Paris Queer Bars and Stories in Le Marais

On this 2.5 hour evening walk through Le Marais, we uncover the neighbourhood’s transformation from a Jewish enclave into the beating heart of LGBTQ+ Paris. With a drink in hand, we move through salons, backstreets, and bars where queer Parisians have gathered for generations, from discreet 19th-century meeting spots to the disco-era clubs that reshaped the scene. We follow the footsteps of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, Karl Lagerfeld and Jacques de Bascher, and explore how and where queer life unfolded in Paris across the 20th century and earlier. Along the way, we touch on France’s changing laws on homosexuality, laws that were abolished, reinstated, and abolished again. We also talk about the first Pride marches in Paris, the community’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and how it shaped both activism and visibility. The walk traces how, when, and why Le Marais became the center of gay life in the city. The tour includes stops at several active gay bars with free entry.

1. 1

   Club Banana Cafe

   40 min

   Drinks stop Your evening begins where Le Marais's gay scene first took root. Over a welcome drink, we set the stage: how did a medieval neighbourhood become the queer capital of France?

2. 2

   Labo Bar

   5 min

   A few minutes away on foot through the backstreets of the 1st arrondissement. The same lanes where discreet encounters shaped a hidden 19th-century queer culture long before the word "community" existed.

3. 3

   Place Georges-Pompidou

   15 min

   A short stroll through the heart of the city This open square witnessed history: Paris's very first Pride marches passed through here. We pause to explore France's tortured legal relationship with homosexuality: laws abolished, reinstated and finally struck down for good.

4. 4

   Duplex Bar

   40 min

   Drinks stop The oldest continuously operating gay bar in Le Marais. Inside, we follow the footsteps of Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Bergé, Karl Lagerfeld, and Jacques de Bascher. As well as salons, scandals and love stories they left behind.

5. 5

   Le Raidd

   15 min

   You'll head deeper into the Marais Legendary for its shower shows and electric atmosphere, Le Raidd became a symbol of Le Marais at its most confident and visible. You'll explore how the neighbourhood transformed in the disco era and how the HIV/AIDS crisis reshaped everything that followed.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   40 min

   Drinks stop You'll close the walk at one of the quarter's most enduring addresses. With a final drink in hand, you look at where Le Marais stands today and what it took to get here.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.