24 HOURS IN PARIS – SAINT-GERMAIN & THE LATIN QUARTER

I always think of Paris as a city split into 20 parts because of the 20 arrondissements and with that in mind, I started thinking about writing posts on each individual district of Paris because there’s so much to see and do in this beautiful city. It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t give each district your undivided attention and immerse yourself in everything it has to offer and my first choice is my favourite part of Paris, the Latin Quarter. Just the word arrondissement conjures up romantic images because French is such a sensual language, it’s weird I know but couple that with the iconic blue and green street signs that are so quintessentially Parisian are the reasons I get so excited when I set foot in Paris….. I look up at those familiar signs and I feel at home.  So when I decided to start the blog, I wanted to write about and concentrate on one or two arrondissements at a time.  Paris, undoubtedly the most romantic city in the world, there isn’t a film, a book or magazine that doesn’t depict the city in this light, but Paris is so much more than this.  All you need to do is to wander off the predictable tourist traps and Paris is yours for the taking, it’ll mesmerise and seduce you until it has you firmly in its grip squeezing you tighter and tighter with each visit as it did me the very first time I set foot in Paris and it has only intensified with each visit. Paris’ image is that of romance and it’s a city envied the world over for that reason alone, isn’t it the first place you visit with a new lover? One imagines romantic trysts in luxurious hotels and all the other clichés so common for this city but the thing is, Paris screams romance wherever you are because each little cobblestone alleyway, each walk along the Seine, each quiet little bistro becomes your romantic story through the experiences and memories  you create and share. Each time I arrive in Paris, it’s like that romance begins all over again, tantalising memories come flooding back and I tingle all over to be in the city that I adore so much and so yes, it really is the most romantic city in the world and where better to embrace this romance than the magical Latin Quarter.

To know Paris is to first know that it is divided into districts known as “arrondissements” and each one has its own unique style and vibe and of course they are all separated by the River Seine – the Left Bank or Rive Gauche, my favourite part of Paris and the Right Bank, Rive Droite. The best way to see Paris is very much dependent on how long you’re there but concentrating on a couple of arrondissements close to each other is a good start. If you look at the map below, they start in the centre and spiral out so each arrondissement is next to it’s corresponding number. These arrondissements also fall into little districts of Paris such as Montmartre (18) the Marais (3 & 4) the Latin Quarter/St Germain (5 & 6) and Montparnasse (14 & 15) are just some examples. Each has its own unique beauty and charm. My destination of choice is the Latin Quarter.

GETTING THERE

What could be more exciting and more convenient than to hop on a train from London and in a little over 2 hours, you’re in a foreign city experiencing European café culture.  That’s the beauty of Eurostar! I honestly don’t know why I didn’t listen to my husband and just about everyone else when they used to ask, “why are you flying to Paris?” and indeed, why was I? It’s so simple, head over to Eurostar’s website, select your dates and book, it couldn’t be simpler.

Arriving at St Pancras station is a doddle, it’s just 30 minutes on the Metropolitan line from my home. There isn’t the fuss and bother of checking in 2 hours before like when you fly, all you need is 30-45 minutes. Having said that, I like to check in an hour before as sometimes St Pancras can get very busy at peak times and holidays and I don’t like the stress and worry wondering if I’ll make it on time. I like to check in, sit down and have a coffee first. Security is usually a breeze, pop your baggage on a tray, same system as at the airport, walk through the metal-detector security and show your passport at the checkpoint and you’re done.

ARRIVING AT GARE DU NORD

Gare du Nord is the station you’ll arrive at from London, when you get off the train, you can either catch the metro downstairs or head over to the taxi rank, 15-20 euros is usually all you’ll need to get to your hotel which will surely be in the centre of the city. It’s well organised, you’ll probably have to wait about 10 minutes sometimes longer depending on time of day to queue to get a taxi.

WHERE TO STAY

One of my favourite hotel’s is the Hotel D’Aubusson in Saint-Germain-des-pres (6^th, Latin Quarter district) right by the Pont Neuf on rue Dauphine. It’s a charming and stylish 17^th century style hotel with an antique filled dining area, stunning fireplace, refined rooms with period features and a cool cocktail/piano bar.  The best bit and this is why it has me going back again and again is its Jazz Bar, the famous Café Laurent has live jazz music from Wednesday to Sunday so be sure to book your stay between these days. It also has a delightful courtyard which is open during the summer months and weather permitting. Click on the link to read more on the Hotel D’Aubusson.

Just off the Saint-Germain-des-pres and just off Rue Bonaparte is the delightful boutique hotel, Hotel de L’Abbaye.  It’s an oasis of serenity and calm in a bustling city with a tranquil garden, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in peaceful Montmartre.  The rooms are all quite different, chic, classic and luxurious, the lobby of the hotel is intimate, cosy and comforting, the perfect place to enjoy a drink at the bar.

For a spot of Left Bank glamour, why not stay at the newly renovated Hotel Lutecia? part of the Se tGroup of hotels of which is our very own Hotel Cafe Royal  in Regent Street which is where I got married. The Lutetia is an uber-cool contemporary  hotel in keeping with the Set Group’s crisp modern sophisticated theme. Boasting 6 bars and restaurants, including the Patio Art Deco, it’s perfect for the summer months and two super cool bars.  It’s high on my list of hotels to visit in Paris.

Another hotel high on my list is L’ Hotel which was constructed in 1828, it’s a quirky, swanky 5 * boutique hotel and with just 20 rooms, it’s the smallest 5* in Paris. It has undergone major renovation designed by famous interior designer Jacques Garcia, the hotel has been visited over the years by many famous guests including Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly and Serge Gainsbourg. Oscar Wilde made it his residence from 1898 to 1900 and is the reason I have wanted to go for so long, I’m a huge fan of this notable English playwright and poet. It’s a really unusual bohemian, hip and trendy utterly charming hotel with Michelin starred dining and a Hammam pool nestled under a stone vault. The hotel is situated minutes away from some of my favourite Left Bank streets, Rue Jacob, rue Bonaparte and rue de Seine.

WHAT TO DO

You’re here for little over 24 hours so what do you do? Well, the secret is not too much, don’t try and cover the whole of Paris.  Stick to your two to three arrondissements such as Saint-German and the Latin Quarter which is rich in history and romance with its cobbled streets and alleyways, it’s calling out to be discovered.  First stop, a visit to Shakespeare and Company book shop, even if you’re not a lover of books, step inside, trust me, you’ll be hooked.  It feels like you’re in an Aladdin’s cave full of literary gems, you’re sure to find that rare book you’ve been searching your whole life for.  I spent about an hour in here flicking through the many books, there’s also a new café next door to enjoy a good coffee while browsing your purchase. Problem is, I love books so much, I left confused, I just didn’t know what to buy!! Then there’s hubby about to scream at me but with the new coffee shop next door, he’ll be fine sitting outside with a coffee and cigarette while I take even longer getting confused. Another iconic book shop in the Latin Quarter is Abbey Bookshop on rue de la Parcheminerie, opened in 1989 by Canadian Brian Spence. Paris has many bookshops waiting to be  discovered on the many trips I feel sure you’ll be making to this culture rich city.  Shakespeare and Company is right near the Notre Dame Cathedral, if you’re in Paris for a longer than 24 hours, it’s one of Paris’ top ten things to see. Less than a three minute walk from Shakespeare & Company is Rue Galande, it’s literally round the corner and is definitely a must. A bustling street full of life with fabulous little shops and restaurants and of course a very well known pastry shop called Odette they make the best choux buns this side of Paris, crispy and light like little puffs of clouds. Also on rue Galande, number 63 is a new bakery taking the Latin Quarter by storm, Circus Bakery, they have a branch in the Marais called Fragments. Come here for artisan bread and cinnamon buns to die for.

 

on rue

Not far from Odette, a maze of narrow medieval streets starting with rue de la Harpe which dates back to Roman Times and leads to rue Saint-Severin. This is the Latin Quarter at its best full of vibrancy and life, great shops, cafés, authentic restaurants especially Greek and Italian and shops selling little trinkets and souvenirs. It reminds me of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. Rue Saint-Severin comes to an end at Boulevard Saint-Germain, meander around this area, off Boulevard Saint-Germain where it meets with rue Saint-Andre-des-Arts. You’ll be rewarded with the most enchanting passage, Cour de Commerce-Saint-Andre, a narrow cobble-stoned alleyway full of charming shops and bistros, one of the oldest in Paris is Le Procope, great for bistro classics such as duck confit, snails, foie gras, French onion soup and tarte tatin.

How can you go to Boulevard Saint-Germain and not visit the most iconic of cafés, Café de Flore and Le Deux Magots, just sitting down and people watching is a favourite Parisian pastime. Crossing over these cafés to Rue Bonaparte you’ll be visiting one of Paris’ best loved patisseries for macaron’s, it’s an essential part of your visit to Paris and something delicious to take home.

Just off Pierre Hermé (rue Bonaparte) and Rue Jacob is an oasis of calm, the beautiful square Place Furstemberg, there used to be a cute cake shop here but unfortunately, it has closed down now.  Located nearby is the Church of Saint-Sulpice which is situated on the pretty square Place Saint-Sulpice.  I think it’s better to visit somewhere less touristy rather than expend your precious time queuing to get into the Notre-Dame, leave that for a longer visit (sadly, because of the recent devastating fire, it will not be possible to visit the cathedral until remedial works are completed which could take up to five years). Opposite Le Deux Magots on Place Saint-Germain-des-pres, is the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-pres which is also worth a visit, these two ecclesiastical gems are surely enough to satisfy the cultural side of your trip.

Other prominent streets in this area worth a visit are rue de Buci, rue de Seine and the around the corner on Rue Lobineau, you’ll find a covered market, Marche Saint-Germain which is open 6 days a week full of grocers, fishmongers, charcuterie, cheese, Italian and Greek deli’s. There are many other famous streets in Paris dedicated to the foodie such as Rue Mouffetard and rue Montorguil.  Mouffetard is in the 5^th arrondissement so it’s your best bet as you’re in the Latin Quarter but take a 5 minute taxi ride to Montorguil, both are a paradise for food lover’s like me. An array of bistro’s, patisseries and deli’s line both market streets, you’ll return to it again and again.  If you love snails, I recommend you stop by L’Escargot Montorguil.  Take a cab to the 7^th and visit Rue Saint-Dominique, another street full of restaurants and culinary delights, patisseries and boulangeries.  For a foodie, it’s cake heaven and no one makes pastries like the French.

At the end of rue Mouffetard less than a 10 minute walk is the Pantheon, modelled on the Pantheon in Rome – “A temple to all gods”  It was originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, it’s somewhere you need to visit and must be squeezed into your itinerary. Beneath this imposing building is the burial place of notable Parisians such as Voltaire, Victor Hugo and Marie Curie. Have you ever watched the Woody Allen film, Midnight In Paris? the main character played by Owen Wilson sits on the steps of a church one evening and it’s just behind the Pantheon on Montagne Sainte-Geneviève called Eglise Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, it’s a beautiful little spot. The church’s origins dates back to 1222, further building work was completed in 1424. It’s architectural style is that of the Renaissance period but also Gothic in character, the church is listed as a historic monument.      

The Pantheon

Just outside the Pantheon is a café called Le Comptoir du Pantheon where I had a really good value and delicious breakfast as my hotel was around the corner, sometimes having breakfast other than at the hotel is better value and more enjoyable unless you’re staying in a five* deluxe hotel.  On the Île de la Cité, one of Paris’ islands which is about 15 minutes from the Hotel D’Aubusson and right round the corner from the Notre Dame Cathedral is a charming little street called Rue Chanoinesse, wandering off the beaten track is how I made many of my favourite discoveries. Stop by the Au Vieux Paris dArcole, a stunning little café with beautiful wisteria covering the cafe in the spring and summer, it’s one Paris’ most instagrammable spots.  Getting a table outside is so difficult so go early and if not, be sure to take some photos. A few minutes from the Saint-Germain on the Île de la Cité is another church, The Sainte-Chapelle, or “Holy Chapel”, a royal chapel in the Gothic style as with many of Paris’ historical cathedrals and churches and is located within the medieval Palais de la Cité, the residence of the Kings of France until the 14th century. Construction began some time after 1238.

Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis are two of Paris’ islands and are connected by the bridge Pont Saint-Louis, both islands offer a bit of tranquility away from the Parisian traffic and tooting horns and are full of lovely shops and cafés.  Actually to be absolutely correct, Île Saint-Louis is actually in the 4th arrondissement and falls in the Marias neighbourhood however, it’s just a few minutes walk from the other island and the Left Bank so I would really recommend the short walk to visit. The grande dame of all glaces is Berthillon which serves take-away ice cream and has a sit-down Salon de Thé (tea house) where you can enjoy delicious sundaes, rich Parisian hot chocolate, patisserie and hot and cold drinks.  Oh, and don’t forget to visit Cafe St Regis on Île Saint-Louis, perfect for cocktails, coffee, lunch or dinner…..just sit down and watch the world go by.

If museums and gardens are high on your list on a city break, then  a couple of my favourites are the Musee Delacroix – National Museum of Eugene Delacroix, an art museum dedicated to the art of Eugene Delacroix and is very near Place de Rue de Furstemberg. Kill two birds with one stone and visit the museum when you visit Place de Furstemberg (above).  Near the Luxembourg Gardens is the Musée du Luxembourg, the first museum to be opened to the public in Paris in 1750. The Luxembourg Gardens is an oasis of calm; beautiful flowers and plants especially during the blossom season. It’s definitely somewhere to go for a break away from the hustle and bustle and tourists; perhaps enjoy a picnic, a macaron or cake as the iconic patisserie Angelina has a small branch inside the Luxembourg Museum. The Museum less than 5 minutes walk from the gardens.

These are just some of my favourite things to do in the Latin Quarter and perfectly doable on a short trip to Paris, the beauty is just to wander off and discover YOUR Paris.

WHAT TO EAT

Where to start! There are so many cafés, bistros and restaurants to visit in Paris, here are just a few of my favourites which won’t really break the bank and are close by.  If you’re going to be staying at Hotel D’Aubusson, you’ll be within walking distance to one of my favourite restaurants where I spent my birthday a couple of years ago, Les Bouquinistes.  Les Bouquinistes is a Guy Savoy restaurant, a six-dish tasting menu starts at 78 euros per person. This restaurant is situated in my favourite part of Paris near the book sellers along the river Seine les bouquinistes hence the name of the restaurant, it’s literally right around the corner from the hotel and is opposite another famous restaurant, Lapérouse which visually is a work of art. Less than 5 minutes from Les Bouquinistes is a sandy square called Place Dauphine right by Pont Neuf, you can take a romantic stroll here after your meal, it’s dotted with lovely shops and a really good restaurant called Restaurant Paul.

If you prefer something a bit more casual (5 minute cab ride away) then Josephine Chez Dumonet must be on your list of restaurants for quintessential Parisian vibes and excellent food. Its large portions and comforting food has earned it consistently high reviews. I had the best confit of duck here where the meat just fell apart and the fluffiest Grand Marnier Soufflé as light as a cloud with an unmistakable hint of my favourite liqueur, Grand Marnier.

When I visited Paris in October, I ate at probably the most famous bistro in the city, Bistro Paul Bert on rue Paul Bert. When you step inside, you know why booking is essential, it’s full of locals and that’s always a good sign.  Though it’s in the 11^th arrondissement in the Bastille, it really isn’t that far from the Latin Quarter and it will always be in my top 10 of restaurants in Paris.  They serve the best steak in the whole city, take my word for it, you’ll not be disappointed. Do not be under the impression that you can ask for a well-done steak, they will look at you in horror and probably throw you out! Once you’ve eaten here, you’ll know why it’s always so busy.

On Boulevard Saint-Germain opposite Café de Flore is one of Paris’ most legendary brasseries, Brasserie Lipp where I had a decent lunch just before I left Paris one year, it’s beautiful inside, typical of a grand Parisian brasserie with brass detailing, wooden floors and crisp white tablecloths, it’s a Parisian institution.

Polidor is one of the oldest bistros in Paris, it first opened in 1845. The interior of the restaurant is basically unchanged for over 100 years, and the style of cooking remains that of the late 19th century. It was featured in the “Midnight in Paris” which keeps cropping up in a lot of my posts, if you love Paris, it’s a film you have to watch, it’s for this reason alone that I wanted to visit.  It really is as old and historic as is depicted in the film, this was a favourite of Ernest Hemingway’s. The food is pretty good too although I would probably choose to eat lunch here because it’s so casual.  In fact, if you want to enjoy an evening of jazz if you’re staying at the Hotel D’Abusson, a great idea is to grab a baguette on the move for lunch and have an early dinner here at 6pm, head back to the hotel, shower and get ready for an evening of cocktails and jazz, Café Laurent opens at 8pm up until 11:30pm.

For a casual bit of dining whether that’s evening or during the day, a place just around the corner from Boulevard Saint-Germain on Carrefour de l’Odéon is L’avant de Comptoir and next that belonging to the same chef, Le Comptoir. Both places made famous by the late Anthony Bourdain in his No Reservations programme, I immediately wanted to visit for that reason and last August, I had the great pleasure of doing so however, I couldn’t get in to Le Comptoir which has a tapas concept but L’avent de Comptoir was fantastic, pay a visit for lunch after you’ve explored the Saint-Germain area.

Last but by no means least, a visit to either Café de Flore or Le Deux Magots is an absolute must, it’s where the phrase “café intellectualising” was coined all those years ago when it was frequented by literary giants such Ernest Hemingway and John F Fitzgerald. You will have the most decadent hot chocolate to die for, so rich and almost soporific, it left me in a dreamy trance the first time I tasted this soup like hot chocolate, of course, they serve delicious light lunches, mind the price though, it’s quite expensive, no surprise there.

Paris is just full of the prettiest facades and the bistro Le Petit Zinc is so pretty to look at but it isn’t just a “pretty face” it serves great food too.  In the evening, this square is positively buzzing with atmosphere, we had the best seafood platter/tower full of unusual shellfish and oysters of course, Le Petit Zinc is located on rue Saint-Benoit.

Well, that’s it! There is so much more that I can add to this post about the Latin Quarter of Paris, it’s a vibrant part of the city, so romantic, so enchanting and full of history, just wander off and discover a little bit of Paris that remains intimate and special to you and in the words of Audrey Hepburn, “Paris is always a good idea” and indeed it is.

Most of the photos here are  my own, more arrondissements to come, finally, this song is one of my favourite French songs by singer Nicoletta and is all about Saint-Germain-des-pres.

Follow my blog on Bloglovin

Hotel D’Aubusson

33 Rue Dauphine

Saint-Germain-Des-Pres

75006

+33 1 43 29 43 43

reservations@hoteldaubusson.com

Hotel de L’Abbaye

10 Rue Cassette

Saint-Germain-Des-Pres

75006

+33 1 45 44 38

hotel.abbaye@wanadoo.fr

L’Hotel

13 rue des Beaux-Arts