KET in Paris — At Paradis Latin, Even the Waiters Take the Stage

For this stop in our KET in Paris series, we spent an evening at Paradis Latin, the cabaret in the heart of the Latin Quarter. We went for the spectacle and left talking just as much about the people who made the night feel special. The dancing is sharp, the aerial acts are breathtaking, and the show knows how to make room for a good laugh.

The evening starts before the curtain

At Paradis Latin, the boundary between dinner and performance is wonderfully porous. We were settling in, taking in the room and enjoying the service when the waiters stepped onto the stage. It is a delightful change of rhythm: the people looking after your table are part of the show, too.

That moment captures what we liked about the evening. The scale is grand, but the experience never feels distant. From our seats, we felt invited into the cabaret rather than positioned outside it as spectators.

A show with real lift

The current revue, L’Oiseau Paradis, is staged and choreographed by Kamel Ouali. His work gives the night its momentum: dance, humour and spectacle follow one another without losing their sense of play. This is a polished production, but it still has the exuberance that makes cabaret fun.

Then come the aerial numbers. We will resist describing them blow by blow, except to say that they are astonishing. They brought the kind of collective gasp you hope to hear at a live show—the moment when everyone in the room seems to look up at once.

For us, that is the pleasure of a strong cabaret revue: it can be glamorous and technically accomplished while leaving space for surprise. L’Oiseau Paradis delivers on both.

The people who made it ours

A special thank-you goes to Bader and Jade, who took care of our table. Their warmth and attentiveness made an excellent evening feel personal. In a production this big, that human connection matters.

And we have one more message, with absolutely no spoilers attached: if you go, please say hello to Ava from us. She is extraordinary in her comic numbers. We refuse to tell you what happens—or how she gets the room on her side. That discovery is part of the joy.

Cabaret through a KET lens

Cabaret gives performers permission to be larger than life: playful, glamorous, funny, physically daring or all of those at once. That freedom of expression is part of why a night like this speaks to a queer audience, even without asking the show to stand for any one community.

What stayed with us was the range of talents sharing the room. The aerial performers commanded our attention; the dancers gave the revue its pulse; Ava made us laugh; and Bader and Jade made us feel genuinely welcome. It was an excellent night out, above all because the spectacle and the people behind it worked together.

Practical information

Paradis Latin is at 28 Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 75005 Paris, near Cardinal Lemoine and Jussieu métro stations. The evening performance of L’Oiseau Paradis is scheduled for 9:30 pm, with arrival from 9 pm for show-only tickets or 7:30 pm for dinner-and-show packages. The venue lists performances every day except Tuesday, subject to its schedule.

Adult show-only tickets are listed at €90, with a €50 rate for under-26s; dinner-and-show packages start at €180. Check current times, prices and booking options before you travel.

We left with that rare feeling of having seen a show worth dressing up for—and with a few surprises we are very glad nobody spoiled for us.

KET Magazine is a community‑driven, non‑profit magazine run by volunteers and based in Brussels. You can find our other music and nightlife stories on ket.brussels, and you can always write to us to share your projects or pitch a story: info@ket.brussels