Where to dance in the LGBTQI+ Marais? My top 10 of the best gay dance floors

Le Tango, or “The Chill Box”, is a true Parisian institution which almost disappeared, but fortunately saved by the love of its regulars. It's my favorite place to see a musette waltz flirt with a chacha and a slow dance get lost in a nostalgic Madison. Imagine the scene: a couple of boys trying their hand at the paso doble in a ballroom competition style, followed by a group of girlfriends launching into totally assumed disco choreography. The sometimes improbable looks add to the spectacle, but here, your level or style doesn't matter: everyone is here to have fun. It's chaotic, funny, respectful and fraternal. An evening at Tango is experiencing dance without any hassle, and leaving with a smile on your face until the next day. I love it. Find me on the dance floor!

“QueerFeministTranslesbian” bar since 2012, La Mutinerie is more than just a bar, it’s a haven for queer women and allies looking for a safe and engaged space. The looks are as diverse as the personalities, lifestyles and sexualities. The playlist reflects this diversity, oscillating between feminist punk, hard-hitting electro and female pop anthems that bring everyone together on the dance floor. The atmosphere is electric, and the passionate debates at the bar add an intellectual and political dimension to the festive energy of the place. A place where you feel free to be fully yourself. As a guy, I am always welcomed there, because I respect the spirit of the place, its values ​​and the people who make it vibrate. It's up to you to do the same.

In the vaulted cellar of the Classic Up and Down (or CUD), the atmosphere is humid and captivating, the bass resonating on the stone walls. The ground floor, quieter, invites you to chat over a drink, but it is downstairs that the party explodes. The clientele, especially young at the start of the night, meets there to dance to electro-house mixes and intoxicating pop remixes, in a bath of lights. The music, a clever mix of mainstream pop and intoxicating electro remixes, invites you to let go completely. It is a place where thecollective energy replaces the notion of time: impossible to leave before the first light of dawn.

Freedj, a true haunt of Marais, allies cozy atmosphere and festive energy. Nestled on a lively street, this bar-club seduces with its rough stone walls, its subdued lighting and its central bar that invites discussion from the early hours. The cocktails, prepared with care, are the perfect accompaniment to the early evening, where the atmosphere is still hushed. But once the playlist is launched – a clever mix of chic house, electro remixes and catchy rhythms – the small dance floor becomes the beating heart of the place. I go there for this build-up, where intimacy and celebration blend harmoniously.

At Raidd, the evenings are always hot… and not just because of the playlist. The famous shower shows ? It's impossible not to stop and look. Imagine gogo boys, impeccably sculpted torsos, who sway their hips under a glass shower as if they were preparing the casting of a sexy remake of Singin' in the Rain. Admit it, it's intriguing. You might think it's the main attraction, but no: the high-energy dance floor is just as charming. Between punchy electro, pop hits and groovy R'n'B, the atmosphere is electric. Here, we dance, we laugh, and we take a curious glance - or two.

Le Bear’s Den, it is the lair of the "bears" – these robust and often bearded men who embody a benevolent and relaxed masculinity. Everything takes place in the vaulted cellar, with a small dance floor where disco and pop classics resonate, and karaoke evenings that unleash as much voices as laughter. But the magic also works in the street: drink in hand, discussions come alive and the conviviality overflows the walls of the bar. Add a few cozy corners for the more daring, and you get a place where everyone finds their moment. Here, party, Friendliness and respect are the key words.

Just above République, the Gibus is an institution that dominates the LGBTQI+ night scene. With its huge space and vibrant dance floor, it’s the perfect place to let yourself be carried away by electrifying bass. Its truly exceptional programming mixes international DJ sets, mind-blowing house and electro evenings, and always surprising themes that attract a crowd as varied as it is enthusiastic. Every detail is thought out to make the party complete, and the nights at Gibus leave memories as powerful as the vibrations of its speakers. An experience to live at least once, but to which we always return.

Right in front of La Mutinerie and the bar Les aimer.es the girls' HQ on rue Saint-Martin, the Workshow comes to spice up thenight-time excitement of the neighborhood. Here, everyone is welcome, and the atmosphere is intended to be both inclusive and festive. Between industrial lofts, light installations and Bold electro DJ sets, Every evening is a unique experience. The program? Eclectic and committed, alternating arty performances and rhythms that set the dance floor on fire. We come to dance, chat or just immerse ourselves in this contagious energy. In short, a friendly place that makes you want to extend the night until the end.

Every Friday from 19 p.m. to 2 a.m., Vendredix sur Seine settles in Scilicet on the quay of the Seine between theHôtel de Ville and Châtelet, offering a huge open-air space in the heart of Paris. Admission is free, and the atmosphere is irresistible: people drink, dance, chat, flirt, kiss... while watching the Bateaux Mouches go by! In short, it's the perfect place to start the weekend off right. The playlist, between chill electro and festive rhythms, accompanies this friendly and relaxed atmosphere, under the sparkling lights of the capital. See you in spring 2025 for Unforgettable Fridays on the banks of the Seine ! You will find me there.

I'll save the best for last. Yes, I'm cheating: Madame Arthur is not in the Marais, but in Montmartre. And honestly? That's where I spent my most memorable nights. This legendary LGBTQI+ cabaret since 1946 combines crazy drag, daring covers of French songs, and multi-story nightclub. Flamboyant drag queens, accompanied by eclectic artists, deliver a hilarious and sometimes provocative show, with impeccable artistic quality. Once the curtain falls, the party continues with electrifying DJ sets and a molten dance floor until dawn. A night at Madame Arthur ? We come out dazzled, our cheeks red with laughter and our legs on fire.

© Julien Dumarais My Marais Paris