Lapin Agile
The salmon-pink walls and green shutters of 22 Rue des Saules look almost too picturesque to be real, but the cobblestones underfoot and the hand-painted sign — a rabbit leaping from a saucepan, wine bottle in paw — have been here in some form since 1875. This is one of the last functioning cabarets in Paris where the format has barely changed in a century.
Inside, around eighty people crowd onto heavy wooden benches while singers, comedians and musicians work through an evening of French chansons, poetry and wordplay. Yves Mathieu, who took over in 1972 and was still performing in his mid-nineties as of 2024, is often among them.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to note the same thing: arrive close to 9 PM rather than late, because the room fills fast and the bench seating is communal. The included drink is a small bottle of cherries in brandy — worth knowing before you expect wine. Cash only at the door.
The story behind Lapin Agile
The building traces back to around 1860, when it operated under the name Au Rendez-vous des Voleurs. By the 1880s the walls were hung with portraits of notorious murderers and locals had taken to calling it the Cabaret des Assassins. The name changed again in 1875 when caricaturist André Gill painted the famous sign — residents shortened 'Le Lapin à Gill' until it became, by sound and by habit, 'Au Lapin Agile.'
In the early twentieth century, cabaret singer Aristide Bruant bought the place to prevent its demolition. When Frédéric Gérard — known as Frédé, a fish seller by day — became landlord in 1903, the cabaret drew Picasso, who painted 'Au Lapin Agile' at twenty-five in exchange for meals and drinks. Apollinaire, Utrillo, Max Jacob and Roland Dorgelès all came regularly. Édith Piaf performed here in the late 1930s before anyone outside Montmartre knew her name.
Good to know
Take Metro Line 12 to Lamarck–Caulaincourt, then walk five minutes downhill on Rue des Saules. The cabaret runs Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 PM to 1 AM. Entry is €35 with one drink; students under 26 pay €25 except Saturdays. Eat before you arrive — there is no food service.
Where is Lapin Agile?
Location
- In Paris 18th Arrondissement
- 48.8872, 2.3393
- Open in Google Maps
Rating
4.5 ★ · 517 Google reviews
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What travellers say about Lapin Agile
If you want to feel the true Paris, this place is absolutely excellent for it. The singers were fantastic. Unfortunately I don’t speak French but to be part of this show, to listen to those wonderful songs is magic. Definitely mustvisit in Paris.
What an amazingly, amazing experience. Just make a reservation and go. So many things to write about this experience but will just repeat...make a reservation and go. You will not be disappointed and will leave here a better person
During our 7 day/6 night trip to Paris we saw all the major sites, walked all over the city, visited many museums, and ate in many great restaurants and bistros, but the highlight of our stay was our 4 hours at Le Lapin Agile. The evening is a bit of a combination of cabaret and theater. The performances were excellent, warm, sincere and genuine. IF you are looking for an authentic Paris experience, this is it. My French is pretty good and I was familiar with many of the songs that were performed the evening we were there – but my wife’s French is very limited – but she enjoyed the evening as much as I did. The cost of entry is well worth it and there is no pressure at all to buy extra drinks. Be there when they open at 9pm – and only leave when the evening is over! (Yes, the Metro will be closed but Ubers, etc. are available and not expensive)
I fell in love with Paris here. What an authentic Parisian experience. I don't speak a word French and I still had one of the best nights ever here. This cabaret is about love and bond and art and history. I stayed all 4 hours and it's all well worth it.
Cabaret Au Lapin Agile is easily one of the most authentic French experiences I have ever had. The moment you step inside, it feels like you’ve entered a different century - the room is small, dimly lit, and decorated with old portraits, wooden benches, and worn-in charm that hasn’t changed in decades. The intimacy is part of the magic. It almost feels like you’re inside a living piece of Parisian history. The performances were genuinely top-notch. Singers, musicians, and poets rotating effortlessly, all of them unbelievably talented. What surprised me the most was how the entire crowd joined in. People were clapping, singing, laughing, and you could feel this warm, communal energy filling the room. It was quintessentially French - raw, emotional, a bit chaotic, and beautifully unfiltered. I don’t speak French, and honestly, it didn’t matter at all. Somehow the music and the delivery made everything understandable. The emotion carried it, and it felt like I knew exactly what was going on without needing the language. The drinks added to the whole atmosphere. A small but solid selection of wine and classic French spirits served in a way that feels old-school and perfectly in tune with the setting. A week later and I’m still replaying the night in my head. It felt like a fever dream in the best possible way - intimate, historic, passionate, and absolutely unforgettable. A must-do in Paris if you want something real, something with soul, and something you’ll remember long after the night ends.
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