Notre Dame Paradis Latin

Once the main show began, our doubts disappeared. It was continuous, high-energy entertainment all evening, and we ended up loving the experience. Before booking Paradis Latin for a special weekend in France, I’d been hesitant and was weighing it against two other famous cabaret shows. I worried it might feel like a tourist attraction without much authenticity, but hearing that locals go too helped us decide. We chose the show without dinner, based on reviews, and had dinner elsewhere. For the occasion, I booked Carré Or for better visibility and a more premium experience. A singer was already performing when we arrived, which made for a lively atmosphere. There was a queue outside, but once in, we were warmly welcomed and shown to a front-row table. A column right in front of us sometimes blocked the full stage unless we shifted a little. Our seats were still quite good compared with many others. It’s a historical building, and they clearly try to fit in as many guests as possible, so I’d pay extra for better visibility if you want to enjoy the show fully. At first I wondered if we should’ve skipped the tickets and just had a longer dinner somewhere else. In the end, I was very glad we went. I’d strongly recommend Paradis Latin to anyone visiting Paris who hasn’t seen it yet.

The performers were nice, but it wasn’t anything outstanding, just singers and dancers, and nothing like a real cabaret. The building smelled old and rotten when we arrived, which was disgusting. Tables were packed together with no space, so we had to dine with strangers and hear their conversations while they heard ours. There was no privacy. The menu made the food sound impressive, almost like a Michelin restaurant, but that was all fake. The dishes were disgusting, covered in sauces and with no taste. The chicken was the most tasteless, vile thing I’ve ever eaten. A truly terrible and disappointing experience. Not recommended, a tourist trap.

The dancers were gorgeous and talented, and Ava was... belle. I especially liked the emcees, who mixed French and English enough for me to follow along as an English speaker. The main show was funny, athletic, sexy, and sometimes raunchy, a perfect cabaret mix. We went last night and had a lovely dinner too. The veal Wellington was tender and well seasoned. The preshow was fun and flirty, with songs you could bop along to while eating, without being intrusive.

The seats I had were really bad, with an obstructed view, and it felt like the best seats went to people who booked lunch or dinner. I’ve seen four cabaret shows, two before in Paris, Lido and Moulin Rouge, and one in London. This was minimal beside those, and I don’t understand the good reviews. The show felt chaotic, with few costumes and little of what I’d call cabaret. Even the London show was better. I left after a little over an hour because it was giving pornographic vibes, like Amsterdam’s red light district. The trapeze was the only cabaret number I liked. I understand we’re in France, but all the dialogue was in French even though most of the audience were tourists. It’d be better if they spoke less, since people come for dancing and acrobatics, or used English so everyone could understand. A total waste of money. I wouldn’t recommend it.