Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge, Paris

The Moulin Rouge has been operating on Boulevard de Clichy since 1889. The original windmill-topped building burned down in 1915 and was rebuilt. The current show, Féerie, has been running with variations since 1999. You’re not going for novelty or surprise: you’re going for spectacle, trained dancers, and a very French sense of theatrical excess done at high budget.

Is it worth it? That depends almost entirely on whether you find the concept appealing before you go. If you’re charmed by cabaret, vintage Paris mythology, and a 90-minute show with can-can dancers and a seven-metre long python, yes. If you’re expecting innovative theatre, skip it.

The Show

There are two performances each evening: 9pm and 11pm. The 9pm includes dinner (optional); the 11pm is drinks only. Dinner packages start at around €230 per person. The show alone with champagne starts at around €117.

The dinner itself is fine but not the reason to go. The food is decent hotel banquet level, not Parisian gastronomy. Most people who’ve done both recommend saving the money on dinner and booking a proper restaurant in Montmartre beforehand.

Book directly through the official Moulin Rouge website. Third-party booking sites add fees and occasionally cause problems with seat allocation.

The Surrounding Area (Montmartre)

The Moulin Rouge sits at the base of the Butte Montmartre, and it’s worth arriving an hour or two early to walk the neighbourhood.

Sacré-Cœur Basilica is a 10-minute walk uphill. The views from the esplanade in front are the best free panorama in Paris. The funicular runs from the bottom of the hill if you’d rather not climb the steps.

Rue Lepic and the surrounding streets are where actual Montmartre residents live and shop. The street market on weekend mornings is good. The café made famous by the film Amélie (Café des 2 Moulins) is nearby on Rue Lepic and still operating, though it now knows exactly what it is.

The Montmartre vineyard produces a small amount of wine each year, harvested in October. The wine itself is reputedly ordinary, but the vineyard’s existence in the middle of Paris is worth a look.

Eating Near the Moulin Rouge

Le Consulat on the main tourist square is atmospheric but pricey. The view is nice, the bill will be higher than expected.

Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole is further from the tourist core and better value for traditional French bistro cooking. Worth the extra 10 minutes’ walk.

Le Petit Marché on the upper part of the butte is a good option for a relaxed pre-show café stop.

Staying in Montmartre

Hotel Particulier Montmartre is the best hotel in the neighbourhood: a genuinely beautiful private mansion with a garden courtyard and individually designed rooms. It books up fast.

Le Relais Christine is further from the Moulin Rouge but quiet and well-run, suitable if you want a peaceful base.

The Metro stop for the Moulin Rouge is Blanche on Line 2. From there, the venue is immediately visible.