You'll find most of the action in the bars along rue de Bourgogne and a handful of places on rue Bannier. A trendy young crowd dances and drinks the night away at the Le Ka, Les Halles Châtelet (tel. 02-38-53-81-83). A few streets over is one of the better jazz clubs, Paxton, 264 rue de Bourgogne (tel. 02-38-81-23-29), with a down-home English pub feel.
One of the most intriguing venues in Orléans is Cats, 2 rue des Trois-Maries (tel. 02-38-54-68-68). Four nights a week (Wed-Sat) at 9pm, it presents what the owners call a cafe-concert; you're likely to see (French-language) comedians, songsters, and satirists. Even more unusual is the setting, 10m (33 ft.) underground: Originally constructed in the 12th century as a chapel, it was gradually buried as workmen piled rubble from the construction of the nearby cathedral on top. From 1500, after its deconsecrating, until 1794, it functioned as a cellar for the production and storage of vinegar, and later as the wine cellar of a private home. Cover ranges from 4€ to 15€ ($5.20-$20), depending on the featured artists.
