Whether your goal is to dance the weekly grind away or simply to sample the Parisian night scene during a short trip, the WAGG on rue Mazarine is a Paris bar and club that's worth a visit. Friday is CARWASH night, where DJs mix a combination of vintage and modern disco and funk, attracting a stylish 20- and 30-something crowd. For those in search of some Latin grooves, the club transforms itself into a Cuban Salsa venue on Sundays. This kicks off with an afternoon dance class between 3 and 5 p.m.
The Lowdown
Pros:
- Easy-going crowd
- Fun mix of disco, funk and soul
- Generous-sized dance floor
- Good ventilation system
Cons:
- Lacks places to sit
- Can get overcrowded
- Late arrival preferable
Background
Located in the chic St Germain dès Près district, the WAGG was introduced to the Paris club scene by fashion designer and interior design guru Terence Conran, also owner of the popular London dance club Fabric. Formerly the Rock 'n' Roll Circus and the Whisky a Go-Go, the club gained notoriety as the place where Doors frontman Jim Morrison is thought to have spent his last hours in July 1971.Practical Info
- Address: 62, rue Mazarine
- Tel.: +33 (0) 1 55 42 22 00
- Metro: Odéon (lines 10 & 4)
- Hours: Thursday to Saturday (11 p.m.-6 a.m.) Sunday (3p.m. – 12a.m.)
- Cover charge: 10-15 Euros (approx. $13-$20). Cover charge includes drink on Sunday. Free before midnight.
- Drinks: Cocktails, vodka, champagne. 8-15 Euros (approx. $10.50-$20) for cocktails; up to 150 Euros (approx. $197) for bottles
- Dress code: Seventies disco encouraged
- Crowd: 20-35; hip
- Music: Disco, house, and funk; salsa on Sundays
- All major credit cards accepted
- Visit the website
Guide Review
The WAGG rewards early revelers by offering free entry before midnight. A group of friends and I decide to take advantage of this, and we find ourselves among the sparse crowd at 11:30 p.m.
Following the obligatory coat check, we head inside. We immediately notice the series of illuminated stone walled arches that run the length of the club. The decor is contemporary, with a functional combination of metal, glass, and leather, and the dance floor is spacious.
We quickly discover the motive for the free entry: the ambiance suggested by the flyer is nowhere in sight. A few lone souls are on the dance floor, and making a beeline to the bar is not exactly a feat since there is no crowd to push against.
Drinking and Lounging
There are a limited number of tables scattered around the dance floor. Most of these appear reserved, so we stay at the bar and order vodka and orange (10/approx. $13) and cosmopolitans (12/approx.$16). The casually-dressed bar staff take care over the cocktail preparation and impressively balance champagne flutes on their heads to entertain the expectant early-comers.
Not quite ready to face a still-vacant dance floor, we move to an unoccupied table which we're quickly informed is reserved for VIPs. After a little probing, we discover that becoming a VIP at the WAGG is not that difficult: purchase a bottle of spirits from the bar and you're booked a table (and VIP status) for the night.
Bottles will set you back between 125 and 150 Euros (approx. $164-$197). While this is a pricey, not to mention lethal, option for two, add a few more friends into the equation and you've got yourself a deal.
