissant is (not) optional.
Now that you are full of energy, go walk along Promenade Roland Lesaffre, towards Boulevard de Clichy, and try to spot La Quatrième Pomme, a giant apple sculpture created by Frank Scurti. You may also spot the Moulin Rouge on the way: don’t worry if you missed it, you’ll see this iconic place again.
If you were a fan of Dalida, head up north for about 5 minutes to pay your respects: a life-size marble statue of the legendary singer has been erected on her grave, across the Montmartre cemetery.
When visiting the City of Love, Paris, you must go to Le Mur des je t’aime, Rue des Abbesses, a wall with over 311 written love declarations in 250 different languages. What better way to celebrate love than heading to a restaurant for lunch? Or, you could join a culinary class and learn how to bake classic French croissants or macarons. If you want to live like a true local in Pigalle, finish your meal with a café – Un expresso s’il vous plaît.
During the afternoon, continue to walk in the narrow streets, go in and out of unique boutiques, and try French pastries or chocolates. We highly recommend that you stop by Chocolat Alain Ducasse in SoPi to indulge yourself with handcrafted delicious chocolates, or you can visit a boulangerie and order an éclair au café or a religieuse. Yum!
If you like arts, head to Musée Gustave Moreau or Musée Dali before their closing times. These museums welcome hundreds of original sculptures, paintings and drawings in sumptuous buildings. For music lovers, make sure to visit Phono museum near La Cigale.
Finally, before “apéro time” (when French people meet with friends in a bar), pop by Instagram-worthy Pigalle basketball court, Playground Duperré, for some incredible colourful pictures. This unique basketball court is tucked between high buildings, which makes it even more original. If you’re into sports, throw a few balls: the last person to score will pay for the next round at the bar!
The nightlife scene in Pigalle is legendary!
There are so many things to do in Pigalle in the evening and during the night! Where to start?
First, you need to find a place to eat and drink in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere and start getting into party mode: we highly recommend that you go to a bar, such as O’Sullivans Pigalle (next to the Moulin Rouge). This live music bar serves delicious beers and burgers, among other classic dishes.
Then, see a show at one of the various theatres surrounding the area, watch a French cabaret show (Moulin Rouge, Madame Arthur, Chez Michou…) or go to a concert at La Cigale, Le Trianon or Backstage By The Mill. There are plenty of cabarets and music venues in Pigalle, near Place Blanche or Rue des Martyrs.
After a show, go back to O’Sullivans Pigalle bar for some live music, DJ sessions… until the end of the night! The great thing with the Pigalle neighbourhood is that you’ll always find bars and restaurants opened at any time of the day or night. For instance, this bar is open until 5 a.m.!
Are you ready to discover the best places in Pigalle now?
