Living Paris like a Parisian

Visiting and living Paris is something I wish to anybody as, like stunning Audrey used to say, Paris is always a good idea! After ten years of Parisian life and countless business trips before and after, I would suggest some different itineraries in town.

So, this post is for those wishing to spend a little more time living like a local in Paris or for those already knowing the tourist sites in town and wanting to discover a bit more.

Living in Quai de Valmy, I prefer the Sésame, which directly overlooks the Canal Saint-Martin and features a selection of cakes and, if desired, freshly cooked eggs.
Tasty alternatives depending on the area: the Pain Quotidien of rue Montorgueil, the Café on Bastille square, Marriages et Frères in Saint Paul and for a chic breakfast or quick snack, La Durée on the Champs Elysées.The Sésame and the Pain Quotidien are also excellent for weekend brunch!

I love the Bar à Soupe in rue de Charonne and the world recipe section. You’ll find some ideas for soups inspired by those I tasted in this tiny restaurant. It offers an excellent daily selection (from carrots-coconut-mint peas etc.), each coupled to a different type of bread. The restaurant is small but well organized and super cheap.

For those who like Japanese food, my “canteen” has long been the Sukiyaki at the beginning of rue de la Roquette (practically on the Place de la Bastille), with a full menu from 10 to 20 €.
My most recent passion (for a couple of years now) is the total store with a corner dedicated to a small bistrot, Merci, on boulevard Beaumarchais. They serve very simple dishes, ideal for a snack served in the middle of huge shelves of books (novels on the left side of the room and art books, travel, etc. on the right side) to borrow during the meal.

My “mandatory” shopping stops in Paris are Antoine et Lili on the quai de Valmy (there are also two other boutique in the Marais, but with little choice and only with the women’s line), Merci, Muji in rue des Francs Bourgeois or floor -2 de Les Halles, Lafayette Maison, the Bon Marché (I love everything in there, from the supermarket on the ground floor up!), virtually all of rue des Francs Bourgeois and rue des Archives, the Cour Saint Emilion (metro Bercy, line 14), boutiques in the Carrousel du Louvre (Nature et Découverte in particular) and the narrow streets behind Orsay.

 

• Bastille – Saint Paul – Ile Saint Louis – Ile de la Cité – Hotel de Ville – Louvre 
• Saint Michel – Cluny – Rue Monge – Rue Mouffetard – Pantheon – Luxembourg    
• Bastille – République – Canal Saint Martin – Marais – Rue Montorgueil – Les Halles         
• Louvre – Rue de Rivoli – Avenue de l’Opéra – Garnier/La Fayette/Printemps – Bld des Capucines 
• Les Halles – Beaubourg – Marais – Place de Vosges – Beaumarchais                                       
• Louvre/Tuileries – Pont des Arts – Bourse – Rive Gauche                                    
• Butte Montmartre (dietro al Sacre Coeur e alla Place du Tertre!) – Pigalle                   
• Canal Saint Martin – Butte Chaumont – La Villette/Cité de la Musique          
• Bastille – Rue de Lyon – Bercy – Cours Saint Emilion

I also recommend my favorite walking route in Paris, the one above the metro line 8. Perfect to discover Paris!

Monuments you shouldn’t miss 

• Louvre, if you can go on Wednesday or Friday for the not crowded late night opening  
• Orsay, same suggestion: try to go on Thursday for the late night opening  
• Centre Pompidou 

• Versailles, with park, Trianons and the village of Marie Antoinette (if you go in summer, the evening shows on the Grand Bassin de Neptune are lovely – you can book from home on FNAC’s website or at the entrance of the castle)
• Les Invalides                                           
• Conciergérie & Sainte Chapelle
• Palais de Tokyo      
• Musée Rodin e Musée Picasso
• Palais Garnier, where I left a bit of my heart…
• The Passages Couverts

a little out of Paris, for those who have time and a car:

• Fontainebleau
• Chantilly
• Rambouillet

It is not a site of cultural and historical value, but I can only recommend a stop at Disneyland Paris!

Useful links

To organize potential movie nights (always in original version with subtitles, the UGC are ideal for those who have not yet chosen the film because there are always a dozen ongoing from 9:00 to 22:30), to the theater or to attend performances or concerts, I recommend some sites to check, maybe even before departure:

Sortir ò a Paris 

Paris bouge 

Citizens of Paris 

Paris Airports

I stroll around Paris all day long and truly love to walk along its tiny street discovering details (last week I bought a carnet of tickets for the underground, but I’ve used only two …) and I recommend anyone to do so, but for those who want to use mainly public transport, you’ll find all the details in this post: Getting around Paris

Last advice for people under 26 years and for students: always carry your ID or passport because many monuments are free or discounted.
A reduced price is also applied to almost any concert and theater or opera performance, as well as to train tickets.

In the meantime, I wish you all

un excellent séjour à Paris !