The Parisian gay bucket list!

Dec. 03 2018

by Marc Dedonder

Need a little inspiration for your next gaycation to Paris? Sure, a walk along the Seine River or a romantic night in a local French wine bar is bucket-list worthy; we thought we'd create a tailored bucket list of 50 gay things to be done in gay Paris. Thanks to all the people who helped, especially David, Seb, Pierre-Ange, Loïc, Roman, Cedric, and all the others!). This is it.

1. Have a beer and shiver on the sidewalk of the Cox bar in the winter during the happy hours.

2. Try, more or less discreetly, to photograph the go-go dancer in the shower of the Raidd Bar.

3. Have a picnic at the Buttes Chaumont on the first warm Sunday of spring.

4. Mingle with the LGBTQ+ hipster crew at under-the-radar techno parties, including La Culottee, Possession, and Monarch.

5. Dance in the middle of the street in the Marais during the Fête de la Musique every June 21!

6. Buy a "baguette magique" brioche at Legay Choc, just to feel less lonely on winter evenings!

7. Nurse the Sunday Scaries with The Brunch and Queen at Acqua e Farina.

8. Try unsuccessfully to study, lying on the banks of the Seine, on "Tata Beach," at the Tuileries. Many cuties to stare at!

9. Buy a new harness at Rex.

10. Flirt with the cashier at the BHV in the DIY and garden department.

11. Tour the Paris fire stations in the early morning to spy on the firefighters's gym sessions.

12. Stroll through the narrow streets of Le Marais, hoping to run into Mr Prince Charming.

13. Go to the basement of Les Mots à la Bouche book store pretending to be a photo amateur, to stare at the erotic photography books.

14. Catch a taxi on a Sunday at 6 a.m. out of Flash Cocotte parties, disguised in panties and perched on 6-inch heels!

15. Try your luck with a round of bingo on Sunday night at La Folie's Drag Bingo in Parc de la Villette.  

16. Register for a gym subscription at Sun City, to convince friends that you spend your days playing sports.

17. Wonder why there's no gay-quality magazine. Oh, please wait. The revamped version of TÊTU is out, and it's perfect!

18. Enjoy some drag cabaret at iconic Madame Arthur in Montmartre. 

19. Tempt fate and get lost in the labyrinth of maze gardens by the Louvre.

20. Unveil your best dance moves on the podium at Le Tango, feeling like the dame of the ball.

21. Cry over these Parisian gay venues closing down. Will Le Marais remain the iconic Paris gayborhood? 

22. Go vintage shopping in Le Marais and pick up some fashion gems for super low prices. 

23. Stroll for a whole Sunday afternoon in the corridors of the IDM and see who you end up with.

24. Sip kiosk beers along the Bassin de la Villette and acquaint yourself with Paris' gay hipsters. 

25. Turn on Grindr in the metro to see if the hottie in front of you is also connected.

26. Have a drink at MercrediX or VendrediX and enjoy the latest Parisian gay gossip.

27. Have a drink at L'Impact or l'Entre Deux Eaux, naked but looking very relaxed.

28. Test all Paris brunches on Sunday afternoons - we love Holy Belly! 

29. Drink and dance at La Dimanche on a late Sunday afternoon. No, the weekend's not over!

30. Swear that, no, you have never set foot in Le Dépot (No way! They still haven't reopened since the end of Covid).

31. Enjoy an Orange + Carrot + Ginger ice cream at Une Glace à Paris.

32. Try a new haircut at Space Hair Paris.

33. Keep the weekend vibes alive with cocktails at Chez Mylene on a Sunday night - it's a great gay party! 

34. Get a sun tan during the Paris Gay Pride Parade in late June and dance in République to celebrate your French Pride.  

35. Attend the annual Paris International Tournament, a multisport tournament open to everyone. 

36. Appear in a picture in Tribu Move, one of the local free gay magazines.

37. Search for the gay clothing-optional area at Bois de Vincennes on Google Maps. 

38. Nurse your hangover with some of the best falafel on Rue des Rosiers in Le Marais. 

39. Go working out at easyGym Paris Palais Royal and enjoy the doorless showers.

40. Stare at the boys in bathing suits at Les Halles swimming pool, pretending to wait for a friend before going to the movies.

41. Venture to the LGBTQ-friendly Cabaret Sauvage and enjoy some live music - the vibe is great! 

42. Brush up on some culture at the Musée Yves Saint Laurent. 

43. Sit outside having coffee on the Café Beaubourg terrace and spend your afternoon enjoying the guys who walk by.

44. Go for a romantic drink on the terrace of the Printemps.

45. Enjoy a night of guilty-pop hits at cave club in Le Marais: Freedj.

46. Make an appointment with a friend before the Starbucks at Hôtel de Ville.

47. Feel unsynced with the world in the metro, going home from a nightclub at 8 in the morning while everybody else is going to work.

48. Spend the day with friends at Disneyland Paris and try to flirt with cast members. 

49. Hunt down the latest swimwear trends at Les Dessous d'Apollon to be sure to be on top on the beach of Barcelona.

50. Connect to Weere by misterb&b to meet LGBTQ locals or travelers in Paris.

Are you feeling inspired by this bucket list? Check out our gay bucket list for Lisbon and gay bucket list for Rome.

Cover image credit: Flickr/Jeanne Menjoulet