Partying Paris Style Parisian neighborhoods are called arrondissements and with 20 to choose from, finding accommodations when traveling to the city can be daunting. Like many big cities, Paris is broken up into more manageable chunks which most probably started out as villages or hamlets during the olden days. The 1st arrondissement which includes the old settlement of Paris is considered the very heart of the city center. From this point, the neighborhoods fan their way out in a numerical order in a clockwise manner. A cool thing about Paris addresses is that it is easy to find them using a zip code. All zip codes in the city start with a 750 and then the arrondissement number. So if you have 75014, the address is in the 14th arrondissement, if it is 75005 it is in the 5th and so on. Many travelers prefer to stay in parts of Paris that for them represents the Parisian dream. They want the version of the city that made them buy the ticket. To maximize on the sightseeing we have included some of the coolest and most often visited neighborhoods in Paris. Ile de la Cite and Ile St. Louis (1st & 4th arrondissements) Ile de la Cite is where all of Paris began. Early settlers chose these islands for trade and defense. As the cradle of Paris, Ile de la Cite was born around 2,000 years ago and famous Parisian landmarks such as Notre Dame Cathedral can be found in the area. There are also bars and restaurants in this part of town. If you fancy a drink, drop by Le Fumoir (6 Rue de l’Amiral de Coligny) for some cocktails and if you’re hungry they serve an excellent brunch. For something slower, there’s Willis Wine Bar (13 Rue des Petits Champs) has good food, good wine and good atmosphere. Staff there will even translate the French menu into English. O Chateau (68 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau) has a good selection of fine wine that the change every week, a wine connoisseur’s heaven in Paris. Vu and Kim’s apartment in Rue des Rosiers is the perfect place to crash after a night of party and wine. Situated in the most famous street in Le Marais, their apartment is an old historical building with a mezzanine bedroom for rent. Museums, parks and galleries are located nearby. Lila’s apartment is in the heart of the Marais, between the River Seine and Ile Saint-Louis. The place has 2 beds and can sleep up to 4 people. The apartment is near tourist spots such as Palais royal, Châtelet, Louvre Museum, Picasso Museum, Center Pompidou and Notre Dame. Jacque’s studio is within walking distance of the Chatelet les Halles. The space is fully furnished and can sleep up to 4 people. The Notre Dame Cathedral is a 5 minute walk away and Pompidou Art Museum can be seen from the studio windows. The Marais (3rd & 4th arrondissements) Nowadays this area is crammed with shops, boutiques and is the center of the gay community in Paris. The Marais is also home to the Parisian Jewish community and the French aristocracy. Being associated with the rich and famous, this part of town has many beautiful buildings which were turned into boutique hotels, rental apartments and shops. The Marais district is popular with tourist who are looking to glimpse into Paris’ past. Some great watering holes include Sherry Butt (52 Rue de Saintonge) with their great cocktails and delicious parfaits. Andy Wahloo (69 Rue Gravilliers) is a bar that turns into a club if you stay long enough. They also have a wide selection of whiskey. The Duplex Bar (25 Rue Michel le Comte) features a library full of CDs giving the place a unique ambiance. Romauld’s place is a duplex apartment in the 3rd district. With 2 beds and 2 bathrooms, his place can accommodate up to 4 people. Jo Yoon’s studio on the other hand is in the heart of the Le Marais district. It is a 5-minute walk from the Saint Paul station and is near cafes, restaurants and shops. The studio can sleep up to 3 people. Celine’s 1-bedroom Place des Vosges studio is located in Rue des Francs Bourgeois in the 3rd district and is near National Archives, Place de la Bastille and Notre Dame. St. Germain-des-Pres (6th arrondissement) If you’re looking to shop or go window shopping the area of St. Germain-des-Pres is for you. Antique lovers and fashionistas will love this area of Paris. Aside from shopping there are also cool places to hang out like Armani Cafe and Les Deux Magots.. For another kind of thirst there’s Bar 10 (10 Rue de l’Odéon) has refreshing sangria and cocktails. Head upstairs for some music and time with the jukebox. The Moose (16 Rue des Quatre Vents) a restobar is known for their chicken poutine. A great bar with a Canadian atmosphere. Frog and Princess (9 Rue Princesse) has an American atmosphere and serves great burgers and homemade beers. At the heart of St. Germain-des-Pres is Sandra’s duplex. While the apartment has no stairs, it is a beautiful 19th century building near the metro station. The historical Luxembourg Garden is also close by. Cecille’s flat is perfect for romantic weekends. But despite this the apartment can still accommodate up to 4 people. Nearby are Jardin des Tuileries, the Luxembourg Gardens, Museum d’Orsayand the legendary Serge Gainsbourg Street. Lumin’s 25 sq ft studio is a hundred meters away from the Louvre Museum. Other great spots nearby are Rivoli shopping street, the Opera House and Tuileries Garden. Montmartre (18th arrondissement) Soaring above the city of Paris is the Church of Sacre-Coure. The church is a stark contrast to the bohemian atmosphere that persists in this part of the city. Montmarte has long attracted artists and travelers seeking budget accommodations and cheap eats. One of the best bars in Paris is the Cafe La Cigale (124 boulevard de Rochechouart). Delicious fruit cocktails are served in individual shakers so that guests can savor every drop. The food is also great and is prepared by Michelin-starred chef Jean-François Piège. Le Cafe du Commerce (13 rue de Clignancourt) has very affordable lunch time menu, salads and burgers. The bar is usually full during happy hour with drinks ranging from €3.60 pints and €5.60 cocktails. La Ranaissance (112 rue Championnet) is a well known detour. They have great beer and affordable classic dishes such as salads and tartare served in generous servings. There are many budget hotels, inns and hostels in the 18th arrondissment, however these places are also available. Katia’s cozy flat is located in a beautiful Haussmann building. This place is ideal for families and can sleep up to 5 people. Italian, Chinese, Indian and Turkish restaurants are nearby. Albert and Helena’s 3rd floor apartment is very near the Sacré-Coeur and Moulin Rouge. They have 2 beds that can sleep up to 4. Wilfried’s apartment is only 5 minutes away from the metro station Lamarck and within 10 minutes the metro will take you to tourist spots such as Champs Elysées and Tuileries Garden. From there it is just a nice 10 minutes walk to The Louvre Museum. Wilfried can accommodate 4 people in his apartment. The Latin Quarter (5th & 6th arrondissements) The Latin Quarter is another popular haunt for tourists looking for cheap digs. This part of Paris got its name from the language spoken by students at the Sorbonne University which has been around since the 12th century. Students are the reason why accommodations, great nightlife and food is affordable in the Latin Quarter. Curio Parlor (16 Rue des Bernardins) takes their drinks seriously and serve a variety of custom cocktails. They also serve Japanese Nikka (whiskey). The Castor Club (14 rue d’hautefeuille) has Prohibition Era classics such as Fish House Punch and Louisiana Hot Sauce. They also have a space for dancing. Dive bar Le Pantalon (7 Rue Royer-Collard) is popular with students and hipsters. They are known for their specialty shots. You can always see students and yuppies lining up their shots before heading out to a fun night ahead. Emilie’s 2-room flat is very affordable. The place is a two minute walk away from Maubert Mutualité where there are lots of cheap food and lots of markets. Notre Dame, Sorbonne and the Louvre area also relatively close by. Antoine’s Latin Quarter studio is near fountain of St Michel. It only has one bedroom but can accommodate up to 3 people. This area makes an excellent base for walking everywhere. Huben’s place is small but cozy and quiet. It is also near Pantheon, Notre Dame and Luxembourg Gardens. Hubert will be able to arrange an airport transfer upon request. ift.tt/150vWvg
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 11:17:03 +0000
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