Up next: after our TGV ride from Strasbourg (read Strasbourg to Paris by Train: Riding the TGV INOUI), Tin picked us up at Gare de l’Est. Our first night in Paris was a big one.
It was a special night for another reason, too: Dimple and I were celebrating 24 years as boyfriend and girlfriend. We met because of Tin, so it felt just right to have her there with us.
Check-in, then the metro
First we went to our hotel for the Paris stay, the H4 Hotel Wyndham Paris Pleyel, and packed a bag for the night. Tin, Dimple’s best friend, had booked us a night at the Kipling hotel so we could stay close by after the show. So we hopped on the metro, checked in at the Kipling and got ready for the big night.
A quick street snack
On the way, Dimple grabbed a street snack outside Aux Bons Copains. Every big night needs a little fuel first.
The windmill at night
And then there it was: the red windmill of the Moulin Rouge, all lit up against the night sky. It looks exactly like the pictures, only brighter. Of course we stopped for a selfie.
Ticket office and red halls
The neon "Ticket Office" sign glowed over the door. Inside, everything was red: red carpets, red walls, and wide red stairs. It felt like walking into a jewelry box.
Our table near the stage
Our table was close to the stage, with little red lamps glowing on every table around us. Even before the show started, the room had that buzz.
Then the lights went down and the show began. Watching it that close to the stage, with the red lamps glowing all around us, is something we won’t forget.
Moulin Rouge show review: what it’s like
We went for the show-only tickets, and honestly, we didn’t miss a thing.
Since we do events ourselves, we couldn’t help watching it with work eyes, and the production was amazing. The staging, the lighting, the way one number flowed into the next without a single awkward pause. And the way the stage transformed from one scene to another was awesome. One moment it was one world, and the next it had become something completely different. When you know how much goes on behind the scenes to make a show look that easy, you appreciate it even more.
And the costumes were amazing too: feathers, sparkle and color everywhere you looked, changing again and again. The acrobatic acts were really amazing, too, the kind that make you hold your breath and then clap like crazy. Then came the cancan, with the kicks, the music getting faster and the whole room cheering along. It’s loud, it’s fun and it’s a little bit cheeky, exactly how you’d hope a night at the Moulin Rouge would feel.
If you’re in Paris and wondering whether it’s worth it, we’d say go. It’s a classic for a reason.
How to book the Moulin Rouge
- Book ahead online. Shows sell out fast, so book on the official Moulin Rouge booking site.
- Pick your ticket. You can choose show only (champagne is optional; we went without), dinner and show, or one of the Prestige options.
- Arrive early. There’s an earlier show and a late show, and the doors close shortly before it starts.
- Dress smart. No shorts, sportswear or flip-flops.
- Travel light. Large bags and backpacks aren’t allowed.
- Put the phone away. No photos or filming during the show.
- Ages 6 and up.
- Getting there: it’s in Montmartre at 82 boulevard de Clichy, near Blanche metro station.
- Our tip: With a show-only ticket, plan to eat before or after. We grabbed Five Guys after the show.
Five Guys after the show
After the show we were hungry again, so we walked to Five Guys nearby. Burgers after a cabaret show might not be very Parisian, but it hit the spot.
Winding down at the Kipling
Back at the Kipling, we sank into the leather chairs in the lobby, with its orange patterned wallpaper and shelves full of books, and talked for a little while before heading up to our room. Dimple and Tin didn’t even notice, but they were wearing the same tan boots. Boots match match!
Bonne nuit, Paris. What a first night.
Moulin Rouge FAQ
We’d say yes. Since we do events ourselves, the production, the costumes and the way the stage transformed from one scene to another really amazed us. It’s a classic for a reason.
Book ahead on the official Moulin Rouge booking site, because shows sell out fast. You can choose show only, dinner and show, or one of the Prestige options.
Not during the show, because photography and filming aren’t allowed once it starts. So snap your selfies by the windmill and at your table before the lights go down.
Up next
The morning after the Moulin Rouge, we were up early to walk Montmartre. Read Sunrise at Sacré-Cœur: An Early Morning Walk in Montmartre.