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Toulouse Nightlife

When the sun sets on this striking Mediterranean city, Toulouse comes to life with music, entertainment and some buzzing drinking holes that can mostly be found right in the old part of town. The huge student population makes sure you are in for a lively and adventurous night, hopping between an array of dynamic bars and riverside clubs, many of which are considered on par with those of Paris.

For a refined evening of entertainment, the picturesque setting of the city offers a fantastic venue for outdoor concerts, dance performances and theater. Theatre du Capitole specializes in operas from a classical French repertoire while Halle aux Grains is the best place for local theater productions and ballet. For live music, the Zenith stages large music concerts with room for up to 9,000 spectators as well as comedy standup and variety acts from touring international performers.

The liveliest square in town is Place du Capitole, which is a good starting point for the night, as the square is heaving with bars and brasseries, where people spill out onto the square to socialize, share a carafe of fine wine or sip on a locally brewed blonde beer. For a young crowd and cheap drinks, La Tantina de Bourgos is situated on Rue de la Garonette and is an extremely popular student haunt with a Latino-themed dance floor.

Chez Tonton is a classic French sports bar that is renowned for its pastis o maitre, which is the anise-flavored aperitif pastis served in a meter-long tube, dispensing about 13 glasses. The bar is always full to the brim with happy and inebriated students, coaxing each other to accept another lethal meter of liquor. To track down a more international community, head to the Frog & Rosbif, which is Toulouse's English pub, where many ex-pats will be swigging on pints or competing in a pub quiz, creating a friendly and rustic atmosphere.

The trendiest club in town is Le Purple, which is the place to be seen on the weekends. If you manage to successfully fight your way to the front of the line, you will find the club is crammed with boppers on the busy dance floor. For a more swanky setting and more sophisticated clientele, La Villa Garden is renowned for its opulent chandeliers and velvet décor and is a great spot for a dance and a cocktail. And Le Purgatoire is where rock lovers can congregate.