For the Jazz lover, this bar hidden away in a lane behind Hardware Lane, offers up great jazz in a French bee-bop era inspired environment and is sure to please.

Website:

Paris Cat

Location:

6 Goldie Place, Melbourne (CBD)

Difficulty Finding:

- Relatively difficult to find, it is located in the lane between Hardware lane and Queen Street just off Little Bourke.

Summary:

- Type: Jazz bar
- Food: Simple snack and desert menu
- Music: Jazz…of course and…other world inspired music
- Cover: Depends on the night/band/number of people

Review:

First up, if Jazz is not your thing or you are looking for something a little more mainstream, then The Paris Cat is somewhere I would recommend so you can stop reading here…If however you do enjoy Jazz, it is well worth taking a trip to see who is playing and what music is on offer as its sure not to disappoint.

Upon arriving at the indistinct door, one wonders what awaits them upon entry. The plain entrance doesn’t give anything away, however coming from behind the walls is a magical alluring sound. Once inside the small venue it is warm and inviting, transporting you to another place and another time. At entry level is the function area, however its downstairs where the bands play and the main bar is located. The small area is cosy, and gives the feeling of a traditional Jazz club that should be filled with cigarette smoke and people just there to appreciate good music.

The bar, while only small and relatively simple, caters for most needs and there is a basic snack menu available. Although the space is relatively cosy, once the music starts you forget about everything else and all focus is on the stage. As its so small, it can get quite packed so keep an eye on the website to see who is playing, or get there early to make sure you get a seat. It needs to be noted that the cover charge to get in is very dependent on who is playing, and can get expensive for a regular cover charge into a bar. With this said, The Paris Cat has a funny way of putting it all in perspective and making the cover seem insignificant.

Final Thoughts:

If you are after somewhere a little different, The Paris Cat is well worth a trip. Once inside it doesn’t matter what is happening outside, as for the evening its all about the music.

Pro’s:
+ Great selection of live music
+ Well themed Jazz bar
Con’s:
- Can get expensive some nights depending on who is playing
- Very cosy and will stop entry when full

Score:

Atmosphere: 8
Service: 6
Menu: 6
Cost: 6
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Overall: 6.5