Parisian Favourites

I am lucky to have a son working in Paris and am taking full advantage of his location in Les Marais. So I wanted to share my favourite spots in this fabulous part of Paris.

For those of you new to the area, it is in the 3rd arrondisement and is a very lively area full of bars, restaurants, boutiques and synagogues! Yes, this is the old Jewish area of Paris but it also attracts the Parisian gay community and so as you can imagine it has a very mixed population. It is also where the Templars and the Hospitaliers (quasi military religious organizations) were based and as a result there are some wonderful old buildings.

It is full of great museums such as the Canivalet, and Picasso’s Museum is based here (but this is closed for refurbishment). A visit to the area is also not complete without a walk around the Place des Vosges, where the French kings and dukes used to live. But my favourite spots are:

Cheval de Fer for an aperitif or digestive to watch the world walk by..

Chez Hannah for the best falafel

Vesna for great manicures

Rue des Rosiers for some individual boutiques and vintage shops

And a great chocolate shop on the Rue de Rivol