Paris Profiles – 7th Arrondissement with Landen Kerr

The 7th arrondissement in Paris is interesting. Given the large number of mainstream tourist attractions in the 7eme, it is unlikely you would visit Paris without spending some time in this historic neighborhood, but I would guess that not too many people spend time getting to know it beyond its famous sites.

Truth be told, I was one of them. However, a few years ago Mr. Misadventures and I stayed at the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel, which is actually in the 15th arrondissement, but right n the border of the 7th and we spent several days eating and exploring the 7th before moving on to the Opéra. It was Christmas time and it was lovely.

I can see the appeal. And so did Landen Kerr who first came to Paris for a semester abroad program, fell in love, and came back permanently! She has a blog where she writes about her life in Paris – the good and the bad and recently launched an online antique shop – if you can't get to Paris – you might buy a piece of it from Landen!

Let's meet Landen's 7th arrondissement!

Favorite thing about the 7th arrondissement.

I really love the feel of the Left Bank and knew that’s where I wanted to live. I landed in the 7th arrondissement because of its central location in Paris. I can walk just about anywhere in the city within an hour, and there are tons of public transportation options as well.

Least favorite thing about the 7th arrondissement.

It’s hard to find a least favorite thing about the 7th arrondissement. During the past year with restaurants being closed due to The Queen, I’ve found myself wishing there were more casual “street food” type restaurants where it was easy to get something to-go. Otherwise, I have no complaints!

What differentiates your arrondissement from all the other parts of the city?

The 7th arrondissement is a bigger arrondissement filled with so much beauty and diverse options for activities. There are so many “big things” to do and see whether it’s the Tour Eiffel, Les Invalides, Musée Rodin, or Musée d’Orsay. At the same time, it also has such a small neighborhood feeling.

Favorite coffee spot in your neighborhood.

It’s hard to beat a café with a great terrasse. Two of my neighborhood favorites are Le Saint Germain and Les Antiquaires. I also love going to Saint Pearl, it has such an inviting atmosphere.

Favorite spot for drinks.

Hands down Le Voltaire. A lot of people might not think of it as a place to get a drink in Paris, but their cocktails are awesome (especially the margarita), and you can’t beat sitting outside with a view of the Louvre. I find that a lot of the time drinks turn into dinner because it’s so much fun and the people at Le Voltaire are some of the kindest in Paris.

Favorite local hangout.

If I’m not on a café terrasse I usually like to sit along the banks of the Seine. I love being by the water. When you’re sitting next to the river it’s almost as if the world around you doesn’t exist. Sometimes I’ll bring a book to read, but more often than not I just like to sit and watch the world go by.

Favorite breakfast spot.

I’ve definitely adopted the French breakfast mentality. I like to have a Sunday morning espresso and a croissant “au bar” at Le Saint Germain. They get their croissants from a boulangerie down the street so they’re very good – lots of flaky layers. It’s one of my favorite rituals and a leisurely way to start the day.

Favorite lunch spot.

It’s hard to beat lunch at Café Varenne. It’s a very typical Parisian café with a zinc bar, tiled floors, gorgeous wood, and waiters dressed in black and white. The food is excellent and all homemade. The menu changes based on the season and they always have daily specials. My favorites are the onion soup which comes with a bowl of cheese on the side and the confit de canard.

Favorite dinner spot.

For delicious French classics, I like Bistrot de Paris. My usual order is steak with béarnaise sauce, a side of buttery mashed potatoes, and I always finish the meal with the sinfully decadent profiteroles. It’s old-school Paris in the best way, it really feels like traveling through time.

One thing you always do/spot you always take friends from out of town to do/see.

I always take people to shop for food because it’s very different from what they’re used to at home. We’ll either go to the Marché Raspail for a French market experience or along Rue du Bac where we stop at the flower shop, butcher, fishmonger, fruits and vegetable shop, cheese shop, and of course boulangerie!

Merci, Landen!

Here are other great spots in the 7th arrondissement that I have curated for you:

7eme Restaurants

> Akabeko (40 Rue de l'Université) French and Japanese fusion.
> Arnaud Nicolas (46 Avenue de la Bourdonnais) charcuterie, terrines, pâtés, and cured meats, oh my!
> Bistrot Belhara (23 Rue Duvivier) neighborhood restaurant with a Basque menu.
> Bistro Saint Dominique (131 Rue Saint-Dominique) classic French dishes.
> Café Central (40 Rue Cler) great lunch spot, vegan burger!
> Cafe Constant (139 Rue Saint-Dominique) fantastic resto run by the well-loved Christian Constant.
> Café Lignac (139 Rue Saint-Dominique) classic French bistro by Cyril Lignac.
> Casa Di Mario (132 Rue du Bac) classic Italian restaurant.
> Chez l’Ami Jean (27 rue Malar) seafood and meat dishes made from sustainable ingredients.
> Chocolat Chapon (69 Rue du Bac) chocolate mousse bar!
> Divellec (18 Rue Fabert) innovative fish and seafood paired with wine.
> Francette (Port de Suffren) beautiful restaurant on a barge below the Eiffel Tower.
> La Fontaine de Mars (129 Rue Saint-Dominique) classic bistro, get the Aubrac steak with sauce au poivre.
> Le Bistrot De Paris (33 Rue de Lille) experience Paris of yesteryear- the classic look of 1900s bistro.
> Le Campanella (18 Av Bosquet) trendy bar and brasserie serving traditional French cuisine.
> Le Moulin de la Vierge (64 Rue Saint-Dominique) delicious eclairs!
> Le Violon d’Ingres (135 Rue Saint-Dominique) Parisian institution of haute cuisine.
> Les Cocottes (135 Rue Saint-Dominique) Christian Constant restaurant serving dishes in cast-iron casserole pots.
> Les Ombres (37 Quai Jacques Chirac) great view of the Eiffel Tower.
> Maison Fleuret Paris (30 Rue des Saints-Pères) cooking school and brunch spot.
> Madame Brasserie (Eiffel Tower, 1st floor) a modern brasserie with a menu created by Theirry Marx.
> Malabar (88 Rue Saint-Dominique) good spot for brunch.
> Marlon (159 Rue de Grenelle) tacos! Get the rock shrimp tempura taco!
> Martine Lambert (39 Rue Cler) famous Normand ice cream maker who opened up a shop in Paris!
> Milagro (85 Avenue Bosquet) serving international cuisine made up of seasonal ingredients.
> Noglu (69 rue de Grenelle) chic spot for quiches and avocado toast.
> Pertinance (29 Rue de l'Exposition) fantastic spot with 2018 Michelin one star from Japanese chefs.

7eme Coffee Shops

> Boulangerie Liberté (39 Rue des Vinaigriers) artisanal breads, pasteries and confectionary.
> Coutume Café (47 Rue de Babylone) trendy cafe with great coffee.
> Cuillier (68, rue de Grenelle) serves Belleville Brûlerie coffee (yummy!).
> Cuppa Cafe (86 Rue de l'Université) wonderful brunch with excellent burrata.
> Des Gâteaux et du Pain (89 Rue du Bac) don't miss the pomme tatin with maple syrup.
> Judy (18 rue de Fleurus) serves Costume coffee, which is exceptional.
> Kozy Bosquet (79 Av Bosquet) an all-week brunch restaurant with good vibes and coffee.
> Marcello (8 Rue Mabillon) Italian forward, great terrace.
> Philippe Conticini (37 Rue de Varenne) delicious pastries.
> Saint Pearl (38 rue des Saints-Pères) tiny but cozy.
> Tapisserie (16 Av de la Motte Picquet) offers artisanal seasonal pastries and fair trade grocery products.
> %ARABICA (53-57 Rue de Grenelle) go for the latte art, stay for the pastries.

7eme Bars

> Au Sauvignon (80 Rue des Saints-Pères) wine bar.
> Bar du Central (99 Rue Saint-Dominique) great local bar and has a good burger too!
> Fitzgerald (54 Boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg) hidden bar behind a restaurant.
> O'Brien's (77 Rue Saint-Dominique) great French beers on draft.
> Rosa Bonheur sur Seine (Port des Invalides, Quai d’Orsay) great terrace with a great view of Pont Alexandre III bridge.
> The Club (24 Rue Surcouf) creative cocktails.

7eme Parks, Museums & Things to Do

> American Library (10 Rue du Général Camou) rich history in this place, read The Paris Library for more!
> Assemblée Nationale (126 Rue de l'Université) lower house of the French parliament, gorgeous building.
> Deyrolle (46 Rue du Bac) taxidermy shop from the 1800s with an attached museum.
> Eiffel Tower (5 Avenue Anatole France) a must at least once!
> Esplanade Jacques Chaban-Delmas (Ave de Breteuil) green space.
> Gusto (218 Rue de Grenelle) great little pizza shop.
> Hôtel des Invalides (Rond-Point du Bleuet de France) Napoleon's final resting place.
> Hôtel Matignon (57 Rue de Varenne) official residence of the Prime Minister of France.
> Jardin Catherine Labouré (29 Rue de Babylone) named after the 19th century nun to whom the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared. The garden itself is scenic with vine-covered pergolas and an ancient vegetable garden from the 1600s.
> Musée des Egouts de Paris (93 Quai d'Orsay) sewer museum!
> Musée d’Orsay (1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur) my absolute favorite museum, former Beaux-Arts railway station.
> Musée du Quai Branly (37 Quai Branly) museum indigenous art and cultures of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.
> Musée Rodin (77 Rue de Varenne) museum with Auguste Rodin’s most famous sculptures.
> Square Samuel Rousseau (2 Rue Casimir Périer) Small square facing the church of St. Clotilde.

7eme Shopping

> Alléno & Rivoire (9 Rue du Champ de Mars) a premiere, discreet chocolate boutique.
> Beaupassage (14 Bd Raspail) a lively, open-air space with food terraces, wine cellars and contemporary French art.
> Deyrolle (46 Rue de Bac) fun gardening shop, featured in Midnight in Paris.
> Le Bon Marché (24 Rue de Sèvres) the oldest department store in Paris.
> Marie-Anne Cantin (12 rue du Champ de Mars) Cheese shop.
> Rue Saint-Dominique is full of upmarket shops.
> Rue Cler open-air market street
> Saxe-Breteuil Market (Place de Breteuil and Avenue de Saxe) beautiful food market.

7eme Lodging

> Hôtel Duc de St.-Simon (14 Rue de St.-Simon) 34 room small hotel that feels like you are staying in a home.
> Hôtel Juliana (10-12 Rue Cognacq Jay) art deco chic hotel.
> Hôtel Le Bellechasse (8 Rue de Bellechasse) Christian Lacroix designed hotel practically next to the Musée d’Orsay.
> Hotel Le Cinq Codet (5 Rue Louis Codet) urban, modern boutique hotel, very close to the Rodin Museum.
> Hotel Le Narcisse Blanc & Spa (19 Boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg) small, luxury boutique hotel.
> Hôtel Le Tourville (16 Ave. de Tourville) 1930s Neo-classical hotel.
> Hôtel Montalembert (3 Rue de Montalembert) near the Musée du Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay.
> Hôtel Pont Royal (7 Rue de Montelambert) next to Les Tuileries garden.
> Hôtel Saint Dominique (62 Rue Saint-Dominique) sophisticated with a cool courtyard.
> Hôtel Verneuil (8 Rue de Verneuil) 17th-century building.
> J.K. Place (82 rue de Lille) luxurious 30 room hotel from an Italian hotel chain.
> Le Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain (5 Rue du Pré aux Clercs) beautiful boutique hotel.

Fin!

You can connect with Landen on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, and of course on her blog or her online store, La Porte Bonheur.

How about you? Do you have any 7th arrondissement additions? Have you been to this area of Paris? Did you find this post helpful for a future trip?

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