A stone's throw from the Champs-Élysées, I enter the discreet porch of Club Pierre Charron. The valet greets me, and as soon as I cross the threshold, I'm enveloped in an elegant, cinematic atmosphere.
We head for the Club's restaurant, aptly named La Salle à Manger. The menu is open non-stop, and the contemporary bistro-style dishes catch my eye. Tonight, it's fillet of sea bream with baby vegetables, accompanied by a glass of Côte du Rhône. At the next table, two players are discussing strategy between bites.
After lunch, I discover the smoking room-library. A room straight out of a Coppola film: leather armchairs, black and white photos, Cuban cigars carefully stored in a humidity-controlled cellar.
Blackjack, Punto Banco, Ultimate Poker, 3-Card Poker or Stud "Caribbean" Poker... each table attracts its own audience, from enlightened amateurs to the curious in search of new sensations. Club Pierre Charron takes care of the atmosphere as much as the game, with attentive staff and lounges designed to bring out the intensity of every move.
I head for the Cash Game tables , the Club Pierre Charron's specialty. Texas Hold'em, of course, but also Omaha. The RFID tables are impressively fluid: no messing about with chips, everything is calculated in real time. I take a seat on a 2€/4€ table, in a friendly atmosphere, with the croupier putting everyone at ease.
Around me, regulars, tourists, young hipsters in oversized shirts, and even an American forty-something who'd come to try his luck during his conference in Paris. After a few smart moves (and a few lost chips on a misguided bluff), I greet my tablemates and decide to continue the night elsewhere.
Less than a 10-minute walk away, Club Barrière welcomes me to the former home of the Aviation Club de France. With its Bruno Borrione design, hushed ambience and refined furnishings, this is a 1,300 m² "gaming apartment" right in the heart of the Champs-Élysées.
I start by exploring the counterparty games. Blackjack catches my eye, but I'm tempted by a curiosity: Sic Bo, a dice game straight from Macau. Easy to get to, fun and noisy (in a good way), the table attracts neophytes and seasoned players alike.
Here again, the welcome is warm and the dealers patient. I lose €50 but gain experience: Sic Bo is addictive.
Before leaving, it's impossible not to visit the poker room again. The screens show real-time attendance: the tables are still running smoothly. I observe a €5/€10 game: the level is high, the stacks are deep, and the pots are flying fast. The atmosphere is serious, but not austere. We joke, we bet, we live the game.
I end the night in the bar of the Club Barrière with an artisanal lemonade - sobriety obliges - while chatting with a regular player. He tells me about the weekly Tuesday tournament, the VIP room and his "dream of doing an ITM in Vegas". All without taking himself too seriously.
I leave the club to the sound of jazz playing softly over the loudspeakers. The Champs-Élysées are almost deserted. In my pocket, a few tokens exchanged for euros. In my head, memories of a different night.
Parisian gambling clubs are open to all, provided you're over 18, have proof of identity and are keen to discover another facet of Parisian nightlife. You don't need to be a poker pro or an inveterate gambler: all you need is a little curiosity... and a taste for the "beautiful game".
Club Pierre Charron
62 rue Pierre Charron, 75008 Paris
Open daily from 12:30 to 6:30
Official website
Club Barrière Paris 104
104 avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris
Open every day from 2pm to 6am
Official website
Recommended age
From 18 to 99 years old
Average duration
2 h
