On our final night in Paris, we had to check out Caveau de la Huchette. Now, the reputation of this place being among the more prominent jazz clubs in Paris means that the lines and the amount of people can be overwhelming (especially given that it briefly appeared in La La Land).
We were lucky, in that we arrived between live sets, where a part of the crowd was leaving, and we managed to get inside and even have some space. The club is small and gets quite crowded, especially downstairs where all the concerts and dancing happen. It is literally in the bowels of Paris in a basement that dates back to the 16th century and that used to house anything from a secret meeting place of the Templars to a torture chamber to eventually the first club in Paris to play jazz. You can imagine the ventilation (or lack thereof), especially when paired with a lot of enthusiastic dancing individuals.
This place is not for everyone, for sure - it is unlike those leisurely "sit-down-and-enjoy" establishments, and more of a "you come here to shake what your momma gave you" type of places. It makes sense to time the visit based on the band and the music style that night as it can be quite different experiences. We loved Jessie Gordon Sing Swing - such a vibrant energy.
Recipe for success: Get all dolled up, be strategic about the timing, and come ready to dance, then you will have a blast.