I apologize for having a little Sex and The City on the brain. With the movie coming out in two weeks and me watching the series on my commute, there’s little wonder! Bear with me, it will be over soon.
[Update 2013] Those words were written nearly three years ago, yet this post remains the most visited post ever. So, I feel it is my obligation as a lifelong Sex and the City fan to make sure that information remains up-to-date. Thanks to other SATC fans I have been able to learn the identity of some of the locations that alluded me. Now back to the post!
There has always been one little detail about the last episode of Season 6 of Sex and The City that has driven me crazy. Carrie goes to have lunch with Petrovsky’s ex Juliette, who happens to be the beautiful French actress, Carole Bouquet (an ex-Bond girl as well!). The scene takes place in a restaurant that faces the Seine. It was modern and funky with plastic chairs and I have been dying to know where it is for years!
For some reason I had it in my mind that it was a restaurant inside of a museum and I had tried unsuccessfully to figure out exactly which one. After awhile I forgot about it. But about two months ago, as I was downloading the series on iTunes so that I could watch it on my iPhone I re-remembered that I had never found the answer to my search. Then it hit me. I have a French husband!
Well I knew that. But I had not thought about using him to help me in my search. He found it in 7 minutes. Seven minutes! The restaurant is called Kong. Yay, happy day! It’s not that I necessarily want to go there, it just that I needed the information to close the loop. Ever happen to you, just need to know something, not to take action, but to just know it?
Kong’s looks like a truly funky-arty place! In the “Presentation” (like Introduction in English) section of their website they offer a fantastical illustration of their location, which in my humble opinion is the epitome of the French art of high drama! See if you can understand half of what is described there! Go read it, I’ll wait…
Now that I know that the restaurant Carrie met Juliette was Kong’s, there are a few other places I wonder about. After all, Paris is my heart and I am so curious to explore every corner of her, and the SATC tie-in is a bonus! They have SATC tours in New York (much to the New Yorkers chagrin!), but wouldn’t it be fun to go on a Paris one? I looked, it doesn’t exist.
So if I was going to create my own Sex and The City Paris Tour, this is what it would look like.
The Hôtel Plaza Athénée.
Carrie’s arrival, of course! This is where Carrie and Alec Petrovsky lived during their time in the city of light. It is a Parisian institution, in fact it is a national landmark. It’s a five star palace with all the trimmings. It’s sumptuous, luxurious and totally out of my price range!
Although totally within the means of both Alec and Mr. Big. Carrie didn’t know how good she had it! Alain Ducasse has a restaurant there, the flagship of all his restaurants and a meal there would be exceptional. You can drool over the hotel here. And this is what the suite they filmed in looks like:
Cador Pâtisserie.
The salon du thé where Carrie gourds herself with French pastries after being out in the rain, precariously walking on cobblestone in her expensive shoes, and stepping in dog you-know-what sadly no longer exists. The interior looks absolutely gorgeous!
The spot is located on the corner of Rue de Louvre & Rue Amiral de Coligny, right now there is a different restaurant in that spot. I had originally thought it was Angelina’s where they serve magnificent pastries and hot chocolate, but alas that was not the case.
I love the bull mastiff who has a seat at the table next to her, classic Parisian, although I have never seen a dog this big on a chair, only small dogs.
Jeu de Paume museum.
This is where Alec was preparing to display his art for his show in Paris. It’s a contemporary art and photography museum. The building architecture looks very interesting, but I have never been. I remember Carrie coming into the museum to look for Alec. The lighting was beautiful. You can find more information on the museum here.
Le Pont des Arts.
This one I have actually walked across. It is also known to Parisians as Le Pont des Amoureux or Lover’s Bridge. It is one of the few pedestrian only bridges (if not the only?) and it is beautiful at night. The perfect setting for the Carrie-Mr.-Big reunion. These days you cannot get an unobstructed view as it now is full of love locks.
Places that I have no idea where they are and would LOVE to find out. If you know where any of the following are, please let me know!
The bookstore where Carrie sees her book. She sees the French version of Sex and the City in the window display and then walks inside to find that she has fans! They invite her out to dinner so that they can get to know her better, a chance to meet and make some Parisian friends. Where is the bookstore? And where is the restaurant that Carrie shows up late because Alec kept her?
So that’s it! My proposed Sex and The City Paris tour.
Does my tour sound like fun? Want to go with me? Got any additional suggestions for tour stops?
While you’re here, maybe you’d like to read my 5 Things Sex and the City taught me about life, if you’re a fan you probably took away some of the same lessons!
I had a really good steak at Kong once. It’s decorated by Starck which explains those chairs and the photo of a sexy Japanese woman on the ceiling. Don’t know the bookstore though.
I’d definitely pay to take that tour. Well done, Andi. You know, it’s too bad it didn’t work out for Carrie in Paris. I would be happy to at least trade places for a little while.
Kong is fun (had lots of champagne there for my birthday last year) but crazy overpriced.
I’m a big SITC fan but, as a Parisienne, I have to say I really didn’t like those Paris episodes. I feel they showed a very skewed image of Paris, the Paris of the über-rich tourist, not the relaxed, fun Paris where actual 30-something women hang out and that Carrie might have enjoyed!
So go for your SITC tour, by all means, but add a little “real” Paris flavour!
@Res, I totally agree that they stereotyped Parisians in a negative fashion, but I absolutely love the cinematography in the filming of the episodes, the colors were beautiful, her outfits magnificent and the scenery sublime, but the how they portrayed Parisian…not good!
@Lynn, I might seriously put this tour together!
@Linda, ahh Starck, he’s been everywhere, my bathroom at home is even Starck…!
I’d take that tour in a heartbeat.
I ALWAYS have to close the loop. It drives me crazy when I can’t.
Is it sick that I read this line–”She sees the French version of Sex and the City in the window display and then walks inside to find that she has fans!”–and then thought: I want that for me! I want that to happen to me!
@Susan, I might just plan it!
@Alisa, isn’t that every writer’s dream?
I would do this tour! I did the SATC tour in NY a few years back and it was superb.
Andi, you need to organise this!
Andi, love, love this post! First, because it gives me little nuggets that I didn’t know before and secondly, because I think you read the mind of so many SATC fans… (even if we don’t want to seem gitty, we are, we are)
And yes… someday I hope (I will?) see my book in a bookshop window. You, too.
@Sandy, thanks, I think we SATC gals are quite sophisticated…:-) I think it is every writer’s dream to see their book in a book store window!
Free Home Video, a part of our Free.fr TV/Internet/Phone pack, has Seasons 1, 2, and 3 of SATC airing right now. I’ve re-watched 1 and 2 and am in the middle of 3. I never did get to see Season 6, but did see the first movie. Before I went to see the movie, I visited a good friend of mine who loves the show and summarized very adequately all of Season 6 for me so I would know what was going on.
Also, I saw the SATC movie the same afternoon I left to move to Paris. I needed to kill some time before the flight, and so I went. It was the last fun thing I did in the States before leaving.
I love your SATC posts here. I have it on the brain, too, and re-watching the show reminds me of just what an influence the show was on the culture and trends for women during the time it aired.
I was looking to see if there were other posts or information online to explain more of the shooting locations, and you seem to have it really covered! There was this nice piece here: An American Girl in Paris, but yours is still more comprehensive.
I just walked past Angelina’s last night.
I think you are right: that looks a lot like the interior.
I see what Res is saying about it not being the “real” Paris that is represented (and you know I am all about keepin’ in real in Paris, lol), but that is actually one thing I liked about the series, too: it was not all that real. It was always a tale of a fairly upscale life in NYC, too, and that is all a part of the fantasy. The Paris shown here really is the Movie Star and Starlet Paris — the one that is for the rich and sometimes famous.
Anyway, thank you for this post and for the previous one about the things you learned from SATC, too (on which I did not comment, but enjoyed reading!). It really was a ground-breaking kind of show and deserves our love.
Ahhhhh!! I just found this post at parisdeuxieme.com: SATC Nostalgia which says this about the café scene: “The scene where Carrie sits in a patisserie and is feeding pastry to the dog at the table next to hers was shot in an actual pastry shop that used to be on the corner of the Place du Louvre, with views on the colonnade and the square.”
There is a good write-up there and linked in YouTube vids, too.
This is the kind of post I love: one that inspires me to research the web, lol. I’m really curious about the book store, too, and wish I could see some of these scenes now.
@Karin, Thanks for the links and the wonderful comments – as always!. I started watching SATC late, after it was off the air, but love it!
@Karin, keep going, you have to see ALL 6 seasons!
Sign me up! This sounds fantastic!! (As usual, great post!)
Has anyone marketed this tour? Who needs the Da Vinci Code tour when one can easily do this and have so much fun? great post.
@Avi, oh the Da Vinci code one would be cool too! But yeah, SATC would be funner!!
@Lyn, the list is growing!
I can help you with the restaurant where Carrie’s party was – it’s in Brooklyn, not Paris. I’m also rewatching the series to get prepared for the movie – and thanks for the name of the Parisian restaurant with the ghost chairs. I’ve always wanted to know.
I’ve eaten at KONG!!! It’s EXCELLENT food. I don’t particularly care for the skanky hostesses that cause all the men in the dining room to stare open-mouthed and drool, but the food was great and the service was top notch. GREAT view of the Seine. It’s a bit more expensive, but I’d rather put some money into a meal there than at 4 mediocre places!
Wish we could see the movie together when it opens here!
Your tour sounds amazing! I’ve nothing to add because I don’t know much about Paris, I only know I’ve always wanted to visit.
A tour like that would be a great draw to the city!
@Malia, hi and welcome! You can learn a lot about Paris here and maybe someday you will get there for real!
@Lindsey, thanks for the review…now I am curious about trying it out….may have to do that on my next trip.
@Elspeth, oh wow! thanks for the info, interesting that they filmed in in NY!
Hi there,
The patisserie where Carries feeds the dog cake is called Cador Patisserie. It is located on the corner of Rue de Louvre & Rue Amiral de Coligny. However, it has since been closed down & turned into a restaurant.
Does anyone happen to know the area where Carrie steps in dog poo & where the little girl hits her on the head?!
Have also just remembered that the phonebooth where Carrie calls Miranda is in Place St Sulpice!
@Caroline, I will have my husband take a look at the scene and see if he can figure it out.
@Caroline, awesome! Another mystery solved!
Hey guys,
i managed to do a bit of detective work myself & found out the street with the dog poo (lol!) is rue Servandoni in the 6th arr.
Im going to Paris on Saturday so will have check it out!
hello,
i’m a Brit living in Paris, and have been desperate to do an SATC ‘tour’ whilst here – this is great! definitely the most comprehensive. you should go for it professionally! x
@Chloe – thanks!
I would take the tour. In fact I will be in Paris Oct 5 through 10. When would you be doing your first tours?
@Julie, OMG we are just going to miss each other, and I still owe you hotel info!
Thanks Andi. We found a hotel. I’m going with nancy kirwan and she has a favorite hotel in the Latin Quarter.
Hi,
The breakfast bar is not angelena but cador in paris…
I know this article is old but I wanted to say the bookstore is at Rue Henry De Jouvenel it is in the very corner of that part. http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o220/misskmfan/France-RueHenryDeJouvenel.jpg
Also the part with the dog poo is Rue Servandoni. Does anyone know where the fountain is that Carrie goes to in order to clean her shoes?
@Shoe_Guy, thank you SO much, I need to fill in the blanks so I really appreciate this!
Just watched the last two episodes, and came here bridge-hunting. Thanks for the other localities! Would you believe that if you check the Google Earth street view of Place St Sulpice there is a poster for the first SATC movie?!
It would make sense that they stayed in the same area as rue Servandoni and Place St Sulpice for the fountain. There is a likely one on rue Bonaparte at rue Honore Chevalier, but I can’t see a Louboutin-level tap!
@Judith, I need to check out that map! Thanks for the suggestions!
Hi!!! Im trying to go this year to Paris, and I really love do that tour (Sex & The City, Paris) if you have organice it already…. I LOVE SEX & THE CITY…. And I loved the movies too…Both of it !!! Do you think Im crazy…? Greatings from Madrid
Great blog! Anyone around Paris 26-27 May 2011?
We should get together and try out this SATC Paris tour!
I have been to the bridge – Le Pont Des Arts – its by the Musee de Louvre. If you were to face the Louvre with the glass pyramids in front of you, you walk through to the middle courtyard and then turn right. Hope that description makes sense. It is an awesome thing to see. I have some friends who got married recently and are to going to Paris on part of their honeymoon and for a wedding present we gave them a lock to place on the bridge for themselves. I gues for the exact location of the bridge, you could also check out the lonely planet website, it’s sure to have it
@Elody, thanks, I actually went, a couple of times and LOVE looking at all the locks!
Carrie washing off her shoe in Paris fountain. The lion’s head was added for the shot.
From film:
http://tinyurl.com/7m3o5u7
Pic we took:
http://tinyurl.com/7kdua4e
@PIP, thank you for the awesome addition to the list!
Lovers Bridge or Le Pont des Arts is behind Notre Dame church. It is a bit farther from The Louvre. I just got back from Paris two weeks ago and went to Le Pont des Arts.
@Eden, thanks for the comment and continuing to contribute to this post!
Love this idea! Totally going to rewatch some SATC episodes before I go to Paris next week to get psyched up
@Christine, please report back like others have if you find new spots! Have a great time in Paris!
I’d love to go to Angelina Salon de Thé to have their hot chocolate and have my picture taken like SJP there!
I loved the Sex and the city tour in New York. Wish they had one for Paris!!!! Going to Paris for the first time next September and I’m definitely going to Angelina a collegaue recommended their hot chocolate as well.
@Rena, you will love visiting Paris with a SATC lens! Angelina is a must!
I’m insane about Paris! Been there 5 times so far & never wanna stop! There’s nowhere like it in the world! Recently saw the last episodes of Sex in the City & it all came flooding back to me. I just stumbled on your site and love all the interesting info you provide. Keep it up.
@Vivian, merci, that is so sweet!
Does anyone know the restaurant in paris where the Russian gives her the diamond carrie necklace and then all his friends turn up?
@Tina, oh that’s a good one! Let me work on that one for you!
I just discoverd your article about all the places in Paris where Carrie was in the last season, and is such funny beacause every morning, to go to work, i walk avenue Montaigne. I pass in front of the famous Dior shop where carrie falls, and the fabulous Plaza athenée. And every morning i think about all of these SATC scenes ! i’m a huge fan ^^
If you plan to come to Paris, i will be glad to show you all of these places !
@Caroline, what a wonderful way to spend each day! My daily thought revolves around earthquakes and the Bay Bridge, I much prefer yours!