Holding its own against international rivals in the nightlife circuit, the Paris clubs are where the social elite come out to see, be seen, and play hard. The value lies in quality over quantity and the average lifespan of each club is about 10 times that of one in New York; maintaining the expected fun quota but often falling short on the element of surprise. While the number of distinguished clubs remains relatively few, the rise in elite establishments such as BC (p.xxx), Le Baron (p.xxx), and Neo (p.xxx) ensures select clientele and the best parties. Drawing the finest of the trendy locals and international jet setters, these clubs bring together the upper echelon of the party-going generation; the fashion industry, bankers, lawyers, models, actors, and the independently wealthy. Perhaps it is the nature of the professions that keeps these places packed any night of the week until 06:00. With all these people inside it is no wonder that the door is so hard to get through, so until you have managed to make your face and name known on the Paris club scene, your best bet is to ride the coattails of someone who already has. In the fickle world of disco and booze, there’s always something better just around the corner, and as soon as the door lets up and the tourists start trickling in, you know the glory days are over. Places like Cabaret (p.xxx), VIP (p.xxx), and Queen (p.xxx) may have seen their better days as the city’s hotspots, but today they enjoy a different glory as celebrated tourist favourites where a good time can be had by all. However, it pays to be selective. The most select clubs don’t charge a cover, but you can expect to pay between €10 and €20 at some others for entrance and this sometimes includes a drink ticket. For the love of the club without the ‘sceney’ vibe and pretension, dance the night away with people who have their feet on the ground a bit further away from the Champs-Elysées. Whether dark, cramped and grungy, large, modern and luxurious, oriental deco, or bordello chic, Paris clubs have ambience aimed to impress. They embody the spirit of their establishment, and in turn the clientele tend to be a similar reflection of the place. They dress to impress, in a style representative of their choice of club. The music, too, varies with each place, and you can find almost whatever style you like from rock to electro, with some of the best DJs from around the world passing through, though the lack of cutting edge at certain places can be disconcerting and must be appreciated as a particular Parisian charm.