Paris – Walking, Eating, Shopping Around the 11th & 12th Arrondissements
According to moi, this is the best way to start any day, but especially a day in Paris with nothing to do but wander around your adopted neighborhood. This is a continuation of a post that I wrote about a month ago, “Paris – Baguette Crumbs Through The City of Lights…”. The Bastille neighborhood of Paris is one of my favorites.
There are so many fun restaurants it is hard to choose just one, but they are getting so popular that often planning ahead and making a reservation will save you time and aggravation. I always check out Le Fooding before and during a Paris visit. They have news on all of the latest restaurant openings with honest and helpful reviews. Le Fooding also has hotel information – I am ever eager to see all of the various hotel options that are off the beaten path or just opening up in Paris. As I have mentioned too many times, my favorite way to stay in Paris is pretending I am “chez moi” with an apartment rental, even if it is for a few days. You will have more space, more freedom and really feel like you are immersed in the city!
I have concocted a map, using Google Maps, that is interactive – when you click on the red map pins a picture of a recommended site will pop up with a brief description from me, a photo and an address. You can download this map, print it out or pull it up anytime on the Delicious Perspective website to use the information. I will run through the walking tour below with some quick notes in case you have map phobia or just want a regular old fashioned list
Paris Apartment at 22 Rue de Charonne – we begin each day here – Love this apartment!
Let me begin by saying that Rue de Charonne and adjacent Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine (and the many smaller surrounding streets) are FULL of fun shops. Too many shops to include here and they change so often it is hard to keep up, but if you are in a mind to shop this is a great area.
Le Bar a Soupes – 22 Rue de Charonne – amazing soup and bread that you can take out if you are tired from a long day of shopping!
Pause Café – 41 Rue de Charonne – Great lunch or morning café crème spot. Casual and fun people watching. As you can see I had salmon tartare and frites and my favorite profiteroles for dessert!
Le Boudoir du Regard – 1 Rue Keller – You know that in the USA we have nail salons on every corner? Well, I think this is the next big thing – Eyelash and eyebrow salons! Of course I had to try it. My eyelashes looked amazing for the next 5 weeks. I had the tinting done, and I would have tried other things but they required some follow up – so If you are in a mind to enhance your eyelashes and brows, hit this spot early on in your trip so you can have a touch up before you head home. Amazing!!
Charonne Café – 25 Rue de Charonne – Fun bistro style for lunch or dinner
Septime – 80 Rue de Charonne – Great dinner! Worth taking the time to reserve in advance. You may even see someone famous…although I am notoriously ignorant of famous faces…I am sure I saw some and didn’t even know it!
Coulée Verte Rene Dumont also known as the Promenade Plantée– 69 Rue de Lyon – This is an elevated walking or jogging path that runs through the 12th Arrondissement. The pathway is lined with all kinds of different plantings and trees, you can step off to shop or grab a coffee too. The pathway is 4.5km – see the link I have added here for more information and pictures. It is worth checking out if you like to walk or run or just want a new, elevated view of the city.
Ikyome Boutique – 8 Rue de Prague – This is a really fun, unique and adorable shop for children’s decor, a few items of clothing, unique toys. My kids are beyond this age group but I really love it all!
Liberty Shirt – 23 Rue de Cotte – This was an hilarious find! They had many t-shirts hanging in the window with various funny pictures or quotes on them. I saw one that I thought would be funny for my son Ben (he is 17 and has quite a t-shirt collection going). I walked in to ask if I could buy the t-shirt in the window (fun souvenir in French) and learned that you can buy any of the t-shirts in any size with any of the pictures etc., on that you want. They made me one right on the spot! Funny old man but nice and it was 15 euros! SOLD
La Gazzetta – 29 Rue de Cotte – I had a great dinner here. Sat at the charming bar, chatted with the friendly wait staff and had a yummy meal! Great atmosphere and pretty darn good food.
Coton Nuage – 16 Rue de Cotte – I was drawn into this tiny boutique by the fun rings in the window. Here is the one I bought… I love it. I know it is a little kitschy but I actually wear it all of the time. It is etched glass and hand colored by a local artist. There were many other rings in the same vein but without a Paris motif – I wanted to buy several but settled for this one. There were other great fun finds in the shop too from local artists. The shop owner is so fun and speaks English pretty well too.
Aligre Market – Place d’Aligre – I mentioned this spot in my previous post but it is worth mentioning again. Great market!
That is my latest list of fun spots to visit in Paris’ Bastille neighborhood. Next time we will jump over to the Bastille market and head for the Marais! Have any unique spots that you love in the 11th or 12th? Pass them on in the comment section – I love new suggestions to add to my list. Happy travels.