Paris

 taken on my cell phone and it still looks that great

Ahhh, Paris. The most romantic city in the world, where the light is pink, right? Well, sort of. I must admit there is nothing quite like seeing the "top of the hour" flickering lights show on the Eiffel Tower or sipping champagne on a "bateaux mouches" (bat-OH Moosh), but the best parts of Paris are usually the grimier areas. Wandering the narrow dark streets in certain "arrondissements" truly make you feel like a cultured, local or decadent world traveller.  An arrondissement is like a neighborhood or district and knowing which one you are in or going to can really help in getting around.


Far from the cinqueieme (5th) and premiere (1st) arrondissements where the Louvre and Eiffel Tour are, lies the best area of town for lushes like us.  If you want to pay a lot for very little excitement at Moulin Rouge in the red light district or find touristy places with a ton of Americans and a lame life-experience, get a Frommer's Guide asshole.

Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter) 
Just steps away from Notre Dame, you will find Place Saint-Michel and all of its surrounding web of little winding streets packed with the bar-goers, tasty little restaurants and the biggest concentration of bars worth going to. If you only have one night in Paris, I think you should go here if you are not sure what you want or if you are sure you want a wild night.

rue de la Huchette

I suggest strolling down Rue de la Huchette, where you can pick up a panini/snack at the corner before boozing down the corridor of clubs. One company owns 4 of the clubs on the same street so if you go into one they usually give you free drink or entry tickets for the others. Let's just say the first one of these bars I went into was nuts.
Introducing Latin Quarter: Crazy Bar for Sexy Night it is essentially a bachelorette party with platters of shooters, half naked dancers, and bras on the ceiling. So not like the French to be so loud and crazy but much like the Frech to overly sexualize everything. Don't bother going here if you are a guy, unless you want to scoop a few foreign chicks to take down the street to their other stiff-drink lounges, Privilege or Cafe George.
This is not to be confused with Chez Georges, nearby at 11 rue des Cannettes. This is a truly Parisian experience - like a cozy little cave of drinking.



Les Halles/Chatelet: 

Ok once you have done your fair share of drinking there, you may feel like doing some Karaoke or better yet, just find a place that is actually open until 4am in Paris, (late night is difficult to find) head on over to near the Chatelet or Les Halles Metro stops. Kick it Rive Droite Cafe for drinks, shots, tunes and food until the wee hours "du matin".  This is located at 2 Rue Berger right off of the main streets in the area, rue Saint-Denis and Blvd du Sebastopol, which during the day has a ton of shops and restaurants that is cool to check out.



Best Bar in the World: Hemingway's at The Ritz Hotel Place Vendome 

No drinker's guide to Paris could possibly complete without talking about Colin Field at Hemingways. He has authored many books, mixed cocktails for the richest, most famous people on earth for nearly 2 decades. He is known as the greatest bar tender of all time by Forbes magazine and after one sip of his elaborate cocktails, you will know why. Every time I am there I ask him to make a special off the menu champagne cocktail inspired by my sister, that is blue and incorporates apples and a red rose. I have no idea what is going on in there but it is magic. Worth every penny and you feel like a king in this tiny wooden bar, which is has no door guy or crazy line which is surprising for the clientele. I guess if you are cool, you know this exists, otherwise you wouldn't bother. If you are looking for new pop stars, they won't be here. It's a bit too old Hollywood for that shit. Dress shoes and suits for men are required. Now that you look all dapper and sexy, walk in the front door of the Ritz head straight down that long, mirrored hallway to the back and saddle on up for the most chic bar experience ever. 


Montmartre (18th Arr): 

This area as a whole you can find swanky bars and a bit more tourists checking out the famous sights like Sacre Coeur but there is a cool dark-wood bar with famous cocktails and beer selections and a mix of rockers, artists, and random tourists alike. If you are looking for nice mix of people for a slow evening of imbibing check out La Sancerre, located at 35 rue des Abbesses. near the Abbesses metro. 

Can you believe this rooms is around $100 a night? The sexy, Five Hotel

Looking for a cool place to pass out after all that drinking? Beware that a lot of places that seem too good to be true, really are. There are a lot of shady places in Paris so this list points you in the direction of hotels that will be mouse-free and maybe even hot enough to woo that random person you picked up at the bar earlier. There are incredible hidden gems starting at only €60 a night but they are pretty small. If you want decor, cleanliness and location and don't care about a spacious suite these cheaper options are fabulous!
Here is Lush Life's world traveller advice on the coolest hotels for nearly every budget. 

$ (around $150/nt or less) 
Five Hotel, 3 rue Flatters near Pont-Royal, 5th arrondissement, starting at €62/nt
Le General 5 rue Rampon, 11th arr. starting at €117
Le Chat Noir Design Hotel, 68 Blvd de Clichy, starting at €106
Hotel L'arc Dr Triomphe,* 10 Rue De L'arc De Triomphe, starting at  €94

$$ 
Pullman Hotel, 19 Rue Commandant Rene, Best view of Eiffel Tower ever!!, starting at only €163
Seven Hotel, 20 rue Berthollet, 7th Arr. Starting at €230
L'Empire Hotel,* 48 Rue De L Arbre Sec, Louvre/Place Vendome area, Starting at €212
Hotel Icone *, 4 rue Amboise, Louvre/Place Vendome Starting at €181

$$$ (over $400/nt) for those who want a luxurious Paris experience...
Hotel Ritz *
GeorgesV *
Intercontinental Paris *

* denotes a hotel in the a great area to see the famous sights. Right in the middle of central Paris.