Life Abundant

Belleville

This post is dedicated completely to the parts of Paris that are maybe a little less trodden by the typical tourist passing through but are well worth pointing out and adding to your itinerary as you explore this beautiful city.  The first spot we’d like to highlight is the Belleville neighborhood a few metro stops northeast of Notre Dame.  This neighborhood is a little rough around the edges but is up and coming and worth exploring for a few hours.  It’s full of incredible organic coffee shops, fun bars and restaurants, and the Rue Denoyez street which has been completely taken over by local street artists showcasing their work through graffiti.  The Parc de Belleville also offers a pretty great view of the city and is worth a stop.  Walk directly south-west from Belleville to the Canal St. Martin for an afternoon walk under the trees.  Locals enjoy their lunches scattered along its tranquil banks for a break from their everyday norm.

Rue Cremieux

If you’re looking for color and variety in the city’s neighborhood architecture, stroll down Rue Cremieux. It’s worth a visit if you find yourself looking for more than the traditional, but beautiful Parisian style buildings.  The neighborhood itself is tranquil with not a lot to d around, but is spiced up by the fun color pallet of this street.

The Latin Quarter

Directly south, across the Seine river from Notre Dame begins the Latin Quarter, home to the Shakespeare and Company bookstore which is chock-full of unique and quirky books from floor to ceiling.  Stop here for an afternoon rest in the reading room on the top floor, or if you’re looking for an inexpensive place to stay in downtown Paris, there’s a rumor that in exchange for volunteering to stock bookshelves they offer a few free beds.  Continue into the bustling streets of the neighborhood and discover some incredible international food options, where you can either stay for a sit-down meal or take your food with you as you explore the area.  We decided on a Greek gyro from one of the street vendors and weren’t disappointed.

Bertie’s CupCakery

You’ll want to stop for a mid-afternoon snack at Bertie’s CupCakery .  Just a few steps from Notre Dame Cathedral on Rue Chanoinesse, you will find lots of traditional and unique flavors of cupcakes to try…our cupcake of choice was chocolate strawberry.  Sit outside at their streetside table for two and enjoy one of the best cupcakes in the city.

The Jewish Quarter

A stop in the Jewish quarter is a must.  If you don’t have time for any other off the beaten track things that we’ve suggested, this neighborhood is one that you don’t want to miss! It has some of the best food in the city and has lots of fun shops, bakeries, and restaurants to explore.

Two of our favorite food stops during our long weekend in Paris was in this neighborhood including the famous L’as Du Falafel. Don’t let the long line out the door turn you away. It moves quickly and is worth the wait! It is by far the best falafel in the city. You can take away or eat in and will never want to eat falafel anywhere else once trying theirs! Right across the street from the famous falafel shop is the Traiteur Boulangerie where you should most definitely stop to pick up a pastry or one of their incredible prepared dishes. There is so much to choose from!

Directly across the street from this tasty boulangerie, you will see a sign for Coiffeur, a brilliant second-hand shop full of lots of fun vintage treasures for a good price… you have to stop in!  Just a few more doors down the street you’ll find the Kusmi Tea shop (one of a few locations in Paris). This little gem holds almost every tea imaginable, and if you’re a tea lover like I am you’ll probably find that long lost blend that you’ve been searching for among their collection!

Montmartre

Perched on top of the cities highest hill offering incredible views, is the neighborhood of Montmartre. Take a few hours to explore the winding streets of this neighborhood, then climb the steps of the Sacre Coeur Church to watch the sunset over the glorious city skyline. This neighborhood was the old artist quarter and has ample hidden streets that seem to be continuously lit with golden light.  Cozy bars and restaurants hug every corner and invite passers-by to sit and relax while sampling some French wine, pizza, or your choice of almost any other kind of food you can think of.

The Perfect Picnic

For our final highlight of uncharted Paris, we would like to share with you our absolute favorite past time in the city. Picnicking under the Eiffel Tower.  As you wander throughout the day pick up a few treats that look good to you from various bakeries and markets, then head to the gardens just to the left of the tower (when the Seine river is behind the tower) where it is much less crowded.  Take some time to reflect on your day as you watch the tower light up in the setting sun, and turn from gold to a sparkling diamond with the coming night.