I had high expectations with Paris and I’m happy to say I wasn’t disappointed.
The city has so much to offer for the trans community, with plenty of places to connect and feel at home.
In fact, it even has an LGBT+ district packed with bars, clubs, and restaurants and a lot more to explore.
So get ready as I take you through the best places to meet trans individuals in Paris.
But before we dive in, let me share how I’ve collected information for this guide.
Table of Contents
Methodology for Finding Trans Friendly Spaces in Paris
At WorldTransGuides, we prioritize transparency in our research process. Here’s how we gather information for our guides:
- Personal Exploration: Whenever possible, I personally visit the city to experience its culture and inclusivity firsthand. This involves exploring various nightspots and utilizing online platforms to connect with the community directly.
- Local Engagement: We reach out to local trans individuals through online platforms to gather their insights and feedback about specific places.
- Online Discussions: We scour platforms like Reddit and Quora to understand what people are saying about different venues. This ensures that our recommendations are grounded in real-life experiences.
- Continuous Updates: Our work doesn’t stop once the guides are published. We continuously monitor for new information, adding relevant updates and removing venues that have closed down to ensure our guides remain accurate and up-to-date.
List of TG Friendly Venues in Paris
Paris is a big city, with over 2 million people. I won’t say everyone is trans-friendly, but the community is definitely large.
I mean, the Paris Gay Pride event attracts over half a million people every year, which speaks volumes about the city’s growing LGBT+ scene.
Even on regular days, there’s plenty to explore in the city, so let’s talk about some places where you’re likely to meet trans individuals.
1. Bars and Clubs
I noticed that Paris has a lot of lesbian bars, but they’re quite welcoming towards the entire LGBT+ community. They’re certainly more inclusive than some gay bars that I’ve visited.
You can find the majority of them near The Marais, which is the main LGBT+ area of the city. It’s full of nightspots, restaurants and pubs that are frequented by trans individuals.
Here’s a list of some of my favorite spots.
La Mutinerie at 176-178 Rue Saint-Martin
This bar isn’t just a great spot for dates or after-work drinks; it’s also dedicated to hosting community-oriented events for queer and trans individuals. They don’t allow cis men on Fridays and Saturdays.
Reviews of Other People about La Mutinerie
Cheyenne Beaver on Google Maps:
“Absolutely wonderful! Good drink prices! GREAT entertainment! Everyone made us feel super welcome despite our french being almost non-existent. I highly recommend to any LGBTQ+ individuals visiting Paris!!”
Le Bar’Ouf at 182 Rue Saint-Martin
It’s an amazing spot for trans women, with great music, a welcoming atmosphere, and a strong sense of safety.
The crowd is friendly, and you instantly feel at home. The staff is incredibly hospitable, and the drinks won’t break the bank. I wish it didn’t close at 2 am as I wanted to dance more!
Reviews of Other People about Le Bar’Ouf
Florent Kevorkian on Google Maps:
“We were looking for an LGBT bar and we stopped by for a drink at Ouf and a warm welcome even though we were two men. Many thanks for your welcome. The people of Marseilles”
Bonjour Madame at 40 Rue de Montreuil
Another feminist and queer-committed pub that does drag workshops. Their food and drink prices are also reasonable with the main course costing 15 euros and cocktails at 6 euros.
Reviews of Other People about Bonjour Madame
“Very friendly bar, feminist and queer committed, very pleasant music and affordable prices. Very good experience. Extremely friendly and understanding staff.”
Elles Bar at 12 Rue du Plâtre
The ambiance of this lesbian bar is just wonderful and its owner Mary is very friendly. It truly felt like being part of a community there.
The bar had a lot of regulars, and everyone seemed to know each other, but at the same time, they were welcoming towards new people.
Reviews of Other People about Elles Bar
“The Elles Bar is a warm, welcoming and inclusive place in addition to being a historic LGBT place (it is here that one of the first LGBT bars in the Marais opened)”
Le Cabaret des Merveilles at 25 Rue de l’Hirondelle
It’s a queer feminist bar with an incredibly welcoming atmospheretowards the entire spectrum of the female LGBTQ+ community, so it’s no surprise to spot many trans women here.
Reviews of Other People about Le Cabaret des Merveilles
“The cabaret of wonders is wonder. We feel at home and good. Everyone is nice, we drink a very good bomber (a cocktail that looks like a tiramisu!) and we are in queer paradise. Long live the cabaret and everything it offers.”
Club Banana Café at 13 Rue de la Ferronnerie
Drinks here can be pricey, with shots going for 5 euros and cocktails for 10 but they stay open till 7 am.
I loved the atmosphere during their Disco Drag on Tuesdays, here’s a glimpse of it in the video…
Reviews of Other People about Club Banana Café
“Great historical place to hang out gay friendly mixed crowd awesome service always busy a lot of fun”
2. Community Centers and Organizations
If nightclubs and bars aren’t your thing then try visiting the LGBTQI+ Center. It’s a welcoming community where you’ll almost always meet trans people.
And it’s not a problem if you can’t speak French because you can find English speaking staff there.
They organize LGBT+ events all year round which includes drag shows, exhibitions and theater performances.
The city also has other associations for trans support like Out Trans but if your main focus is on socializing then the center is all that you will need.
3. Online Groups and Pages
You can also connect with trans individuals through Facebook groups. Chez Queer Paris is a huge community with over 11,000 members.
It’s primarily for people seeking queer housemates, so you’ll find many trans individuals there.
Another option is Queer Paris, a group for all LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals living in the area.
While it doesn’t have as many members, people often socialize and recommend events and safe spaces within the community.
Then you have Paris LGBT Events, its name is pretty self-explanatory, an active community to learn all about trans friendly events in the city.
4. Other LGBT+ Spaces
There are many other LGBT+ friendly places in Paris that you can visit depending on your mood.
If you want more drag entertainment then check out the Artishow Cabaret.
It has some talented crossdressers putting on the best transformist shows you’ll ever see.
And if you’re looking for a more peaceful hangout then go to Violette and Co. It’s a feminist and queer bookstore.
It’s a magnificent place with a cozy café area where you can potentially meet trans people.
What It’s Like to Be Transgender in Paris
Paris is generally a safe place for trans people. But it’s important to note that French society can be somewhat uneducated about trans identity.
If you don’t “pass” well enough, you might be misgendered regularly and even occasionally encounter transphobia.
Plus, most locals don’t know how to interact with trans people so they might try guessing your gender, without any ill intent.
But if you can ignore these things, Paris is a welcoming city, especially with its LGBT-centered areas like The Marais.
Wrapping Up: Enjoy Meeting Trans in Paris
Paris exceeded all my expectations, especially when it comes to nightlife.
The lesbian bars are fantastic places to meet trans individuals. But I get it, bar hopping isn’t for everyone.
That’s why you can also visit the community center or connect online.
It’s all about what suits you best. Regardless of your choice, I hope you have a fantastic time meeting transgender people in Paris!
