Le Violon Dingue Bar / Club

Latin Quarter - 5eme, Paris –

Something of an institution for American study-abroad students in Paris, Le Violon Dingue (The Mad Violin) is an energetic bar decorated entirely in US sports memorabilia that does double duty as a bumping little club as the night wears on.

The ground floor offers up a pretty standard pub vibe, with young sports lovers crowding on the simple stools or the handful of tables in back to catch a game airing States-side and mingle with lots of other kids looking for an American-style sports bar.

The reasonably priced cocktails attract a young, rowdy, and serious drinking crowd where the atmosphere is all about meeting people and having a great time. In fact, the later it gets, the more spirited and diverse the clientele usually becomes.

The real party, however, is down a small flight of stairs and into the cave secreted below, which only opens once the ground floor is packed with heavily soused patrons looking to get their groove on. Low stone ceilings and walls give the space the air of an evil villain's lair, but the bumping mix of Top 40 and classic American rock keeps revelers happy and always on the hunt for another dance partner.

Upstairs or down, Le Violon Dingue is a tourist-friendly haven for young expats looking to go a little mad in Paris.