Pigalle in brief
Pigalle is one of the most recognisable neighbourhoods in Paris: a narrow strip straddling the 9th and 18th arrondissements, structured around the great boulevards de Clichy and de Rochechouart — laid out in 1864 on the site of the former Wall of the Farmers-General. To the south, the Haussmannian façades of the mansions of the 9th; to the north, the slopes of lower Montmartre and its inner courtyards populated with artists' studios. At the centre, place Pigalle, which gave its name to the neighbourhood — after the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, with no historical connection to the 20th-century nightlife now associated with the place.
Where to eat in Pigalle
Bouillon Pigalle (22 boulevard de Clichy)
Bouillon Pigalle is the emblematic restaurant of the neighbourhood — a modern revival of the popular Belle Époque bouillons, those brasseries where Balzac and Zola placed their characters of penniless students and artists. 22 boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris. Continuous service from noon to midnight, 7 days a week. Traditional French cuisine: egg mayonnaise, veal blanquette, beef bourguignon, rum baba — main courses from 10 euros. Phone: 01 42 59 69 31. Métro: Pigalle.
Exactly 100 metres from 34 boulevard de Clichy. A direct geographical proximity between today's most popular Pigalle restaurant and one of the most historically charged artistic addresses of the neighbourhood — Manet painted his Reichshoffen series there on the ground floor, and Pottier completed his Chants révolutionnaires there.
Bouillon Service Pigalle (18 boulevard de Clichy)
The self-service extension of Bouillon Pigalle, four building numbers away — in-house baker, takeaway offer, extended opening hours, regional focus (particularly Auvergne). Ideal for breakfast or an afternoon snack before walking up to the Sacré-Cœur.
Where to go out at night
Folies Pigalle (11 place Pigalle)
Historic Parisian nightclub, in activity since the 1960s. Electro, house, hip-hop nights depending on the evening. 11 place Pigalle, 75009 Paris. Métro: Pigalle.
Moulin Rouge (82 boulevard de Clichy)
World-famous cabaret founded in 1889. "Féerie" and "Bonheur" shows with the French Cancan. 82 boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris. Métro: Blanche (line 2). Booking recommended several weeks in advance.
Artistic Pigalle: studios and history
Pigalle and lower Montmartre have formed a single artistic ecosystem since the late 19th century. In less than one kilometre, boulevard de Clichy hosted: Edgar Degas (no. 6), Pablo Picasso (no. 11 and no. 130), Auguste Renoir, Sarah Bernhardt, Jules Pascin, and at no. 34, Édouard Manet, Eugène Pottier, Hella Guth, Pierre-Luc Feitu, Henri Marre, and Michel Batlle.
34 boulevard de Clichy
34 boulevard de Clichy is probably the densest of the artistic addresses in the neighbourhood. Its inner courtyard houses brick and timber-frame studios from the late 19th century, occupied continuously by artists for 162 years — from the Brasserie Reichshoffen painted by Manet (1878-1879) to the contemporary artists who work there today. The courtyard is private, closed by digicode, but the heritage investigation reconstructs its complete history.
Historic cabarets of Pigalle
Before the Moulin Rouge, Pigalle was the cradle of the themed cabarets of the Belle Époque: Cabaret de l'Enfer and Cabaret du Néant (at no. 34, founded in 1895 by Antonin Dorville, coffin-tables and waiters dressed as undertakers), Cabaret du Ciel, Cabaret du Bagne. The macabre aesthetic of the time reached its peak there. Documented by Mel Gordon in Cabarets of Death and W.C. Morrow in Bohemian Paris of To-day (1899).
Walking itinerary: 2 hours in artistic Pigalle
- Start: Pigalle métro. Place Pigalle, observe the bustle and the terraces.
- Folies Pigalle (no. 11 place). Historic façade of the oldest nightclub in the neighbourhood.
- Boulevard de Clichy (even-numbered side). Walk 200 metres westward.
- Bouillon Service Pigalle (no. 18). Coffee break or sweet stop at the self-service.
- Bouillon Pigalle (no. 22). If the hour allows, lunch or dinner.
- 34 boulevard de Clichy (no. 34). Façade of the heritage investigation — here Manet painted the Brasserie Reichshoffen, here Pottier completed the Internationale.
- Cité Véron (at no. 92). Small dead-end courtyard with artists' studios, former residence of Boris Vian and Jacques Prévert.
- Moulin Rouge (no. 82). Iconic façade, photo opportunity, métro Blanche opposite.
- Climb up rue Lepic towards Montmartre. Towards Sacré-Cœur, Bateau-Lavoir, place du Tertre.
Combining Pigalle and Montmartre
Pigalle is the foot of the Butte Montmartre — climb up rue Lepic or rue des Martyrs to reach place des Abbesses, the Sacré-Cœur basilica, the Bateau-Lavoir (Picasso's former studio, today on place Émile-Goudeau), the Musée de Montmartre (12 rue Cortot), the house of Dalida (rue d'Orchampt) and her grave at the Montmartre cemetery. To go further, see our 2-day itinerary in artistic Paris and our guide Secret Montmartre: 5 little-known courtyard-studios.
Immediate vicinity of 34 boulevard de Clichy
To quickly situate the distances around no. 34:
- Bouillon Pigalle (no. 22) — 100 m, 1-minute walk
- Bouillon Service Pigalle (no. 18) — 130 m, 2-minute walk
- Folies Pigalle (no. 11 place Pigalle) — 200 m, 3-minute walk
- Pigalle métro (lines 2 and 12) — 200 m, 3-minute walk
- Moulin Rouge (no. 82) — 350 m, 5-minute walk
- Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre — 700 m, 12-minute walk (uphill)
- Place du Tertre — 800 m, 15-minute walk (via rue Lepic)
- Bateau-Lavoir (place Émile-Goudeau) — 600 m, 10-minute walk
- Montmartre cemetery (Dalida's grave) — 750 m, 12-minute walk
- Cité Véron (no. 92 bd de Clichy) — 450 m, 6-minute walk
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Pigalle?
Pigalle offers a unique mix of history, art and nightlife: visiting the Moulin Rouge (no. 82 boulevard de Clichy), dinner at Bouillon Pigalle (no. 22), an evening at Folies Pigalle (no. 11 place Pigalle), the climb up to the Sacré-Cœur, exploring the artists' courtyard-studios of lower Montmartre including 34 boulevard de Clichy. The neighbourhood is also famous for its historic brasseries, its cabarets and its artistic past (Manet, Pottier, Picasso, Dalida).
Where is the Bouillon Pigalle?
The Bouillon Pigalle is located at 22 boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, 100 metres from 34 boulevard de Clichy. Continuous service from noon to midnight, 7 days a week. Métro Pigalle (lines 2 and 12). Phone: 01 42 59 69 31. Traditional French cuisine in the Belle Époque bouillon style, with main courses from 10 euros.
Where to go out at night in Pigalle?
Pigalle is one of the liveliest neighbourhoods in Paris for going out: Folies Pigalle (11 place Pigalle, legendary club) for the night, the Moulin Rouge (82 boulevard de Clichy) for cabaret, La Cigale and Le Trianon (boulevard Rochechouart) for concerts, and numerous cocktail bars around place Pigalle. For dinner before: Bouillon Pigalle (22 bd de Clichy).
How to get to Pigalle by métro?
The Pigalle métro station is served by lines 2 (Nation – Porte Dauphine) and 12 (Mairie d'Issy – Mairie d'Aubervilliers). Nearby alternative stations: Blanche (line 2, 5 minutes from the Moulin Rouge), Anvers (line 2, towards the Sacré-Cœur), and Abbesses (line 12, heart of Montmartre). Bus routes 30, 54 and 74 also serve boulevard de Clichy.
Are there artists' studios to visit in Pigalle?
Pigalle and lower Montmartre preserve several historic courtyard-studios, a legacy of the golden age of Montmartre. 34 boulevard de Clichy still houses today a set of artists' studios in brick and timber framing dating from the late 19th century. The courtyard is private and closed by digicode, but the heritage investigation 34-boulevard-de-clichy.com documents 162 years of history at this address — Manet, Pottier, Hella Guth, Pierre-Luc Feitu, Michel Batlle. See also: the Cité Véron, the Cité des Fusains.
Is Pigalle a safe neighbourhood?
Pigalle is a tourist neighbourhood, lively until late at night, generally safe. Place Pigalle and the boulevards de Clichy / de Rochechouart are busy and well-lit. As in any Parisian nightlife district, ordinary caution is recommended in the evening: avoid sex-shop touts, do not display valuables, prefer the métro or official ride-hail services at night.
What is there to see around place Pigalle and the Moulin Rouge?
On foot from 34 boulevard de Clichy: the Moulin Rouge (no. 82) in 5 minutes, the Cité Véron (no. 92) in 6 minutes, the Bateau-Lavoir in 10 minutes, the Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre cemetery (Dalida's grave) in 12 minutes, place du Tertre in 15 minutes via rue Lepic.
How do you get up to the Sacré-Cœur from Pigalle?
Via rue Lepic or rue des Martyrs: about 700 m and a 12-minute climb from boulevard de Clichy. The Montmartre funicular costs one metro ticket; entry to the basilica is free, the dome is paid (€10).