It’s no secret on this blog that I adore Paris and France in general and miss it dearly in between visits. Three months from today I’ll be back roaming the streets of my beloved Paris and as I’m getting anxious for our next visit to the City of Light, I realized that while I talk about Paris a lot and have posted a lot about it, I’ve never really outlined my favorite neighborhoods of the city. Paris is a lot like my own home city of Portland in that each neighborhood or area of the city has a very distinct feeling and over the years and different visits, these are some of my favorites and why you might like them too.
Paris is split up into arrondissements, essentially neighborhoods that are numbered (and most of them have names too) that make up the city. In order of their arrondissement numbers, here are some of my favorite spots in Paris!
(French note = In French, when you say 4th, that translates to 4E as in “quatrieme” meaning 4th, so that’s what that means in the images below).
The Île Saint-Louis is one of my favorite areas of Paris. Located on a small island in the middle of the Seine, it’s filled to the brim with adorable buildings and small shops and restaurants on just 1 main street down the center and small side streets spilling off of it. It exudes a calm, sophisticated atmosphere filled with an old-world charm. It’s home to my favorite boulangerie in the city (Maison Martin) as well as our favorite restaurant in Paris, Cafe St. Regis that boasts an incredible view of the back of Notre Dame while you dine al fresco with Rosé wine and the best chicken paillard I’ve ever had.
Le Marais is an interesting part of Paris, with a distinct history seemingly flowing from the facades of buildings throughout its streets. It’s a part of the city that feels unique and worn in a way, like its been through a lot over the years. The Marais has become a hip area in the last while and is filled with lots of trendy shops and restaurants that feel like traditional Paris, but with a unique twist.
Headed to Paris?