Lido Cabaret

Introducing the famous Lido Cabaret, just to your right. This legendary venue first opened in 1946, and has just taken a new direction with the launch of Lido 2.0. The Accor group recently bought the cabaret and is transforming it into a theatre that will stage musicals. Let’s rewind to 1928, when it all began with a rather unconventional establishment called The Paris Beach. Situated a bit further down the Champs-Élysées, this stunning swimming pool, decorated in a style inspired by the Venice Lido, quickly became a go-to spot for high society during the Belle Époque. But in 1933, the venue closed its doors following a compulsory liquidation and was bought by two brothers of Italian origin, Joseph and Louis Clérico, who transformed the pool into a performance hall. They came up with a new concept that was an instant hit: the dinner theater. And so, following in the footsteps of the Moulin Rouge, the Lido became synonymous with the glitz and glamour of Parisian nightlife. In 1948, the Bluebell girls left the Folies Bergères and came to work at the Lido. These classically trained dancers who were too tall for traditional ballet were to set the tone for the years to come. Named after their founder, Margaret Kelly, who had striking hyacinth-colored eyes, the Bluebells were known for their slender figures, incredible flexibility, and dazzling performances in heels, feathers, and sequins. Parisians flocked here to cheer these dancers, who soon embodied the very image of the Parisian woman. There was a strict hierarchy in the troupe, with the Bluebell Girls, the Belles, who danced topless, the Sublimes, that is, the soloists, and the Boys. Such was its success that the venue soon moved here to accommodate 1,150 people. “Paris Wonders” was the last of 27 spectacular reviews staged at the Lido, with some running for a decade. Edith Piaf, Joséphine Baker, Dalida, Laurel and Hardy and Elton John are just a few of the many international stars who have performed at this legendary cabaret throughout the years. Today, the Lido enters a new era, as it continues its tradition of staging great musical shows that have captivated Parisians for generations.