Beefy, hairy, shaven-headed men congregate on the pavement in front of Café Cox for post-work drinks, before moving on to more intimate surroundings.

The m'as-tu vu crowd head up to Georges - the famously avant-garde bar-restaurant on the top of the Centre Pompidou. The spectacular views alone make it worth the trip up the...

The hippest of Xavier Denamur's merry Marais bars. Cocktails are punchy, traditional tipples just as good, and the salads and snacks are reasonably priced and tasty - but it's...

With an old locomotive over the bar and sleek rows of grey chairs, the Pearl achieves a rare balance between all-day and late-night venue, and also has a good hetero/homo mix....

A convivial place where beautiful women go to have a drink, meet other women and listen to good music. There's a small dance space in the basement, and a number of theme nights...

This unpretentious wine bar is popular with the area's craftsmen and artisans. Lunchtimes are heaving, so unless you're after the sit-down menu du jour (€13) served at the...

A friendly local for bears, muscle bears, chubbies and their admirers. Visit the website for details on comically named theme nights such as 'Charcuterie'.

This small bar just round the corner from the Centre Pompidou caters to a thirtysomething crowd. It's a popular meeting place for various gay associations, with friendly staff...

A mixed, young and carefree crowd gathers at this watering hole for cocktails before heading off to the clubs. DJs spin techno and house to energise the crowd. Some nights are...

The Nyx is mostly a girl bar, but welcomes everyone. Recent theme nights have included live rock and drag queens.

Even a miniature Shetland pony would be pushed to squeeze his hoof into this fer à cheval (horseshoe) - this adorable little café has one of France's smallest bars. Tucked in...

This bar is considered one of the 'musts' of the Marais, as it's often filled with hot men and a few drag queens who help to keep things lively. You might be able to find some...

Not to be confused with several other cafés of the same name, this one-room bistro à vins has changed very little over the years. Faded net curtains, Duralex tumblers behind...

Elaborate tartines, delicious desserts and strong drinks are the fare at this lesbian-run bar and restaurant. Despite its militant subtitle ('Cantine des Ginettes Armées'), the...