Aux Trois Mailletz

If you’re hanging around the south bank opposite Nôtre Dame at night, chances are you’ll hear the muffled sounds of music and shouting from underground.

This is Aux Trois Mailletz, a former jazz club that now also holds regular revues. Although this wonderful little joint isn’t well known by tourists, it has played host to some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Sidney Bechet, Bud Powell, Bill Coleman, Dizzy Gillespie, and Louis Armstrong.

It’s certainly not as slick as other venues around Paris, and doesn’t go out of its way to have all the performers looking the same. Instead you’ll find a tiny joint crammed with a real mix of eccentric characters and sizzling with sexual tension, showcasing performances by dancers and singers from all over the world.

The quality of the service often depends on the mood of the waiter/waitress on the night, and drinks are eye-wateringly expensive; but the food menu is more forgiving, the average main course coming with generous portions at around €15-20.

For a proper night out for two including drinks, a meal and the cover charge, the total cost will come to around €200 – reasonable if you consider the fact that places like the Moulin Rouge or Lido charge double that without offering the same local Parisian charm.