Though Paris has its share of great piano lounges, a hotel piano bar tends to be more relaxed. While you're there for the music and the sophisticated ambiance, it's also a way to check out these grand hotels. Maybe you'll be inspired to book a room at one of them on your next trip to Paris.
Piano Stylings & All That Jazz
B.A. Bar at Hôtel Bel-Ami (7-11 rue Saint Benoit; tel. 01/42-61-53-53; www.hotel-bel-ami.com; 6th arrondissement; Metro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés)
The Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood is great for nightlife. The Hotel Bel-Ami piano bar evenings are every night except Sundays, 6pm to 10pm. On the first Thursday of every month, there's a special jazz evening, Soirées Bazz, in this lobby bar from 7:30pm to 10:30pm.
Bar du Lutetia at Hôtel Lutetia (45 Blvd Raspail; tel. 01/49-54-46-09; www.lutetia-paris.com; 6th arrondissement; Metro: Sèvres-Babylone)
This Art Deco hotel is a Left Bank landmark. The Lutetia bar has been attracting the glitterati since 1910. Today, they still come for the specialty cocktails and piano music every evening from 7pm. Then, on Wednesdays through Saturdays, there are "Lute-Jazz" performances to enjoy from 10:15pm till closing.
Piano Bar at Hôtel de Banville (166 Blvd Berthier; tel. 01/42-67-70-16; www.hotelbanville.fr; 17th arrondissement, Metro: Porte de Champerret)
Treat yourself to an aperitif and an evening of jazz standards and French classics at this Art Deco-style hotel, named for the poet Théodore de Banville. On Tuesday evenings (8pm-11pm), the lovely Marianne Moreau -- accompanied by musicians Franck Monbaylet on piano and Fréderic Kakon on guitar -- turns the lobby into a lively, jazz piano bar.
The Duke's Bar at Hôtel Westminster (13 rue de la Paix; tel. 01/42-61-57-46; www.warwickwestminsteropera.com; 2nd arrondissement, Metro: Opera)
The Duke's Bar has the air of a posh British club. On weeknights, pianist Jean-Luc enlivens the cocktail hour (6:30pm to 9:30pm). And Thursdays through Saturdays, a jazz singer adds a bit of pizzazz from 10pm onwards.
Le Bar at Hôtel de Crillon (10 Place de la Concorde, tel. 01/44-71-16-16; www.crillon.com; 8th arrondissement, Metro: Concorde)
If you've always dreamed of staying at the renowned Hotel de Crillon, you can start with an evening at the bar where pianists Bernard and Joël liven up the atmosphere from 9:30pm to 1am. (The music plays on during the hotel's current restoration.)
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