Two Gay Expats

Le Marais, Paris

Added 2024-07-19 14:45:33 +0000 UTC

Located in parts of the third and fourth arrondissements, Le Marais is the historic gay neighborhood in Paris. Centered around Rue des Archives and Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, many of the city's best gay bars, sex shops, cruise clubs, and bathhouses are just a few minutes walk from this famed corner. While Open Cafe recently closed, the happy hour party has shifted a few doors down to Cox Bar. The crowd typically spills onto the street while enjoying a nightly DJ and €5 draught beers.

After warming up at Cox, head around the corner to Quetzal, one of the friendliest and easiest places to meet fellow travelers and locals in Paris. On our most recent trip, we met new friends from Lebanon to Switzerland, Chicago to Paris. Later in the evening, the upstairs bathroom becomes incredibly cruise-y. Quetzal is easily our favorite gay bar in Le Marais.

For fellow nudists, don't miss L'Impact, the first naturist bar in Paris. We must admit, we thought we'd go for this fact alone and assumed we would stay for maybe one drink and leave. We ended up coming back two nights in a row! While Thursday night was busy, Friday was completely insane. Cover is a steep €20 but comes with a drink of your choice and free clothes check. Upstairs, the crowd ranged from 20s to 50s on our visits with most in their 30's and 40's. They were also all shockingly gorgeous! Heading downstairs, there are multiple play spaces including glory holes, slings, dark room, and much more. But it's not too dark, so you can actually see what's going on. As such, L'Impact is perfect for voyeurs or hard core action.

If L'Impact is too intense, we recommend Raidd Bar. Their nightly shower shows have been famous since 2003, and they are hot. We love that the guys take it all off and then some!

Photos: Sex shop on Rue St. Croix de de la Bretonnerie; Happy hour at Cox Bar; T-shirt of new friend at Quetzal; Busy terrace at Quetzal; Red lights of L'Impact, Paris' 1st naturist bar; Famous nightly shower show at Raidd