Beaubourg, Marais, Bastille
The small, lively Beaubourg district is filled with cafés and art galleries, but its main attraction is the famous Centre Georges Pompidou. The Marais offers an enjoyable mix of mansions, boutiques, charming squares and ethnic restaurants. The Bastille district, best known as the birthplace of the French Revolution, is now popular with artists and designers.
topMuseums
Centre Georges Pompidou
Place Georges Pompidou, Paris 4è
+33 (0)1 44 78 12 33
Wed–Mon 11am–10pm
Closed Tue
Closed May 1
Highly controversial when opened in 1977, this cultural complex was built with the escalators, air ducts and steel struts on the outside. The interior is equally fascinating, containing a cinema, performance spaces, and the national Modern Art Museum, with its splendid Fauvist, Cubist and Surrealist collections.
Musée Carnavalet
23 rue de Sévigné, Paris 3è
+33 (0)1 42 72 41 13
Tue–Sun 10am–5:40pm
Closed Mon, public holidays
This museum devoted to the history of Paris is housed in two adjoining mansions. Displays include rooms decorated with period art and furnishings, and memorabilia of notables like Madame de Sévigné and Voltaire.
Musée de la Poupée
28 rue Beaubourg, Paris 3è
+33 (0)1 42 72 73 11
Tue–Sun 10am–6pm
Closed Mon, public holidays
Some 300 rare French dolls are on display in
this charming museum run by a father and son.
topGardens
Place des Vosges
Paris 4è
Paris’ oldest square, Place de Vosges is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.
topHotel
Pavillon de la Reine
28 Place des Vosges, Paris 4è
Tel: +33 1 40 29 19 19
Fax: +33 1 40 29 19 20
Email: contact@pavillon-de-la-reine.com
Located on the famously romantic Place de Vosges in the Marais, this 4-star hotel is both stylish and cozy. 54 individually decorated rooms and suites, recently opened Carita spa.
topMarkets
Rue Montorgueuil
Paris 2è
8am-1pm & 4-7pm Tues-Sat, 9am-1pm Sun
Offering exotic fruits and vegetables, deli items and pastries, this market harks back to the famed Les Halles marketplace that once thrived here.
topShopping
Christian Louboutin
19 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Paris 1è
+ 33 (0)1 42 36 05 31
Mon-Sat 10:30am-7pm
Designer shoes and more
Rodolphe Menudier
14 rue Castiglione, Paris 1è
Designer shoes and boots
Michel Vivien
15 rue Molière, Paris 1è
+33 (0)1 43 70 50 88
Shoes by the designer of Lanvin's collection
Muji
47 rue de Francs Bourgeois, Paris 4è
+33 (0)1 44 78 02 00
Household goods
Antik Batik
18 rue de Turenne, Paris 4è
+33 (0)1 44 78 02 00
Mon-Sat 11-7pm, Sun 2-7pm
Clothing
Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville
14 rue du Temple, Paris 4è
+33 (0)1 42 74 90 00
Mon-Tue, Thu-Sat 9:30am–7:30pm; Wed 9:30am-9pm
Closed Sun
Historic department store
Jamin Puech
68 rue Vieille du Temple, Paris 3è
Tel: +33(0)1 48 87 84 87
One-of-a-kind handbags and leather goods.
Jean Paul Gaultier
30 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, Paris 12è
Haute couture and perfume
Viaduc des Arts and Promenade Plantée
1-129 avenue Daumesnil, Paris 12è
+33 (0)1 43 22 19 78
Mon-Sat 11am-7pm
Closed Sun
A transformed train viaduct has become a thriving arts center. It now houses a series of boutiques, cafés, galléries, ateliers and diverse artisan workshops. Several entrances to Promenade Plantée.
Home Intra Design
47 avenue Daumesnil, Paris 12è
Fabrics
Atelier Michel Fey
15 avenue Daumesnil, Paris 12è
Furniture Coverings
Vis à Vis
20 Rue St.-Nicholas, Paris 11è
+33 1 46 28 56 56
Embroidery.
topRestaurants and snacks
L’Ami Louis
32 rue du Vertbois, Paris 3è
Tel: +33 1 48 87 77 48
Wed-Sun noon-2pm, 8-11pm; closed July 19-Aug 25.
Reservations required far in advance.
Established in 1924, this bistro is still one of the best and most popular in Paris.
L'Auberge Pyrénées Cévennes
106 rue de la Folie-Méricourt, Paris 11è
Tel: +33 1 43 57 33 78
Charming neighborhood bistro, located on a side street near the Place de la République. Consistently superb and reasonable Southwestern French cuisine.
Benoit
20 Rue St Martin, Paris 4è
+ 33 (0)1 42 72 25 76
Daily
Near Centre Georges Pompidou
Brasserie Bofinger
5-7 Rue de la Bastille, Paris 4è
Tel: +33 1 42 72 87 82
Mon-Fri 12-3pm, 6:30pm-12am; Sat-Sun 12pm-1am
The city’s oldest brasserie, serving traditional Alsatian cuisine under a magnificent Belle Epoch glass dome.
Crêperie Bretonne Fleurie
67 rue de Charonne, Paris 11è
+33 (0)1 43 55 62 29
Mon-Fri 12-2:30pm, 7-12am; Sat 7-11pm
Closed August
Mariage Frères
30-32 rue Bourg-Tibourg, Paris 4è
+33 (0)1 42 72 28 11
Salon de Thé: 12–7pm
Tea Counter : 10:30am-7:30pm
Tea Museum: 10:30am–7:30pm
Tea boutique, Salon de Thé, Tea Museum
Restaurant Georges
Place Georges Pompidou, Paris 4è
Tel: +33 1 44 78 47 99
Wed-Mon, noon-1am
Located on the 6th floor of the Centre Pompidou. Unique modern décor, trendy French/fusion menu. Service and food can be erratic – go for the amazing panoramic views.
Le Souk
1 rue Keller, Paris 11è
+33 (0)1 49 29 05 08
Tue-Sun for lunch, dinner, take out
Closed Mon
Toupary
La Samaritaine, 2 quai du Louvre, Paris 1è
+33 (0)1 40 41 29 29
Daily 11:45-3pm, 7:30-11:30pm
Restaurant on top of La Samaritaine, with a great view of the Seine.
Le Train Bleu
Gare de Lyon, place Louis Armand, Paris 12è
+33 (0)1 44 75 76 76
Daily for lunch, dinner
reservation.trainbleu@ssp.fr
Carette des Vosges
25 Place des Vosges, 4è
Tel: 33 (0)148 87 94 07
Open 7 days a week from 8am to 11:30pm
Carette offers hand-made chocolates, macarons, pastries and light lunches.
Hugo & Victor
Boutique Marché Saint Honoré
7 rue Gomboust, 1è
Tel: + 33 (0)1 42 96 10 20
Fabulous chocolatier-patisserie.