Bastille
Ground Control is a great hangout, especially in summer. Located in a former tram depot it is now a multipurpose space where you can eat, drink, dance or go to events like flea markets or concerts. Just opposite the street the parklike pedestrian walkway Coulée Verte René-Dumont begins. Similar to the New York highline it is a former railway and leads to Place de la Bastille and the Opéra Bastille. In this area between Bastille and Voltaire you also find streets with a local, laid-back atmosphere and nice shops like the vinyl stores Syncrophone Records and Badaboum and popular restaurant Septime.
Pigalle
A hidden gem in this area is the Musée de la Vie romantique, the former home of artist Ary Scheffer, now a sweet museum with a romantic rose garden and tearoom. Close by you find the brightly colored street-basketball court Playground Duperré. In Pigalle you can choose between countless bars and restaurants, my favorites are the super stylish Italian restaurant Pink Mamma, elegant Maison Lautrec and nice restaurant Mieux. From here it’s also not far to the famous Moulin Rouge, Sacre Coeur and the bustle in Montmartre. The streets around Rue and Place des Abbesses are filled with cool boutiques and vintage stores and cafes, Coquelicot is a lovely place for breakfast, for example. The area around square Saint Georges is also lovely, here you find cute shops like deco and kids store Dis bonjour a la dame.
Alma-Marceau and Champs-Élysées
See a contemporary art exhibition at Palais de Tokyo, which, together with its stylish bar and restaurant Les Grands Verres, is a super hip hangout spot. Often there are also cool events like art performances or concerts. Close by there is the Mona Bismarck American Center where you can see small art exhibitions or events in a grand historic villa right at the Seine. From this part of the riverside you also have fantastic views of the Tour Eiffel. More exquisite museums in this area are the Yves Saint Laurent Museum and Musée Quay Branly just across the bridge, with a huge ethnological collection of asian and African cultures. Sometimes there are also interesting events at the Grand Palais. For dinner you can enjoy a Lebanese feast at Maison Noura, eat at Les Grands Verres or stylish Asian restaurant Miss Kô designed by Philippe Starck.
The Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe are such iconic sights in Paris, however it can be very tiring and exhausting making your way through the masses of people to see it. Instead, you can take a normal bus, like bus number 73, which has several stops along the famous boulevard.
Another absolute highlight is the Fondation Louis Vuitton in the park Jardin d’Acclimatation. The building designed by Frank Gehry is breathtaking, but the exhibitions are also exquisite. You can spend hours exploring the building’s many levels, especially the rooftop and outside area. Relatively close you find the atelier and apartment by great architect Le Corbusier which can also be visited.
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