In a nutshell
- Paris is famous for its colorful cabaret shows full of dance, music, humor, and acrobatics — and this guide covers all the best options.
- Our top picks: Moulin Rouge for the iconic experience, Paradis Latin for our personal favorite, and Crazy Horse for something more risqué.
- Most shows offer two ticket options: a basic ticket or a ticket that includes dinner before or during the show.
- On average, expect to pay around 90 euros per person — though prices range from €40 at intimate venues to €180+ for the full dinner experience.
What Is a Cabaret in Paris?
When the word “cabaret” comes up, people often picture scantily clad women dancing on tables. But that’s not really the case. Cabaret is so much more than that.
A cabaret combines various art forms in a wildly entertaining way — above all dance, music, funny sketches, and lots of colorful costumes. In 90 percent of cases, performed in French.
The shows and the atmosphere do vary from one cabaret to the next, though. Most have stayed true to their roots with glamour, sequins, can-can dancing, and feathers galore. In recent years, acrobatic elements and special effects have been added to the mix, making it more family-friendly as well.
During the show, cabarets often offer dinner or drinks. You can either add them on when booking in advance or order spontaneously on the night.
All in all, a Paris cabaret show is a fantastic way to spend an evening as part of Paris by night.
Our Top 3 Cabarets in Paris
Moulin Rouge
The Moulin Rouge in Montmartre is by far the most famous cabaret in Paris. The style of the shows is fairly traditional, but there are always some genuinely surprising elements thrown in.
There are three performances daily — at 7 PM for the dinner show, and at 9 PM and 11 PM for the evening shows.
Shows typically run 90 minutes and feature music and dance, peppered with acrobatics, glamour, and a healthy dose of humor. As a spectator, you’ll get to see plenty of skin and lots of bare behinds.
The Moulin Rouge seats around 850 guests, and tourists gather in front of the cabaret throughout the day to snap a photo with the iconic red windmill. The audience is practically 99 percent tourists at this point.
Moulin Rouge tickets are seriously pricey. For the cabaret show with a glass of champagne, you’ll pay around €130. That’s a real chunk of change — but you’re paying for the name.
Book Moulin Rouge show ticket with champagne
Book Moulin Rouge show ticket with dinner
Our tip: Pair your visit to the Moulin Rouge with a nice dinner in Montmartre — for example at Le Potager. That way you can save a little money.
Paradis Latin
Our personal favorite among the Paris cabaret shows in the style of the Moulin Rouge is the Paradis Latin.
Expect dance, music, can-can, the occasional bare behind, jugglers, and plenty of acrobatic elements. On top of that, the interior designed by Gustave Eiffel gives the place an absolutely incredible atmosphere.
The cabaret is considerably smaller and therefore a bit more intimate. Up above, there are wonderful balconies with a great view of the stage.
There’s a dinner show at 7:30 PM and a show without dinner at 9:30 PM. The basic ticket, including a glass of champagne, starts at €90; the ticket with dinner starts at €180.
Book Paradis Latin show ticket with champagne
Book Paradis Latin show ticket with dinner
Our tip: If you’re under 26, the Paradis Latin website offers tickets without dinner for just €45.
from 90 euros
business casual (jeans without holes and sneakers are allowed)
Crazy Horse
The Crazy Horse is far more risqué — you’ll see a lot more than just bare behinds. But the show is no cheap striptease; it’s genuinely charming and done with real style. Stunning lighting effects put the performers on stage in a beautiful light.
The show at this small, intimate cabaret runs 90 minutes. The Crazy Horse doesn’t offer dinner — just the show and drinks.
Basic tickets to the Crazy Horse start at €119.
Book Crazy Horse show ticket
Our tip: If you want to grab dinner near the Crazy Horse, we recommend Bizetro. Parisian bistro vibes and seriously delicious food at great prices.
Alternative Cabarets in Paris
Au Lapin Agile
The Lapin Agile offers a completely different kind of cabaret experience. This charming little house is tucked away below the vineyard in Montmartre and transports you to a Paris from another era. Even Picasso used to spend his evenings here to the sounds of accordion and piano.
As an audience member, you’re practically part of the show — there’s singing and laughing together.
Knowing French definitely helps you catch the jokes, but even without speaking the language, you can have a wonderful and genuinely authentic evening here.
Admission including one drink costs €40. Because the cabaret is truly tiny, you should definitely reserve your spot online. Payment isn’t due until you actually walk in. Dinner is not offered.
The show starts at 9 PM and doesn’t wrap up until after midnight.
Our tip: Before the show, La Boîte aux Lettres on Rue Lepic 100 is a great spot for dinner — it’s only 300 meters from there to the Lapin Agile.
César Palace Paris
The César Palace with its Oh! César show is something of a restaurant-cabaret-club hybrid.
It opens its doors twice a day — at lunchtime for a cabaret show with lunch included, and in the evening for the full spectacular.
In the evening, the fun kicks off during a three-course dinner, with light entertainment on the side in the form of acrobatics.
That’s followed by the main event — the Oh! César show featuring dancers, acrobats, magicians, humor, and music. Plenty of French clichés are interpreted in a very humorous way. The spoken portions are exclusively in French.
When the show wraps up at 11:15 PM, the cabaret transforms into a club where you can dance to cocktails well past midnight.
Prices start at €52 for the show only, without dinner. With dinner, you’re looking at around €100.
You can reserve seats and dinner online through the César Palace website via the contact form. It’s a bit cumbersome, but worth it.
Paris Cabarets for Families
Mon Premier Cabaret at the Paradis Latin
The Paradis Latin — already introduced above — has also put together a cabaret program for kids. How cool is that!
Children get to experience authentic Parisian cabaret for the very first time, with plenty of music, dance, and circus acts. And of course, everything is super colorful and cheerful.
Best of all: the show takes place at a very family-friendly time — in the afternoon.
The children’s show is also in French, but that’s really not a big deal — you don’t need to speak the language to have a great time.
Tickets cost €50 per person — unfortunately, that applies to children as well. There’s no dinner option available.
Note: The Mon Premier Cabaret show is generally sold out several weeks in advance. Plan early and book your tickets well ahead of time.
Book Mon Premier Cabaret show ticket
Théâtre du Lido
Until 2022, the venue now known as the Théâtre du Lido (also called Lido2Paris) on the Champs-Élysées was the Lido de Paris — one of the most legendary cabarets in the French capital.
Since then, the venue has reinvented itself and now presents a fresh, glamorous concept as a musical and theater stage.
There’s no longer a classic cabaret here, but you’ll find high-quality musicals that are perfect for a special evening out with the whole family.
You can find current productions and ticket options on the official Théâtre du Lido website. Prices vary by show.
Le Zebre de Belleville
The show at Le Zebre de Belleville is extremely family-friendly and kid-appropriate. It’s a small cabaret that has fully committed to acrobatics and circus arts.
While you enjoy a delicious dinner, trapeze artists swing above your head in a fantastic atmosphere. Add to that plenty of acrobatics, magicians, clowns, and singing.
Le Zebre is primarily attended by locals — tourists rarely stumble upon this Parisian gem.
The dinner show costs €62 for adults and €29 for children. You can also book just a circus performance for €16 and €13 respectively.
One heads-up: buying tickets is a bit more involved. You reserve your seats through the official Zebre website. We recommend filling out the contact form in English and asking about available seats for your desired date.
Budget-Friendly Cabarets in Paris
La Nouvelle Eve
In a gorgeous setting just south of the Moulin Rouge, you’ll find La Nouvelle Eve.
The show is varied and often interactive. If you’re sitting up front, there’s a good chance you’ll be called up on stage and suddenly become part of the action.
Compared to the other big cabaret shows in Paris, basic tickets without dinner — at around €80 — are relatively affordable. Sometimes there are discounts, bringing the price down to just under €60 for a spectacular show.
There are three shows a day: a dinner show at 6:30 PM and two regular shows at 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM.
Tickets without add-ons can only be booked through the official Nouvelle Eve website. The other packages are also available through GetYourGuide.
Book La Nouvelle Eve show ticket with champagne
Book La Nouvelle Eve show ticket with dinner
La Main au Panier
La Main au Panier is comparable to Au Lapin Agile and stands for classic, wildly entertaining stand-up cabaret with cult status.
Instead of acrobatics and glitter, you get plenty of laughs and singing, all led by the in-Paris-very-famous cabaret artist Michel Forever.
And he really knows his craft. Michel captivates every single audience member and brings everyone along for the ride, ensuring that without exception everyone in the room has an unforgettably funny evening.
The cabaret with dinner costs around €90 per person. Unfortunately, online reservations aren’t possible — reservations are only accepted by phone. You’ll find all the details on the official website.
Note: French language skills are really needed for this one. There’s a lot of talking involved, and without a solid grasp of the language, you unfortunately won’t catch much of it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cabaret in Paris
What do you wear to a cabaret in Paris?
The dress code at most cabarets is business casual or casual. Only for the more glamorous shows like the Moulin Rouge and Crazy Horse is elegant evening attire expected.
Just remember: Flip-flops, shorts, ripped jeans, and dirty sneakers stay in the suitcase when you’re heading to a cabaret.
How long does a cabaret show in Paris last?
On average, a cabaret show runs about 90 minutes. Some shows run longer, stretching over an entire evening.
Are children allowed at Paris cabaret shows?
Definitely — there are family-friendly options! The two best are Le Zebre de Belleville and Mon Premier Cabaret at the Paradis Latin.
The Moulin Rouge and Crazy Horse, however, are not suitable for children.
Do you always have to book dinner with a cabaret show?
No. For most Paris cabaret shows, there are different ticket options.
The dinner show is usually the first performance of the day, starting around 6:00 PM or 6:30 PM — and it’s always the priciest option.
Later in the evening, you’ll find shows without dinner at a lower price.
Is the Chez Michou Cabaret in Paris still open?
No — the Chez Michou Cabaret permanently closed its doors on June 30, 2024. No more shows take place there.
