At once the reputation of Café de Paris is both infamously naughty, while incredibly opulent. Could this flamboyant parade of alternative adult entertainment actually deliver the goods on the night? I headed down to their Showtime Cabaret evening to find out.
The Venue
Descend the stairs and a beautiful hostess, wearing barely more than a dressing gown, will point you to your seat – a strong indicator of the entertainment to come. Despite celebrating its 90th anniversary, Café de Paris still scrubs up pretty well, with a charm and character that many new venues could only dream of. In the tiers above the stage you can enjoy a drinks table, while the dining tables below are positioned perfectly to see the stage, as the anticipation mounts.
Expect the works at Showtime Cabaret with dancing being just the tip of the iceberg.
The Atmosphere and Clientele
An audience of enthusiastic revellers created a great environment for the performers, with whoops and gracious applause all night long. The mood is helped in no small part by the excellent host, who has the steely eyes and movements of David Bowie. Despite a few terrible jokes, he created great audience interaction from the hen parties and classy couples in attendance.
After dinner, the lights dim for the entertainment. Like a scene from the movie ‘Eyes Wide Shut’, hooded figures with Venetian masks play music ominously while dancers strip off their cloaks, flashing porcelain skin and teasing with brief glimpses of flesh. From flirting with fire to acrobatic performances and a wolf dancing half naked, this show has it all. If you sit in the front row the evening may leave you with singed hair, covered in glitter or, if you're lucky, with tights around your neck.
Showtime Cabaret doesn't pull any punches and sets out to amaze guests from the very beginning.
The Food and Drinks
The three course meal served up perfectly crafted dishes which went down a treat, serving as a wonderful precursor to the show. A seemingly endless cocktail list meant I was never short of a beverage, and the table service is thoroughly well run, so you don’t ever have to leave your seat to grab a drink. The best advice I can give is to keep it classy, order a bottle of Prosecco and let the bubbles do the work as you enjoy the show.
Stunning is the only word capable of describing the performers, be careful you don't get smitten!
Summary
Not only does Showtime Cabaret at Café de Paris provide a highly organised, brilliantly entertaining show but the nightclub afterwards is legendary in its lavish decadence. Café de Paris is an escape from tedious performance and provides thrilling live entertainment for those bold enough to seek it out.
