Paris' Top 5 Underrated Things

Seen the Eiffel Tower? Been to the Lourve? Here are my top five underrated experiences in Paris.



#1 Living like a Parisian
Bypass the hotels and experience why Paris is one of the best cities in the world to live in. Hire a decent apartment with a kitchen and you can take advantage of the many wonderful food stores around the place. A typical day of living like a Parisian would involve the following. Get up and head down the road to the bakery. Grab a couple of croissants and then head to the deli and get some fresh sliced jambon and fromage. Stop by the market and grab some bright red cherry tomatoes. After breakfast wander back downstairs to one of the local cafes and pull up chair out the front and suck down a café or three while trying to read s French newspaper or at least looking at everyone walking by. Meander through the local streets and check out a few of the shops or galleries. If hungry then grab a fresh cooked crepe from one of the guys on the corner. Late afternoon pull up at a wine bar and grab a sweet glass of Kir and kick back and soak up the scenery and start planning what is on the menu for dinner. Undecided then head to the market and pick up some super fresh veggies and a nice bottle of vino then head to the butcher who will cut you a fresh ribeye. Once home open the windows up to your apartment and let the sounds of Paris entertain you with a bit of Edith Piaf in the background while you cook up a storm.

#2 North Le Marais
Forget St Germain. The new happening spot in Paris is Le Marais. If you want to escape the crowds then go and get lost in the small laneways of the Le Marais. My favorite section is the northside in the 3rd Arr. The block either side of Rue de Bretagne is loaded with awesome little shops and excellent places to get good food and coffee.

#3 Belleville Graffiti (Street Art in General)
Paris has become a real hub for street art. The most prolific are packman style mosaics which are found all over the city. Stencil’s and paste ups are also very popular. Without a doubt the best place I saw was Rue Denoyez in Belleville. This was an entire street which had had countless layers of graffiti, stencils, posters and various other bits of street art lined along the entire street. Very reminiscent of some of the alleys in Melbourne but on a much grander scale.

#4 Marche Des Enfants Rouges Market
The Marche Des Enfants Rouges is the oldest covered market in Paris. It is not super big but it contains the perfect mix of food stalls. The quality of the produce there is amazing. I cooked up several meals from veggies so fresh it was like they were just picked from the garden. There are also some excellent little cafes surrounding the market which produce excellent food and some sensational coffee. A real winner to go and have lunch.

#5 Canal St Martin
Canal St Martin is a great spot to go for a wander and soak up some diverse Parisian culture. It is a beautiful walk and there are plenty of nice cafes along the way to quench your thirst. There are a series of loch’s along the way and it is quite fun to watch the boats traversing these.