The Complete Guide to Rock Bars in Paris

01Introduction

Paris has always been a rock 'n' roll city, even when its own cultural establishment refused to admit it. While the French mainstream celebrated chanson and later electronic music, a parallel underground thrived—from the jazz cellars of Saint-Germain that welcomed early rock 'n' roll, through the punk explosion of the late '70s, to today's metal and garage scenes in the northern arrondissements.

The geography of Parisian rock follows a north-south divide. Pigalle (9th/18th arrondissements)—historically the city's red-light district—has been rock territory since the 1960s, its neon-lit streets housing legendary venues. Further east, Oberkampf and Ménilmontant (11th/20th) became the indie and punk heartland in the 2000s. Together, these neighbourhoods form a rock corridor that rewards dedicated exploration.

What surprises visitors is the passion. French rock fans are fiercely devoted—knowledgeable, opinionated, and welcoming to anyone who shares their love of loud guitars. The stereotype of Parisian coldness evaporates in a rock bar at midnight.

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The French Rock Paradox

France has always had an uneasy relationship with rock music. The "yé-yé" movement of the 1960s (Johnny Hallyday, Eddy Mitchell) adapted rock for French tastes, but punk arrived late and faced cultural resistance. The result: French rock developed an outsider intensity—bands had to fight harder to exist, creating a scene defined by conviction rather than fashion.

02Pigalle: The Rock District

Pigalle—the neighbourhood around Place Pigalle where the 9th and 18th arrondissements meet—has been Paris's rock district for over sixty years. The area's history of nightlife, sex shops, and cabarets created a permissive atmosphere where loud music was just another flavour of excess. Today, Pigalle is gentrifying fast, but its rock institutions endure.

Bus Palladium — The Temple

6 Rue Pierre Fontaine, 9th | STILL ACTIVE (Since 1965)

Bus Palladium is Paris's most legendary rock venue. Since 1965, this Pigalle institution has hosted everyone from the Rolling Stones and the Who to French punk pioneers and modern garage bands. The venue survived the cultural shifts of six decades by never compromising on its identity: rock 'n' roll, loud and live.

The interior retains its 1960s character—a dance floor surrounded by balconies, vintage lighting, and walls that have absorbed decades of guitar feedback. Club nights alternate with live shows, and the programming consistently books the best of French and international rock.

Bus Palladium is where Paris goes to remember it's a rock 'n' roll city. Every generation rediscovers it.

— French music journalist

La Machine du Moulin Rouge — The Industrial Conversion

90 Boulevard de Clichy, 18th | STILL ACTIVE

Adjacent to the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret, La Machine occupies the building's former industrial spaces. Three floors of programming span rock, electronic, and experimental music. The raw industrial architecture—exposed brick, iron beams, low ceilings—creates an intense atmosphere for live shows. When they book rock, it hits different in these century-old walls.

New Moon — The Rock 'n' Roll Bar

Rue Pierre Fontaine, Pigalle | STILL ACTIVE

Steps from Bus Palladium, New Moon is Pigalle's essential rock bar. Small, dark, and decorated with punk and rock memorabilia, it serves as the neighbourhood's pre-show and post-show gathering point. The bartenders are scene veterans who know every band that's passed through Pigalle in the last twenty years. Start your night here.

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Pro Tip

Pigalle's rock venues cluster along Rue Pierre Fontaine and Boulevard de Clichy. You can walk between Bus Palladium, New Moon, and La Machine in five minutes. Métro Pigalle or Blanche drops you in the centre of it all.

03Oberkampf & Eastern Paris

East of the centre, the Oberkampf and Ménilmontant neighbourhoods (11th and 20th arrondissements) became Paris's indie and alternative rock heartland in the 2000s. The streets around Rue Oberkampf and Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud are dense with bars—many with a rock identity.

Bar Psy — The Neighbourhood Rock Dive

Rue Oberkampf, 11th | STILL ACTIVE

Bar Psy is the quintessential Oberkampf rock dive. Cheap drinks, loud music, and a crowd that ranges from leather-jacketed punks to indie kids in vintage denim. The bar is small enough that everyone talks to everyone. DJ nights lean into garage, punk, and classic rock. No pretension, no cover charge, no complications.

The Oberkampf Strip

Rue Oberkampf itself hosts a dense strip of bars, several with rock-friendly programming. The street fills on Thursday through Saturday nights with a crowd that spills between venues. Rock bars sit alongside cocktail joints and wine bars—Paris being Paris—but the nocturnal overlap means rock fans and non-rock fans mix freely.

Eastern Paris Live Venues

The eastern arrondissements host several live venues that regularly programme rock. Le Petit Bain (a floating venue on the Seine), Supersonic, and various smaller rooms book independent and touring rock acts. The scene is decentralised compared to Pigalle—check listings on Paris Move, Infoconcert, or Shotgun for current shows.

Oberkampf is Paris's real rock 'n' roll street. Not the most famous, not the prettiest, but where the music actually lives.

— Oberkampf bar owner

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Good to Know

Paris's rock scene extends to the suburbs ("banlieue"), where venues like La Maroquinerie and FGO-Barbara host shows away from the tourist centre. Some of the most intense French metal and hardcore happens in these outer spaces.

04Practical Tips

Getting Around

Paris's Métro is excellent for rock bar exploration. Key stops:

Pigalle / Blanche: Line 2 or 12. The rock district's front door.
Oberkampf / Ménilmontant: Line 2 or 3. The eastern rock corridor.
Bastille: Line 1, 5, or 8. Central access point between districts.

Best Nights

Thursday–Saturday: Peak nights at Bus Palladium and all rock bars.
Wednesday: Good for live shows at smaller venues.
Sunday: Many rock bars are closed. Check before heading out.

The Pilgrimage Checklist

☐ Bus Palladium — 60 years of Parisian rock history
☐ New Moon — The essential Pigalle rock bar
☐ La Machine du Moulin Rouge — Rock in industrial splendour
☐ Bar Psy — Oberkampf's rock dive
☐ Rue Oberkampf — Bar-hop the eastern rock strip

Paris Rock Culture

Late start: Parisian rock bars fill up after 11pm. Live shows typically start at 9–10pm.
Smoking: Banned indoors since 2008. Rock bars have outdoor areas or terraces where smokers gather.
Prices: Paris is expensive. Beer runs €6–8 in rock bars. Happy hours (typically 5–8pm) offer significant savings.
Language: English is widely spoken in rock bars, especially in Pigalle. A "Bonsoir" when entering and "Merci" when ordering go a long way.

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