A Guide to Le Marais

Posted in TravelFranceParis
A Guide to Le Marais

back again…

I find it a bit unbelievable that not too long before my first trip to Paris with one of my good friends from St. Andrews, I only dreamt and wished what Paris would be like. Much like other parts of the world that were {and that are still} on my bucket list. After my first trip, it took about 2 years to go back where I enjoyed a purely luxurious experience with a suite at Le Meurice and casual drinks at Hotel Costes. Little did I know, that just a few months later I would be taking my mum for mother’s day and then realize work will be taking me back over and over again.

As much as I love London, the energy and vibe can get a bit old and you get a bit stuck in this maze between two corners where your creativity needs a bit of a nudge. Sometimes, you just need to get away to peruse the parks, take in the perfumes of the boulangerie and cheekily eavesdrop on the couple next to you in an intimate brasserie.

Le Marais is a neighborhood that I got to properly discover when I was in Paris in April, but didn’t really peruse until this previous trip around. So I put together a little guide to Le Marais.

A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais

LES TOURNELLES I arrived just before the sun swapped it’s way for the moon and I entered a lobby, not too dramatic, but a simple white palate with bold hues of plums and turquoise. Through the opposite end of the lobby was a seating room that housed a modest bar and a seating area that allowed for a space to gather or an early morning work retreat. After an uninterrupted slumber, I pulled the curtain and opened the window to be conveniently nestled in the midst of the Marais’ Parisian rooftops. It was absolutely gorgeous. Breakfast was the perfect start to the day with fresh baguettes and pastries, fruit and yoghurt and enough cheese and meat to keep me through the late afternoon. It was a right in the midst of it all with the Place des Vosges around the corner, but it provided a sanctuary of sort.

HOTEL MARAIS BASTILLE A place that could be perfect for a family or a business trip. I walked into my room after a long few days that was just at the corner of the hotel. The room included all the amenities, yet had such a luxe touch to it. With interiors industrial and modern to Parisian touches of the windows and the balcony views. I made myself a home for the day and spent much of my time there as I had a laundry list of things that needed to be done. In need of a change in scenery, I made it downstairs near a business area that lined the wall with books about Paris and overlooked an oasis in the midst of the hotel. But before bed, a rain shower that eased all the tension and stress the week had consumed me with before a beautiful night’s sleep. It’s the best place to go for just a touch of luxe, but more about the comfort.

A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais

shop

No guide to Le Marais is complete without mentioning the epic shopping!

RUE VIELE DU TEMPLE This is the holy grail of shopping avenues in Europe for vintage designer goods. You can spot anything from Birkin bags to new-age Vetements. I urge you to just mill through the shops that give you the vibe that describe you the most rather than me providing you with the exact details of which vintage shop to choose.

MERCI The concept store that every person thinks of. I walked through a small facade and came about the red fiat parked outside Merci and knew I was in the right place. There were quirky postcards, to soft bedsheets, gorgeous blouses and even little tote bags with cute French phrases. It’s worth a meander as there is something for everyone.

KEY LABELS If you’re anything like me, always collecting pennies to purchase a good French designer dress or silk blouse, you will love shopping in the boutiques in Le Marais. You must make a visit to my three favorites, as you probably have noticed are Maje, Sandro, Zadig & Voltaire. What to look out for in your guide to Le Marais.

A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais

CARETTE • Time and again I always scoff at friends who order egg dishes during brunch. “It’s easy to make.” Not until I sat and enjoyed my breakfast with a newspaper and cafe creme at Carette. The eggs are extra fluffy! Go for the quiche du jour as it will be made with the finest ingredients the chef picked up just that morning.

POZZETTO • It was hot one of the of the days I was in Paris. Extremely hot and I stumbled upon Pozetto. In between two meetings, I grabbed a cup of gelato and it was easily the best gelato I’ve had (outside of Italy, of course).

L’AS DU FALAFEL • I didn’t visit this last time, but with my mom we stumbled upon L’As du Falafel. There was a long queue right outside and there were a few other falafel restaurants too. We chose the one I mentioned because my mum ran right in. The falafels were crisp to the first taste, soft in the middle, warm and fresh.

LE MARY CELESTE • Looking for a perfect girls night dinner place? Go for the incredible cocktails and the oysters. The space is perfect for getting the girls together for a debrief and enjoying the night after dinner.

A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais

coffee

Foundation The place I return to over and over again. The baristas are sticklers with their coffee and the French can really suffer in this department. From the roasting to the final latte top off, it’s consistent every time.

Boot Cafe Again, an establishment with quality coffee. What I love about this place is that it is humble, quiet and such a cute space and outdoor area. My favorite in this guide to Le Marais.

Fragments If you’re not going for a cheeky treat or a brunch there, then do go in for a quiet coffee to yourself and sit outside admiring the architecture right across from this cafe.

Used Book Cafe In the Merci shop, there is a wall lined with books upon books and in between that wall and a wall of windows sits a cafe. If you’re perusing the northeast part of the Marais, do stop off here for a bit of a rest before you continue to wander.

What would you add to this guide to Le Marais? So glad I got to do this guide to Le Marais!

A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais
A Guide to Le Marais

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