Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter
Paris’ famous Left Bank has long been one of its most vibrant areas. St. Germain-des-Prés is celebrated for its café culture – the world’s first coffeehouse, Le Procope, opened here in 1686, and for centuries artists, writers and intellectuals from Moliere to Sartre gathered in the neighborhood cafes and bars. The Latin Quarter, named for the language once spoken by students at the Sorbonne, abounds with bookshops and jazz clubs. And the Jardin des Plantes, home to the Paris Mosque and a large Muslim community, offers a flourishing herb garden and one of the city’s best markets.
topGardens
Jardin du Luxembourg
Boulevard Saint-Michel, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 42 34 23 62
Apr-Oct 7:30am-9:30pm, Nov-Mar 8:15am-5pm daily (may vary slightly)
Designated by Napoleon as the “garden of children,” Paris’ most beloved park offers a playground, pony rides, an octagonal pool used for sailing toy boats, and puppet shows at the Théâtre des Marionettes.
Palais du Luxembourg
17 rue de Vaugirard, Paris 6è
Open for tours first Saturday of the month
Reservations essential; visits organized through the Caisse National de Monuments
+33 (0)1 44 61 20 89
Modeled on the style of the Pitti Palace in Florence, this gorgeous palace has been a royal residence, a prison, and the headquarters of the Luftwaffe during WWII.
Jardin des Plantes
57 rue Cuvier, Paris 5è
+33 (0)1 40 79 56 01, +33 (0)1 40 79 54 79
Daily 9am-6pm (5pm in winter)
This vast, wonderfully tranquil green space was created in 1626 as medicinal herb gardens for the king. Spectacular water lilies.
Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes
+33 (0)1 40 79 37 94
Oct-Mar: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun & holidays 9am-5:30pm
Apr-Sept: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm; Sun & holidays 9am-6:30pm
France’s oldest public zoo was founded to house the royal menagerie during the Revolution. Today, it features birds, small mammals, primates, reptiles, bears and large cats.
topMuseums
National Museum of Natural History
2 rue Buffon, Paris 5è
+33 (0)1 40 79 56 01, +33 (0)1 40 79 54 79
Wed-Mon 10am-5pm
Closed Tue
Closed May 1
The museum is divided into paleontology (animal skeletons), paleobotany (plant fossils), mineralogy (including gemstones) and entomology (featuring some of the oldest fossilized insects on earth).
topMain Thoroughfare
Boulevard Saint-Germain
The Left Bank’s most celebrated street is lined with bookstores, cinemas, boutiques, and cafes, including the famed Brasserie Lipp, Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore.
topBookstores
Shakespeare & Company
37 rue de la Bûcherie, Paris 5è
Daily 10am-11pm
+33 (0)1 43 25 40 93
Famous, charmingly disorganized English-language bookstore.
La Hune
170 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 45 48 35 85
Mon 2pm-12am; Tue-Fri 10 am-11:45pm; Sat 10am-7:30pm
Closed Sun
topRestaurants
Café Allard
41 rue Saint André des Arts, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 43 26 48 23
Mon-Sat for lunch and dinner
Closed Sun
Closed first 3 weeks in Aug
La Cigale Récamier
4, rue Récamier, Paris 7è
Tel: +33 1 45 48 86 58
This stylish restaurant is renowned for its ethereal soufflés, both savory and sweet.
La Coupole
102 Boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 14è
+33 (0)1 43 20 14 20
Daily 12–2:30pm, 6:30pm–1am
La Closerie des Lilas
171 Boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 6è
Tel: +33 (0)1 40 51 34 50
Daily for lunch and dinner until 1:30am
L’Entrecote
20 rue Saint-Benoît, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 45 49 16 00
Steak and fries always a good fit for kids
L’Épi Dupin
11 rue Dupin, Paris 6è
Tel : 33 (0)1 42 22 64 56
Tue-Fri noon-3pm, Mon-Fri 7-11; closed first 3 weeks in Aug.
Reservations recommended 7 days in advance.
Reasonably priced prix fixe bistro nouvelle in a rustic 18th-century building.
L'Hotel
13 rue des Beaux-Arts, Paris 6è
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 41 99 01
Tue-Sat, 12:30-2:30pm, 7:30-10:00pm
Intimate and elegant, the restaurant of the stylish L’Hotel serves amazing, very seasonal cuisine. One Michelin star.
Hôtel Montalembert
3 rue de Montalembert, Paris 7è
Telephone: + 33 (0)1 45 49 68 03
Fax number: + 33 (0)1 45 49 69 49
e-mail: welcome@montalembert.com
Open 7 days a week, from noon until 10:30pm non stop.
Intimate, informal restaurant in a boutique hotel.
La Société
4 Place Saint-Germain des Prés, 6è
Open daily 8am-1:30am
Tel: 33 (0) 1 53 63 60 60
Valet parking.
The very chic and artistic space was designed by Christian Liaigre, and serves creative, trendy dishes and the ever-popular chocolate fondant cake.
Tan Dinh
Vietnamese60 rue de Verneuil, Paris 7è
+33 (0)1 45 44 04 84
Mon-Sat for dinner
Closed Sun
Closed Aug
No credit cards
Tan Dinh is one of the most famous Vietnamese restaurants in Paris. Its cuisine is subtle and, more amazingly, the dish-wine pairings are heavenly!
topSnacks
Poilane
8 rue du Cherche-Midi, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 45 48 42 59
Mon-Sat 7am-8:15pm
Closed Sun
Bakery
Café de Flore
172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 45 48 55 26
Daily 7am–1:30am
Les Deux Magots
6 Place Saint Germain des Prés, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 45 48 55 25
Daily 7:30am–1am
Pierre Hermé
72 rue Bonaparte, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 43 54 47 77
Sun-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-7:30pm
Chocolate
Ladurée
21 rue Bonaparte, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 44 07 64 87
Restaurant: daily 8:30am-7:30pm
Shop: Mon-Sat 8:30am-7:30pm; Sun & holidays 10am-7:30pm
Macaroons
Hugo & Victor
Boutique Rive Gauche
40 boulevard Raspail, 7è
Tel: + 33 (0)1 44 39 97 73
Fabulous chocolatier-patisserie.
Bread & Roses
7 Rue de Fleurus, 6è
Tel: +33 (0)1 42 22 06 06
Déli-café & bakery
La Pâtisserie des Rêves
93 Rue du Bac, 7è
Tel: 33 (0)1 42 84 00 82
Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm
Closed Monday
Thé aux 3 Cerises
47 Avenue Suffren, 7è
Tel: +33 (0)1 42 73 92 97
Open Tue-Fri 11am-6:30pm; Weekends 11:30am-7:30pm
A calm place where you can rest, eat, drink a little tea in a beautiful teahouse setting.
topShopping
Au Plat d'Etain
16, rue Guisarde, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 43 54 32 06
Miniature lead soldiers
Le Monde en Marche
34 rue Dauphine, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 43 29 09 49
Mon-Sat 10:30am-7:30pm
Closed Sun
Wooden toys
Bonpoint
67 rue de l’Université, Paris 6è
Children’s clothes
Tartine et Chocolat
266 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 7è
+33 (0)1 45 56 10 45
Children’s clothes
Du Pareil au Meme
7, 14, 34 rue Saint Placide, Paris 6è
Shoes at #7: +33 (0)1 40 49 00 33
Child at #14: +33 (0)1 45 44 04 40
Baby at #34: +33 (0)1 42 22 57 50
Children’s clothes
Jacadi
256 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 7è
+33 (0)1 42 84 30 40
Mon-Sat 10am–7pm
Closed Sun
Children’s clothes
Superlatif
96 rue du Bac, Paris 7è
+33 (0)1 42 84 37 42
Stationery
Le Bon Marché
24 rue de Sèvres, Paris 7è
+33 (0)8 00 46 19 33
Mon-Wed, Fri 9:30am-7pm; Sat 9:30am-8 pm; Thu 10am-9pm
Closed Sun
Upscale department store
La Grande Epicerie du Bon Marché
38 rue de Sèvres, Paris 7è
+33 (0)1 44 39 81 00
Mon-Sat 8:30am-9pm
Closed Sun
Food
Marie Mercié
23 rue Saint-Sulpice, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 43 26 45 83
Mon-Sat 11am-7pm
Closed Sun
Hats
Manuel Canovas
7 rue de Furstenberg, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 40 51 95 30
Wallpaper, fabric
Christian Tortu
6 Carrefour de l’Odéon, Paris 6è
+33 (0)1 43 26 02 56
Florist
Hermès Paris
17 rue de Sevrès, Paris 6è
Tel +33 (0)1 42 22 80 83
Opened in late 2010, this is the first Hermès shop on the Left Bank. It’s airy and dramatic, with a sweeping grand staircase and lifestyle collections displayed in braided-wood huts.
Conran
117 rue du Bac, Paris 7è
+33 (0)1 42 84 10 01
Home furnishings
Sentou
26 Boulevard Raspail, Paris 7è
+33 (0)1 45 49 00 05
Home design
Ralph Lauren
173, Boulevard St Germain, Paris 6è
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 77 77 00
Store hours: Mon 11am-7pm; Tue-Sat 10:30am-7pm; Sun 11am-6pm
Restaurant hours: Mon-Sat Lunch 12-3pm; Afternoon tea 3-4pm; Dinner 7:30pm-11pm; Sunday Brunch 12-3pm; Sun Dinner 7:30pm-11pm
The designer’s biggest European flagship store also houses the brand’s very first European restaurant, “Ralph’s”, which has a delightful patio.
Burberry
Boulevard St Germain 161-163, Paris 6è
Tel: +33 (0)1 70 76 15 00
Pierre Hermé
72, rue Bonaparte, Paris 6è
Tel : +33 (0)1 43 54 47 77
Mon-Sun 10am-7pm; Sat 10am-7:30pm
Chocolate
Jamin Puech
43 rue Madame, Paris 6è
Tel: +33 (0)1 45 48 14 85
One-of-a-kind handbags and leather goods.