Avignon Nightlife

In the southeast part of town, the picturesque lanes of the old Teinturiers quarter lie just inside the city wall. Tucked away on a cobbled waterside lane is this relaxed bar inside a wine shop. Open Monday to Saturday from 1000 to midnight, it offers a mellow atmosphere and live music on Saturday.

The pick of the bars in the Place de l'Horloge, gay-friendly Le Cid offers ringside seats to the action in this busy main square. Choose from the chilled-out interior or heated terrace, where you can also grab a plate of sushi to go with your aperitif.

This buzzy bar around the corner from Avignon's Les Halles food market in Place Pie offers a long list of rum-based drinks served in a cool and funky interior dominated by wacky zebra motifs. Open till 0130, it features everything from electro and rock to soul and disco.

Open from midnight until 0700, there's a non-stop party atmosphere at Bokao's. Dance and electro pump from the speakers in this sleek setting with its glass bars and pink and blue lighting. It has themed evenings mid-week and free admission on Thursdays, plus an onsite restaurant.

This stylish, crowded dance club is open Thursday to Saturday from 2330 to 0600. Entry is free but drinks are pricey, and there's a strict smart-casual dress code. There's cosy seating arranged around the dance floor, as well as a quieter comfortable bar area, but tables have to be reserved in advance.

In this eclectic club and bar, DJs play anything from salsa to house to hip-hop. Open until 0300 daily, it's often packed, but retains an intimate feel. It has two separate bars and a terrace as well as the dance floor. It often hosts theme nights or has live music from guest bands.

AJMI Jazz Club at La Manutention arts centre is the city's most respected cutting-edge and contemporary jazz venue. It hosts a wide variety of performers in the evening in a warm, convivial and intimate setting. There are also jazz masterclasses during the day and it even has its own recording label.

Théâtre du Chien qui Fume puts on a varied programme of theatre, music and improvisation evenings. Set among the watery lanes of the Teinturiers district, it has long been a leading venue for performing arts in western Provence. There's an emphasis on contemporary drama and it's noted for its creative, imaginative flair.

The graceful Opéra d'Avignon, built in 1847, puts on operas, operettas and symphonic and chamber music concerts, as well as theatre and ballet. It's the foremost stage in this part of Provence for classic high culture. It also allocates part of its season to experimental and contemporary works and young performers.