Chat Noir Cabaret

A Portal to 1890s Paris is a pleasant enough night out that combines dining, drinks, and light immersive entertainment in a well-dressed setting.

We arrived in full costume, expecting a few more guests to have embraced the spirit of the evening, but even so the atmosphere was lively from the start.

The staff and performers deserve real credit—they were warm, welcoming, and carried the experience with charm and energy from the moment guests entered. A glass of champagne on arrival helped set the tone nicely.

Service throughout was smooth and friendly. The menu was better than expected for this type of event: charcuterie with cheeses, cold cuts and pâté to begin, followed by baked escargot, then coq au vin, and finished with dessert. It felt considered, generous, and added value to the evening rather than feeling like a token add-on.

The venue itself is spacious, housed in a former industrial factory building in London, with enough room to accommodate a sizeable crowd comfortably while still being well serviced by a large team of staff. It works practically and handles the scale of the event well. That said, for a production built around atmosphere and visual transport, a venue with higher ceilings and a little more architectural grandeur might have lifted the sense of occasion further.

The performance itself was enjoyable, though not outstanding. Anyone expecting the standard of a strong West End production or serious theatre will likely find it fairly light and commercially pitched. It’s more about atmosphere and having a good time than delivering memorable stagecraft or dramatic depth.

That said, the audience clearly knew what they’d come for, and the room was full of middle-aged couples, groups, and office workers enjoying a weekend date-night style experience with food and entertainment.

This is the kind of production that will do well with people looking for something sociable and different, rather than those who are especially critical or theatre-led in their tastes. If you go in with the right expectations, it’s an enjoyable evening. If you go expecting top-tier theatre, you may leave underwhelmed.

Personal Verdict:
Well run, friendly, and entertaining, with decent food and a good atmosphere—but theatrically modest.