Since i made the move into Paris, i've been out playing barfly and discovering what the nightlife has to offer.

As a general rule, happy hour starts from about4pm (!!) and continues on until about 8pm.

I find drinks to be expensive wherever you go; cocktails are in the region of about 12€ whilst draught beer, or pression, is typically at least 5€ for a pint and it's not unusual to get stung for an 8€ pint.



The majority of the bars are much of a muchness with the same ersatz decor; either the 'authentic british pub' look, or a cloned french version of the Central Café straight out of Friends.

My stomping ground tends to be around the Champs Elysées where i usually go to the Charlie Birdy for a swifty (this has always been my afterwork HQ), the Impala (as the name suggests, an african themed bar) or the Monté Cristo which is handy for a bit of a boogie on the ground floor after about 10pm - be warned though, you have to be accompanied to get in ;@)

Of late however, i 've been spending time around the Opéra quartier where i've been discovering the delights of Footsies (the price of the drinks vary depending on the consomation) and the Lounge.





This place is becoming one of my new found faves as there isn't the usual booming music and you can actually have a drink and talk, not shout, to the people you're with.

The tapas though are best avoided - i'm not too keen on Dairylee cheese on cocktail sticks at the best of times, but the price rubs salt into the open wound that is my wallet.