Rating (0-10)

Bars marked (*) will take you to our full profile write-up!

Name	Location	Style	Rating
Chai Ramina	Bayonne	City Tavern	9.2
Patxoki	Bayonne	Culture Centre	8.3
La Petrolette	Bayonne	Late Bar	8.2
Dirty Old Cave	Bayonne	Bottleshop Bar	7.9
La Tireuse	Biarritz	Beer Bar	7.5
Cave a Flo	Cesson-Sevigne	Bottleshop Bar	8
Les Incorruptibles	Colmar	Tavern	7.7
Les 3 Singes	Colmar	Craft Beer Bar	7.6
Au Vieux Leon	Dijon	Alternative Bar	8.5
Café Chez Nous	Dijon	Alternative Café	8.4
BamJam	Dijon	Late Bar	8.2
L'Antre II Mondes	Dijon	Neighbourhood Pub	8.2
Le Monde D'Apres	Dijon	Wine Bar/Alternative Bar	8
Blues Bar	Dijon	Late Bar/Saloon	7.9
Le Caveau de Saulx	Dijon	Wine Bar/Basement Bar	7.7
Le Cellier	Dijon	Basement Pub	7.7
Les Petits Oignons	Dijon	Café Bar	7.5
L'illustration	Lille	Brown Café	8.3
A la Sarthe	Lille	Late Bar	8.1
Beerchope	Lille	Craft Beer Bar	7.9
Au Carre Des Halles	Lille	Rock Bar	7.7
L'Atomic	Lille	Late Bar	7.7
La Petite Cantoche	Lille	Tapas Bar	7.6
La Ressourcerie	Lille	Alternative Bar	7.6
La Biche et Le Renard	Lille	Alternative Bar	7.5
La Capsule	Lille	Craft Beer Bar	7.5
Aux Paraiges	Metz	Belgian Beer Bar	8.2
Le Jehanne	Metz	Backstreet Bar	8
Comédie Café	Metz	Central Bar	7.9
Le Troubadour	Metz	Dive Bar	7.7
Harry's New York Bar	Paris	Cocktail Bar	9.1
L'art Brut	Paris	Alternative Bar	7.7
L'imprevu	Paris	Alternative Bar	7.5
Au Sauvignon	Paris	Brasserie Bar	7.5
Le Clos	Reims	Ruin Bar	9
L'AXO	Reims	Neighbourhood Bar	8.4
L'Escale	Reims	Pub	8.1
Café du Palais	Reims	Grand Café	7.9
L'atelier de l'artiste	Rennes	Tavern	8.2
La Cite d'Ys	Rennes	Beer Bar	8
Origines	Rennes	Brewery Taproom	7.7
Cour des Miracles	Rennes	Alternative Bar	7.6
Amrok	Rennes	Bottleshop Bar	7.5
La Maison	Rennes	Craft Beer Bar	7.5
Ty Anna Tavarn	Rennes	Breton Tavarn	7.5
La Java Cafe	St Malo	Café Bar	8.9
La Taverne Francaise	Strasbourg	Café Bar	8.4
Kitsch'n	Strasbourg	Alternative Bar	8.3
Laab	Strasbourg	Live Music Venue	8.2
Le Grincheux	Strasbourg	Craft Beer Bar	8
Code Bar	Strasbourg	Cocktail Bar	7.7
Aedaen Speakeasy	Strasbourg	Cocktail Bar	7.6
Les Berthom	Strasbourg	City Bar	7.6
La Lanterne	Strasbourg	Brewpub	7.5
La Perestroïka	Strasbourg	Neighbourhood Bar	7.5
Nabuchodonosor	Toulouse	Wine Bar	8.4
Le Volcan	Toulouse	Wine Bar	8.3
DAda	Toulouse	Alternative Bar	8.2
Le Bar Belfort	Toulouse	Neighbourhood Bar	8.2
La Tireuse	Toulouse	Craft Beer Bar	8.1
l'Echanson	Toulouse	Terrace Bar	8.1
Les Compagnons De La Table Ronde	Troyes	Theme Bar	8.3
Juvenal	Dijon	Cocktail Bar	7.5

Beaune - pop 20.318

Nightlife Rating: ❤️

A beautiful town with a rich history which makes for a great day out, however it is not somewhere to go for nightlife or pubs which are minimal and for a town of the size and given the tourism to the area, a disappointment.

Biarritz - pop 25,038

Nightlife Rating: ❤️

Part of a conurbation and boasting an airport, Biarritz is really a seaside village that has grown into a resort. Across the rolling hills up and outside of the harbour and beach, you'll find holiday homes, villas, hotels and casinos in an attractive, and wealthy town. The coastal area really is beautiful and there are minor sights to keep you occupied such as the aquarium and church. As you'd expect with the money floating around, the drinking venues are bland, terraces usually and chasing social climbers, which does not lend itself well to any sort of distinctive bar culture. However there is a reasonable beer bar and if you're into specialist beers a further venue that offers it in a café setting. Otherwise, take the bus to Bayonne (only a short distance with regular return options) and do yourself a massive favour.

Bayonne- pop 43,312

Nightlife Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Situatued at the confluence of the Nive and Ardour, Bayonne has a beautiful intact historic core with fabulous central cathedral and ancient ruins which make it a great dayout. Part of a conurbation with Biarritz, Bayonne is less glitzy but more than makes up for it with its historic timber-framed ensembles, independent businesses and evening atmosphere. Outside of Fete season, things remain lively, in part due to its Basque heritage which keep up an all-rounder cultural calendar and a host of bars sprinkled across its Medieval core. Having the rugby stadium within 5 minutes walk of the old city gate doesn't hurt either. Easy to reach from Biarritz, do not miss your chance to visit Bayonne.

Carcassonne- pop 47,554

Nightlife Rating: ❤️

Famous for the genuinely gobsmacking Cité de Carcassonne towering above the town itself, this is a reason to visit regardless of bars, but it is not a place to expect good nightlife. We wish we could recommend a night stay here but it does seem pointless. Irish pubs, a couple of trashy late night dives and one passable craft beer bar, Jungle Taverne is as good as it gets. There are certainly people ready and waiting - it isn't a sleepy place - but for whatever reason, the businesses just aren't there.

Colmar- pop 70,284

Nightlife Rating: ❤️❤️

One of the high points architecturally in central Europe, Colmar old town does deserve the plaudits for its well-preserved beauty that at times feels like it just keeps going and going. Many German towns, even as far as legitimate Fachwerkstaden like Quedlinburg would find it difficult to compete with the ensemble. A sizeable town means sizeable social activity and that remains the case here, even if it is clearly at provincial level. It is also of a peripheral nature - not quite enough near the wine towns, while not quite near enough Strasbourg's sphere of influence. Nevertheless, whether you're after wine or beer there is a strong enough collection to justify an overnight stay, as well as game bars which are popular in France currently.

Dijon pop 161,830

Nightlife Rating: ❤️❤️❤️

For cities of its size, Dijon ranks among the most pleasant city centres you can visit anywhere in Europe. Calm, low-rise yet full of individual moments of curiosity and beauty that appear seemingly around every corner. The gastronomy and viticulture are usually the reasons people visit, but those seeking evening entertainment are well served here too. This isn't exclusively about sophistication and fine dining, indeed some of Dijon's best bars are as down-to-earth, lively and unpretentious as they come, with typical flair. Just about beating the likes of Rennes, Reims and Strasbourg as provincial cities in my book, it should not be overlooked.

Lille - pop. 232,741

Nightlife Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Bordering Belgium is never going to hurt when you think of either beer or bar going, and Lille's beer selection is arguably one of if not the strongest in France. A sprawling conurbation gives way to a centre that is largely modest but has an array of low-key curios that keep you interested. The place is characterful and has charms that grow on you. Outside the centre in Wazemmes you will find any number of almost identikit late bars - nightlife is atmospheric, unpretentious and raw overall, while in the centre you'll be pushed to visit Estaminet, unfortunately they can only be visited if you are booked in for a meal. Outside of this there are some good quality craft beer bars to enjoy and a few oddities with traditional French flair.

Metz - pop. 120,741

Nightlife Rating: ❤️❤️❤️

Metz defies the regional expectations set by the likes of Nancy and Strasbourg. A town split by the ribbons of the river Moselle, the characteristic yellow/ochre stone applied to its buildings of any era or style. A pedestrianised centre provides a sense of calm, that is until you discover Place Sant Louis on a Friday night. A row of porticos becomes a noisy, lively and characterful setting that could be Brittany or even Italy. There is a sense Metz is not necessarily out on a limb but a centre of importance of itself rather than just another provincial waypoint. The enormous cathedral, archaeology museum, Pompidou and a grand ex-German station more than reinforces this. There are several 'beer taverns', not necessarily pubs but offering beer in a traditional 'old French' setting. Informal, usually noisy and young, and offering an array of Belgian and French brewers these typify Northern France's beer scene. Outside of these, the cocktail bars veer towards the generic, as do the wine bars (although they are not to be completely ignored). There are some quirky venues of side-interest, and live music to explore. Overall, it is fair to say the beer bars and their atmosphere are somewhat of a signature for Metz.



Perpignan - pop 121,934

Nightlife Rating: ❤️

Famous being the capital of the Mallorcan Kingdom, you'll find an interesting blend of French and Spanish in Perpignan, along with some truly stunning wetlands just outside the city. As far as bars go, this is really quite third tier territory. Some stock chain pubs with the odd passable location here and there might just keep you occupied for one night, but for a city of its size, it deserves better.

Rennes - pop 215,366

Nightlife Rating: ❤️❤️❤️

A University city that is the capital of Brittany, a vaguely secessionist region with distinctive Breton character. Endowed with historic timber-framed centre and some diverting religious and civic architecture, it makes for a memorable visit. Nightlife in places is studenty with a young crowd, particularly on the raucous Rue Saint Michel. Bars vary from the most shamelessly tacky to chin-strokey pretentious, but settles on a pleasant middle, arty, buzzy, friendly and reasonably priced. Rennes is also one of the few places outside the UK where you can find cask handpumped beer, even then a rarity. Their selection of ales is superior among most French regions outside the Belgian and German borders and you will not want for much during your stay in the city.

St. Malo - pop 45,719

Nightlife Rating: ❤️❤️

A hugely characterful town on the Brittany coast, St. Malo has an intact fortress wall penning in a military town of tall stone townhouses. The ensemble is truly distinctive, not least due to the coastal views and walks across causeways to various islets and military bunkers. Inside the town itself there is a good cocktail bar that opens late afternoon and also one of France, and therefore Europe's standout bars - La Java Cafe, truly one of the most eye-popping labours of love you will find.

Strasbourg - pop 275,772

Nightlife Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Germany meets France! The city centre will undoubtedly remind people of Bamberg or Nuremberg with its old town of timber buildings, defense towers and cobbled lanes along winding rivers, but as a whole, there's plenty that's French in character too. Situated in a region that has changed hands many times before finding a harmony in its peculiarity. On the bar front you will find some impressive beer specialists, cocktail bars with a twist (how typically French) and 'solid' beer-based hangouts. Don't think the Bierstub or Winstub will guide you to the next pub - these are almost exclusively taverns which are set for dining only. Their utility as pubs has unfortunately long gone. This does create a bit of a chasm where there is a lack of what you could call a traditional pub with a social focus, but there is enough there to work with. Don't be afraid to venture further out to some terrific spots and independent brewery taps.

Toulouse - pop 471,941

Nightlife Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Toulouse, a sporty town with a distinctly Spanish flavour, the red bricks an architectural motif that set it apart from many French cities you'll have visited. With a young (and disarmingly beautiful) population, a central university and good transport links, everything is set up to deliver on the nightlife front. It is the very definition of cosmopolitan without being overly corporate. You'll find a varied selection on offer, with good beer bars, good atmospheric cafés, good wine bars, good tapas, and a handful of alternative venues too. Nightlife persists most nights into the early hours so you won't have to worry about things grinding to a halt in Toulouse. The nightlife is spread around the centre but there are notable clutches - Place de la Trinité near Esquirol Metro stop and 13 Rue de la Chaîne are usually very lively. Don't forget to cross the river at night or hang out on the riverside boulevards for the quintessential Toulouse atmosphere and skyline.

Troyes 60,349

Nightlife Rating: ❤️

With an ensemble of timber frame houses to match anywhere in Europe, and rich history, Troyes should not be overlooked. It perhaps fails to seize on its own assets in the way a similar city centre such as York achieves, and even more strangely, is almost absent of pubs. Other than the typical PMU Tabac betting shop/tobacconist/cafés you will genuinely struggle to locate bars of any sort with the exception of a handful. I'd rather not be scathing but it is a stunning shortcoming for a city which really should be getting its act together.