Marais
This stylish area is well-loved by tourists, especially for its many shopping possibilities, which sadly gentrified the neighborhood to an extent that there are now more big chains and high-street brands than small boutiques. However, there are still great places in the small streets, perfect for spending a leisurely shopping day.
Do
Cultural highlights in this area include the famous Centre George Pompidou, but also smaller museums like the Musée Cognacq-Jay or the Institut Suédois where you can see interesting exhibitions about nordic design and art in a lovely building with cafe. The Maison Européenne de la Photographie shows great photo exhibitions and close by you also find the lovely Gallery Azzedine Alaia whit small shows of his designs, a cafe and bookshop in the fashion designers former atelier.
The most beautiful places in the Marais are Place des Vosges and Place du Marché-Sainte-Catherine, on a sunny day there is nothing better than just sit there, maybe with a formule déjeuner, a lunch to go from a bakery, or a good book and enjoy the charming spot. From one corner of Place des Vosges you can directly enter the lovely garden of Hotel de Sully, too. Also check out the events at cultural center Le Carreau du Temple.
Shop
Merci is the perfect concept store where you find unique fashion-pieces and beautiful home accessories. Their cafe next door is also a cozy, stylish hangout. Go around the corner and walk along Rue du Pont aux Choux for more small shops and the instagram-famous Cafe Cordonnerie. Walk along Rue de Poitou to find the Camper concept store and Veja shoes, there are even more cool shops on Rue Vieille du Temple. I also especially love the unassuming shop Gaijin, which sells Japanese vintage clothes like Kenzo jeans and Comme des Garçons shirts. There is also Dover Street Parfums, The Frankie Shop, the vintage store Free’p’star and the teashop Mariage Freres. Around the small park Square du Temple you find more great shops like the über-stylish fashion boutiques The Broken Arm and Tom Greyhound, lovely bookshop 0fr librarie and vintage store Pretty Box as well as Herbarium on Rue de Picardie. The Marché des Enfants Rouges is also close by.
Eat
In the heart of the Marais there is Chez Marianne, a traditional restaurant and deli with great falafel and the best Strudel and cheesecake. If you want to have lunch under a ceiling of flowers go to lovely but crowded Cafe Creme. Other good and well-loved restaurants are Le Saint Sebastien, Carbon, Martin and wine bar Le Barav.
You also find many cafes and patisseries in the neighborhood, like lovely Cafe Ineko, Comme a Lisbonne with the best pastel del nata, patisserie Yann Couvreur and an outlet of Eataly. More sweet cafes are Fragrance, Dreamin Man, Neighbors and Maison Plisson.
For drinks check out stylish bars Sherry Butt, Andy Wahloo and Le Perchoir.
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