A LIST OF MY FAVORITES, ARRONDISSEMENT BY ARRONDISSEMENT
It doesn’t matter how many times I go to Paris, there is something (or many things) that I discover on each trip. The luxury to explore arrondissement by arrondissement was my goal on my last trip. My objective was to wander and find things that one wouldn’t necessarily look for on a first trip to this beautiful city.
This list has some obscure finds, as well as some of the tried and true Parisian must-sees. I’ve culled the best restaurants, shops, museums and parks to make this list. It doesn’t necessarily mean “best” in terms of Michelin stars or Instagram-worthy places, but it is a collection of places that I think are special for one reason or another— either delicious food, amazing design, or something else with that je ne sais quoi factor.
1st ARRONDISSEMENT
The true heart of the city and one of the oldest areas, the 1st (also known as the Louvre) is what most people think of when they think of Paris. It’s here where the Louvre, Tuileries Gardens and the always chic Rue de Faubourg St. Honore attract throngs of tourists and locals alike.
-LOUVRE
-TUILERIES GARDENS
-RUE FAUBOURG DE SAINT HONORE- Chic shopping with designer shops dotting the street. Chanel, Dior, etc…
-NOIR CAFE
-MUSEE L’ORANGERIE- Beautiful collection of Monet’s waterlilies. Must see!
-LOU LOU- Chic Italian/French restaurant on the perimeter of the Louvre.
2nd ARRONDISSEMENT
The smallest arrondissement in Paris, but with a few gems.
-CHEZ GEORGES- A hot spot for French food and people watching, tucked in the corner of one of the most peaceful, quaint squares (which is really a triangle) in Paris. The Church of the Petits Peres (Little Fathers) is the cornerstone of this lovely area. It is surrounded by other fashionable restaurants and cafes.
-LE MOULIN DE LA VIERGE- Cute bakery with baguettes, croissants, and drinks that you could take to the benches in front of the church and enjoy a casual picnic.
-GALERIES VIVIENNE- Covered, arched passageway lined with nice shops and restaurants. Perfect place to escape the rain for an hour or so.
-NATIONAL LIBRARY OF FRANCE RICHILEIU- A gorgeous oval-shaped library with ornate paintings on the ceiling.
-SQUARE LOUVOIS- A lively park with a large fountain— Perfect spot for a picnic.
-FRENCHIE- Great food.
3RD ARRONDISSEMENT
-CHEZ JANOU- I’ve been here twice and LOVED it both times. The food is delicious. Get there early to put your name on the list.
-LE PETIT MARCHE- Another good brasserie that blends French & Asian flavors.
-SEVENLY HEART- Very cute cafe.
-MUSEE DE CARNAVALET/FABULA RESTAURANT- The museum is okay, but the courtyard restaurant is very peaceful and pretty.
-MUSEE PICASSO
-CEDRIC GOULET- Famous for croissants and other pastries.
-IO CAFE- minimal, cute cafe.
-GRAMME- Other cute cafe.
-EMPREINTE- Nice gallery featuring artists from France.
-OFR PARIS- A bookshop/gallery with a wonderful collection of art/design books.
-OFFICINE UNIVERSELLE BULY 1803- Great place to buy personalized gifts for friends or yourself. They wrap each gift beautifully, too. A lovely tea shop inside.
4TH ARRONDISSEMENT- THE MARAIS
Once a somewhat gritty area filled with artists because of the low rent, now a popular gentrified shopping and dining neighborhood. Still a great place to spend a day.
-PLACE DE VOSGES- Stunning park surrounded by grand buildings from the 17th century. The oldest royal square in Paris— Parisians come here to picnic, sunbathe, nap. It’s lovely.
-CAFE BREIZH- Amazing crepes in a casual setting.
-RUE DE ROSIERS- Shopping street with some standards and some independently owned shops/cafes.
-THE CENTRE POMPIDOU- National Museum of Modern Art, library and music center.
5TH ARRONDISSEMENT- THE LATIN QUARTER
Home to the Sorbonne University, this quarter is filled with shops and cafes that cater to the throngs of students here. It’s one of the oldest areas in the city.
-NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
-SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY BOOKSHOP
-PANTHEON
-JARDIN LUXEMBOURG- Gorgeous park with fountains, horses, a lovely castle, and many benches to sit on and watch the world walk by.
-SORBONNE UNIVERSITY- One of Europe’s oldest universities.
6TH ARRONDISSEMENT- SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRES
Perhaps one of the most quintessential Parisian neighborhoods— Refined blocks lined with famous cafes, upscale galleries, museums, designer boutiques and architecture.
-EUGENE DELACROIX MUSEUM- If you are an art lover, this quaint museum is a nice place to spend a few hours. This is the artist’s former home. You can see his palette, home and some artwork of his (many of his other works are in the Louvre).
-LE BON MARCHE- Shopper’s heaven. A multi-floor department store with the high-end brands, plus an entire building devoted to food and housewares. Truly heavenly.
-EGLISE SAINT-SULPICE- Lovely square in front of this 17th-century church. The site of what I would consider one of the swankiest flea markets in the city.
-RUE DE GRENELLE- One of my favorite small shopping streets in Paris. It has a mix of contemporary jewelry shops (Emannuel Zysman, Celine Daoust), boutiques (including the Saint Laurent Babylone gallery/shop and Celine), and galleries.
-OFFICINE UNIVERSELLE BULY 1803- Great place to buy personalized gifts for friends or yourself. They wrap each gift beautifully, too. A lovely tea shop inside.
7TH ARRONDISSEMENT
This lovely residential area is home to the magnificent Rodin Museum. I love the look and feel of this quiet arrondissement. Many embassies are located in this area.
-RODIN MUSEUM- One of the most beautiful places in Paris. Home of The Thinker. Gorgeous museum full of art by Rodin, lush gardens— one of the most peaceful spots in all of Paris. MUST VISIT.
-GOSSELIN- My favorite spot for eclairs and almond croissants. Delicious.
-MUSEE D’ORSAY- A former railway station turned into a museum with 19th & 20th-century European art collections. Grand museum.
-EIFFEL TOWER
-CHAMPS DE MARS- The park where Ludwig Bemelman’s character, Madeline, spends a lot of time (in his books).
-LE PETIT VARENNE- Cute cafe with a nice prix fixe menu. Their caramel chocolate ganache tart is very good.
-L’AFFABLE BISTROT- Pretty outdoor patio with good food.
8TH ARRONDISSEMENT
-PETIT PALAIS- A grand building originally built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle, it’s now the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts. I love the courtyard where you can enjoy a casual lunch or drink.
-PARC MONCEAU- A large park that is mostly locals, surrounded by beautiful homes.
-AVENUE MONTAIGNE- Fashionable address for the most coveted brands.
-L’AVENUE- You either love it or hate it. It’s a place to see and be seen. Always fun people watching. I enjoyed my lunch here.
-ARC DE TRIOMPHE
9TH ARRONDISSEMENT
-PALAIS GARNIER OPERA HOUSE- Worth spending an hour in this ornate opera house where Degas painted many of his works of art.
-GALERIES LAFAYETTE & PRINTEMPS- Nice department stores.
-ROOFTOP OF GALERIES LAFAYETTE- Beautiful vantage point from which to see many of the iconic Parisian landmarks. Great view. Decent vegetarian restaurant.
18TH ARRONDISSEMENT- SACRE COEUR
-SACRE COEUR
-THE FRENCH BASTARDS- Award-winning croissants
-HÔTEL PARTICULIER- Home and garden originally owned by the Hermes family. Now, a beautiful restaurant/hotel in a quiet part of the neighborhood. Two white chickens roam the gardens of this gorgeous property. Love this spot.
OTHER ART AND DESIGN SPOTS AROUND THE WORLD
If you are looking for other art and design spots around the world, see our post on Amsterdam for Art Lovers or An Art Day in Downtown Los Angeles. All of our posts are art/design & architecture-related, so scroll through our full list of travel spots here before your next trip!
