Exclusive | Women's Travel: Europe Part Three

PARIS

STAY
Hotel de Noailles (9 rue de Michodiere, 2e; +33-1-47-42-92-90; EUR220=) is a stylish address with funky contemporary Deco d?cor and plenty postmodern design touches in all 59 rooms.

The H?tel Beaubourg (11, rue Simon Lefranc, 4e; +33-1-42-74-34-24; EUR140+)
This is a lesbian/gay-marketed property, close to the Centre Pompidou and the shopping area Les Halles. Also recommended for its good-sized rooms, which, though recently modernized, still retain a good deal of charm.

A Pink Froggy (+33-6-3271-6670; EUR50)
A cozy and welcoming lesbian-owned B&B, near the Marais (re-opened June 2004 in its new location). Anne and Emmanuelle offer fabulous tips on where to go in lesbian Paris. No smoking.

EAT
Le Petit Picard (42, rue Ste-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie; +33-1-42-78-54-03; EUR10-14)This is a budget-pleasing bistro with a friendly atmosphere, popular with les femmes.

Au Feu Follet (5 rue Raymond-Losserand; +33-1-43-22-65-72; EUR13-23)
Women flock here for fabulous southern French cuisine.

Le Sofa (21, rue Saint Sabin; +33-1-43-14-07-47; fixed price menus EUR19-22, lunch EUR13-14)
A restaurant bar, near the Bastille, and popular with the hip local lesbian crowd.

PLAY/MEET
Caf?s
Le Nix Caf? (formerly Bliss Kfe, 30, rue du Roi-de-Sicile; +33-1-42-78-49-36)
This hip mixed venue, a former boulangerie, opened at the end of 2002 and attracts hordes of hot women. A stylish, intimate lounge caf?/bar. Men welcome.

Bars
Rive Gauche (1 rue du Sabot, 6e; +33-1-42-22-51-70)
Gertrude Stein and Natasha Barney's former hangout hosts the cutest girls in Paris, but to mingle with them, you need to get past the Witch at the door. Once inside, this is a fun place to dance on the intimate dance floor. Things really get going Friday and Saturday nights from 11 p.m. Entry and drinks prices are steep.

L'Unity Bar (176, rue St. Martin, 3e; +33-1-42-72-70-59)
Owned by a Franco-American lesbian couple, the crowd is cool and friendly, and there's usually a passionate game of pool taking place. Not quite as smoky as many other Parisian venues.

La Champmesle (4 rue Chabanais; +33-1-42-96-85-20)
The original Parisian girls' room is still going strong. A French and international crowd mingle till dawn Fridays and Saturdays.

Les 3w (formerly Les Scandaleuses, 8 rue des Ecouffes)
Popular with women in their 30s, Les 3Ws (the "w's" stand for "women with women") is a laidback place for drinking, dancing and mingling.

Clubs
Le Pulp (25, blvd Poissoni?re; 2e; +33-1-40-26-01-93)
A hot dance club for women. It's one of the only lesbian dance clubs in town. The crowd is a real melting pot of ages, styles and races -- from chic Chanel dykes and motorcycle matrons to shaved-head students and a staff of drop-dead gorgeous bartenders. The best nights are Thursdays (House Party,) Fridays (all girl DJ teams) and Saturdays (Girl's House). Weekends tend to attract a larger number of foreign and suburban women. Gay men are welcome with women friends. Thursdays Le Pulp hosts a wildly popular mixed bar, one of the most happening places in the city.

Rive Gauche (see above) is an excellent apr?s bar option for women (Fridays, Saturdays).

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four

Related Articles:
Women's Travel: Introduction
Women's Travel: U.S. South
Women's Travel: U.S. East
Women's Travel: U.S. West
Women's Travel: Canada/Mexico
Women's Travel: Tours & Events
Women's Travel: Travel Safety