30 live music worth the night across France, editor-ranked. All France guides.
Hot Club de Lyon ★ 4.7 · Lyon
1er · 26 Rue Lanterne, 69001 Lyon
Hot Club de Lyon in the 1er Presquile is the vaulted-cellar jazz room founded by Beaux-Arts students in 1948, now the oldest continuously running jazz club in Europe, with more than 200 concerts a year on Rue Lanterne.
Tip: Concert tickets 12-€18 via the venue site; Thursday and Friday jam sessions at 22:30 are free once the bill has finished.
Caveau de la Huchette ★ 4.6 · Paris
5e · 5 Rue de la Huchette, 75005 Paris
Caveau de la Huchette in Paris's 5e is the medieval cellar jazz club opened 1946 that is the oldest still running in the city, with a sprung dance floor.
Tip: Cover €15-18 weeknights, €18-21 weekends, cash or card at the door. The dance floor opens after the first orchestra set around 22:30.
Le Periscope ★ 4.5 · Lyon
2e · 13 Rue Delandine, 69002 Lyon
Le Periscope in Lyon's 2e Confluence is the SMAC-labelled jazz and improvised music room on Rue Delandine, open since 2007 and running over 100 concerts a year plus the RECIF festival each April.
Tip: Tickets 10-€18, reservation on the venue site; RECIF festival mid-April is the easiest first visit, with 14 sets across five nights.
Espace Julien ★ 4.5 · Marseille
Cours Julien (6e) · 39 Cours Julien, 13006 Marseille
Espace Julien in Marseille's 6e Cours Julien is the 800-capacity concert hall opened 1984 in the artists' district, with a rock, hip-hop, electronic.
Tip: Tickets €18-35 via the venue site; Café Julien downstairs runs free or low-cover sets most weeknights.
New Morning ★ 4.5 · Paris
10e · 7-9 Rue des Petites Écuries, 75010 Paris
New Morning in Paris's 10e is the Rue des Petites Écuries jazz room open since 1981, with a black-box stage that has hosted Chet Baker, Stan Getz and Prince.
Tip: Tickets €25-45 via the venue site; arrive 19:30 for unreserved seating closer to the stage.
Sunset Sunside ★ 4.5 · Paris
1er · 60 Rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris
Sunset Sunside on Rue des Lombards in Paris's 1er is the twin jazz club where the upstairs Sunside books acoustic sets and the basement Sunset runs electric.
Tip: Tickets €25-35 per set; the first set at 20:00 is calmer than the 22:00 turnaround.
Le Duc des Lombards ★ 4.5 · Paris
1er · 42 Rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris
Le Duc des Lombards on the Lombards jazz strip in Paris's 1er is the TSF Jazz partner club booking established names and rising French talent.
Tip: Book a table for the 21:30 set in advance; the early 19:30 set is the easier walk-in window.
La Clef de Voute ★ 4.4 · Lyon
1er · 1 Place Chardonnet, 69001 Lyon
La Clef de Voute in Lyon's 1er Croix-Rousse slopes is the 18th-century vaulted cellar booking more than 150 jazz nights a year since 2004, with free entry and a Saint-Germain-style table service.
Tip: Free entry but reservations only via the venue site; book Tuesday for the next weekend, drinks order at the table is the only spend.
La Caravelle ★ 4.4 · Marseille
2e · 34 Quai du Port, 13002 Marseille
La Caravelle on the Quai du Port in Marseille's 2e is the first-floor mezzanine bar above the Hôtel Belle-Vue, open since the 1920s, with a tiny balcony over.
Tip: Climb the staircase next to the hotel reception; the balcony seats six and fills first. Pastis €4 at the bar, cocktails €11-14.
Le Bataclan ★ 4.4 · Paris
11e · 50 Boulevard Voltaire, 75011 Paris
Le Bataclan in Paris's 11e is the 1,500-capacity Boulevard Voltaire concert hall with the painted pagoda facade, rebuilt and reopened in November 2016.
Tip: Allow extra time for bag check at door; balcony seated tier is the easier sightline if you arrive after 20:00.
Le Comptoir du Jazz ★ 4.3 · Bordeaux
saint-croix · 59 Quai de Paludate, 33800 Bordeaux
Le Comptoir du Jazz in Bordeaux's Saint-Croix is the long-running live-music bar on Quai de Paludate, with nightly jazz sets from 21:30, a working dinner.
Tip: No cover most weeknights; the front stools fill by 21:00 for the first set so arrive early.
Marche Gare ★ 4.3 · Lyon
2e · 4-6 Place Hubert Mounier, 69002 Lyon
Marche Gare in Lyon's 2e Confluence is the 414-capacity concert hall in the former wholesale-market admin building, renovated in 2022 with the 100-cap KiosK side room and a 20th-anniversary indie, hip-hop and electro programme.
Tip: Tram T1 stop Sainte Blandine; the upstairs main hall is standing-only, the KiosK side room is the 100-cap seated alternative.
Le Molotov ★ 4.3 · Marseille
Cours Julien (6e) · 3 Place Paul Cézanne, 13006 Marseille
Le Molotov in Marseille's 6e Cours Julien is the small Place Paul Cézanne club programming rock, reggae, hip-hop, jazz and electro since 2012.
Tip: Tickets €8-20 on the venue site; capacity is tight so weekend bookings sell out a fortnight ahead.
L'Affranchi ★ 4.3 · Marseille
Saint-Marcel (11e) · 212 Boulevard Saint-Marcel, 13011 Marseille
L'Affranchi in Marseille's 11e Saint-Marcel is the SMAC-labelled hip-hop complex inaugurated 1996, with a 380-seat concert hall, a studio and a DJ school.
Tip: €2 yearly membership added to your first ticket of the year; tickets €12-22. Bus 12 from Castellane is the easier route home.
Moon Bar Aston ★ 4.3 · Nice
carre-d-or · 12 Avenue Felix Faure, 06000 Nice
Moon Bar at Hotel Aston La Scala on Avenue Felix Faure runs live music nights Friday and Saturday from 19:00 on the seventh floor rooftop, panoramic view of Vieux Nice across the city.
Tip: Friday and Saturday evenings feature live concerts; bring a layer once the mistral picks up at the rooftop.
La Bellevilloise ★ 4.3 · Paris
20e · 19-21 Rue Boyer, 75020 Paris
La Bellevilloise in Paris's 20e Ménilmontant is the four-floor Maison du Peuple built 1908 and reopened in 2006 as a 2,000m² venue with the Halle aux.
Tip: The Sunday jazz brunch in the Halle aux Oliviers runs 11:00-15:00, €38 with live trio; book a fortnight ahead.
La Maroquinerie ★ 4.3 · Paris
20e · 23 Rue Boyer, 75020 Paris
La Maroquinerie in Paris's 20e Ménilmontant is the 500-capacity former leather workshop next to La Bellevilloise, with a sweat-soaked basement room.
Tip: The courtyard restaurant opens 19:00 for a pre-show plate; doors usually 19:30, headliner at 21:00.
Rock School Barbey ★ 4.2 · Bordeaux
saint-croix · 18 Cours Barbey, 33800 Bordeaux
Rock School Barbey in Bordeaux's Saint-Croix is the 700-capacity standing-room venue on Cours Barbey that has booked touring rock, indie and electronic acts.
Tip: Tickets typically €18 to €35 on the venue site; the upper balcony is the easier sightline for tall bands.
Le Caillou Jazz ★ 4.2 · Bordeaux
chartrons · Jardin Botanique, Esplanade Linne, 33100 Bordeaux
Le Caillou Jazz in Bordeaux's Bastide is the bistro and jazz club at the Botanical Garden, with concerts Wednesday to Saturday, a working dinner menu.
Tip: Music is free with a drink or meal purchase; sit on the terrace in summer for the garden setting.
Krakatoa ★ 4.2 · Bordeaux
bordeaux-metropole · 3 Avenue Victor Hugo, 33700 Merignac
Krakatoa in Merignac, just west of Bordeaux, is the 1,000-capacity indie and alt-rock venue with a serious touring programme of European and American acts.
Tip: Tram A from central Bordeaux to Pin Galant takes 25 minutes; last tram back is around 00:30.
Le Makeda ★ 4.2 · Marseille
La Plaine · 103 Rue Ferrari, 13005 Marseille
Le Makeda in Marseille's 5e at the edge of La Plaine is the 270-capacity Rue Ferrari concert hall and DJ-set venue opened March 2019, run by Francine.
Tip: Tickets €10-22; the room runs concerts plus DJ sets, scenic residencies and release parties through the week.
Café de la Danse ★ 4.2 · Paris
11e · 5 Passage Louis-Philippe, 75011 Paris
Café de la Danse in Paris's 11e is the 500-capacity Passage Louis-Philippe room off Rue de Lappe, with seated and standing configurations and a chanson.
Tip: Find the entrance on Rue de Lappe through the covered passage; the upper balcony is the easier seated tier.
Le Trabendo ★ 4.2 · Paris
19e · 211 Avenue Jean-Jaurès, 75019 Paris
Le Trabendo in Paris's 19e Parc de la Villette is the 700-capacity red-clad Bernard Tschumi folie booking emerging rap, alt-rock and electronic acts.
Tip: Closest entry is Métro 5 Porte de Pantin; the terrace opens 19:00 for a pre-set drink.
Le Mandala ★ 4.2 · Toulouse
carmes · 23 Rue des Amidonniers, 31000 Toulouse
Le Mandala on Rue des Amidonniers is Toulouse's longest-running jazz bar, with live sets six nights a week, cocktails and a small back-of-room kitchen.
Tip: Live jazz sets six nights at 21:30 and 23:30; the cocktails plus charcuterie plate is the canonical evening pair.
Le Rex de Toulouse ★ 4.2 · Toulouse
compans-caffarelli · 15 Avenue Honore Serres, 31000 Toulouse
Le Rex on Avenue Honore Serres is the canonical Toulouse live-music venue, with indie, rock, hip-hop and electronic gigs, a 500-capacity room and weekend club nights.
Tip: Concert schedule Wednesday and Thursday; on Friday and Saturday the room switches to club mode with techno, electronic, house and disco.
Le Mélo ★ 4.1 · Marseille
Cours Julien (6e) · 68 Cours Julien, 13006 Marseille
Le Mélo on Cours Julien in Marseille's 6e is the corner café-concert that hosts the Marseille Jazz Collective jam every Sunday from 18:30, then flips.
Tip: Sunday jazz jam is free; arrive by 19:00 for a banquette. House piano, drum kit and bass are set up for sit-ins.
Wayne's ★ 4.1 · Nice
vieux-nice · 15 Rue de la Prefecture, 06300 Nice
Wayne's on Rue de la Prefecture in Vieux Nice runs live bands every night, the early set 20:00 acoustic and the late set 22:00 the downstairs main stage with house bands and UK invitations.
Tip: The downstairs stage is the louder room; the early set upstairs is the quieter way to drink with music.
Le Cesar Piano Bar ★ 4.0 · Bordeaux
saint-pierre · 16 Allees de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux
Le Cesar Piano Bar in Bordeaux's Golden Triangle is the Allees de Tourny piano bar with nightly piano jazz and chanson programmes, a serious cocktail list.
Tip: No cover most weeknights; cocktails from €14, the front banquette gets the best view of the piano.
Ma Nolan's ★ 4.0 · Nice
vieux-nice · 2 Rue Saint Francois de Paule, 06300 Nice
Ma Nolan's on Rue Saint Francois de Paule runs the Vieux Nice Irish pub stage with live bands every night from 22:00, Irish folk, rock and indie acts in a packed front room until 02:00.
Tip: Live bands every night from 22:00; the kitchen runs late until midnight on weekends if you want food with the music.
Microbrasserie La Lanterne ★ 3.9 · Strasbourg
Grande Ile · 5 Rue de la Lanterne, 67000 Strasbourg
Microbrasserie La Lanterne on Rue de la Lanterne pairs house draft beers with a small stage and a musical atmosphere, a veteran of the city's craft-beer nights.