LIVINPARIS EXCLUSIVE TIPS

Here are some of our exclusive recommendations for discovering Paris off the beaten track.

1. Passage du Grand Cerf (Passage of the Great Deer)   

145 rue St Denis, Paris 2.

Opening hours 8.30 am-7.45 pm  Covered passageway: take a fall back into the 18th century.

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2. Rue Montorgueil (District of Montorgueil street)

With its small cobbled pedestrian streets, the district of Montorgueil has a great deal of charm. The main street, rue Montorgueil, is home to a wide range of fruit, vegetable and other food shops, as well as bars and restaurants and trendy clothing boutiques.  In parallel streets, new restaurants, cocktail bars and fashionable shops have opened, notably on rue Saint-Sauveur, rue Bachaumont, rue Greneta, rue Mandar and in the Passage du Grand Cerf. This is one of the favourite districts of Parisians.

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3. Cour carrée du Louvre (Square courtyard of the Louvre)

The Louvre museum, one of the most romantic spots of the capital.  Go at nightfall to discover the splendour and tranquility of this royal square.

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4. Roof-top Le Georges (The Georges Roof-top)

At the top of the Georges Pompidou Centre. Exceptional view over the whole of Paris, for lunch, dinner or simply a coffee. Breathtaking views. Brasserie open every day from 12.00 midday till 2am

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5. Marché Des Enfants Rouge  (The ‘Red Children’s market’)

The oldest food market in the capital (created in 1615) is located in the Haut Marais district, a stone's throw from the rue de Bretagne. Parisians and tourists alike stock up on fresh produce while enjoying the colourful and fragrant stalls. In a friendly, easy-going atmosphere, you can take an impromptu lunch break at the Italian grocery shop, the organic stand, the Lebanese delicatessen or the Japanese snack bar. On Sundays, brunch lovers hurry to the Estaminet, a restaurant nestled in the heart of the market, or to La Petite Fabrique.

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6. Le Jardin du Palais Royal (The Royal Palace Garden)

This is one of the favourite places for Parisians for a stroll. The Comédie-Française (one of the few state theatres in France), the Royal Palace theatre (le théâtre du Palais-Royal) and the restaurant Le Grand Véfour restaurant with its decor listed as a historical monument, all contribute to the reputation of the Royal Palace Garden. Contemporary art is also strongly present in its main courtyard with the columns of Buren and two mobile fountains by Pol Bury (1985). Very pleasant for a leasurely afternoon walk.

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7. Galerie Vivienne (Vivienne Gallery)

A luxurious 176 metre long covered passageway, built in 1823, and under a zenithal light that illuminates the period mosaic floor, lined with refined luxury boutiques. Take a walk, for a timeless moment in an exceptional setting.

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8. Café Marly 

Unique and iconic brasserie and café located under the arcades of the Louvre museum with exceptional views. Open every day from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.

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9. Passage Brady  (Brady Pathway)

From rue Cail, walk down the boulevard Magenta, and the Passage Brady will not be far, an emblematic pathway of the 10th quarter of Paris.  Known as "Little India", this bazaar-like pathway is also the perfect place to find a whole host of wonders at a reduced price: culinary specialities, incense, spices, traditional treatments, etc.

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10. Canal St Martin (Saint Martin Canal)

Right in the centre of Paris, away from the turbulence of the city, the Canal Saint Martin is a haven of peace that you can discover peacefully from boats; for over 150 years this canal has linked the Seine, just behind Notre Dame cathedral, to the Ourcq and Saint Denis canals in the north of Paris, crossing the old districts of eastern Paris in full restoration.

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11. Île Saint Louis  (Saint Louis Island)

A village in the city of light with an architecture that has remained virtually unchanged for almost 400 years. A timeless place to discover while strolling along the banks of the Seine.

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12. Rue des Rosiers (Street of Roses)

Famous street in the Jewish quarter of Paris, the Pletzl (Jewish for ‘Little Place’), in the heart of the Marais district. Rue des Rosiers is emblematic of the Jewish community and has many shops, food stores, bookshops and typical restaurants. Since the 1980s, luxury boutiques (for clothes, perfumes, accessories) have taken over and are slowly changing the appearance of the street.

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13. Place des Vosges (Vosges Square)

A stroll through the Marais district without admiring the Place des Vosges would be like walking along the Champs Élysées without seeing the Arc de Triomphe. The configuration of the Place des Vosges is a perfect example of French classical style and a unique example of 17th century architecture.

14. Pont Marie (Mary Bridge)

The foundation stone of this small bridge was laid in 1604 by King Louis XIII. In the 17th century, about fifty houses were built on it and finally destroyed. The Marie Bridge, classified as a historical monument since 1887, links the Marais district (at the level of the Hôtel de Sens, a superb 15th century building) to the Île Saint-Louis.

15. Passage de l’ancre  (Anchor Pathway)

Nestled a stone's throw from the Museum of Art and Crafts (Musée des Arts et Métiers), the Passage de l'Ancre is one of Paris’ 3rd quarter’s best-kept secrets: colourful in just the right way, verdant and constantly peaceful, this tiny pathway is a gem not to be missed.

16. Place Gaillon (Gaillon Square)

Here you will find the delightful Gaillon fountain, built in 1828 by Louis Visconti, the famous Drouant restaurant where the Goncourt literary prize is awarded every year, as well as the Place Gaillon Gaillon Fountain restaurant, owned by actor Gérard Depardieu.  Nearby are the Choiseul pathway (Passage Choiseul), the Opera Avenue (Avenue de l'Opéra) and the national library (La Bibliothèque nationale).

17. Bibliothèque de l'Institut National de l'Histoire de l'Art (Library of the National Institute of History and Art, known as INHA)

58 Rue de Richelieu, Paris 2; Open Monday to Saturday 9.00am. to 7.30pm The Library INHA is located in the heart of historical Paris. Owner of the exceptional Labrouste room with its incredible glass dome and the Jacques Doucet collections, the INHA is both a reference research centre for the history of art and a major heritage site.