Myda

I am interested in staying at ID# 179 through Vacation in Paris. Did anyone stay at this studio apartment already? Or is anybody familiar with the area? Safe? Noisy? Location as far access to the Metro and RER? Thanks.

Suzanne2

We stayed in the 1 bedroom apt in the same building last Feb. We really liked that apt. I liked being just off of Rue Montorguiel. Lots of good restaurants. There is everything you could possibly want or need on that street. The Les Halles Metro station has many connections so it is very convenient for transportation. The central location means you can walk to the Louvre easily.We like to walk and have walked all the way to the Arche De Triompe from this location. There is a nightclub next door which was a bit loud. The bedroom in our apt was on the inside court yard of the building so we could not hear it from there. However, it was very loud in the living room. The apt you are looking at is also on the inside courtyard so I'm pretty sure noise will not be an issue. A passage at the end of the street takes you to Rue St. Denis. This is a red light area. It is not nearly as bad as the Pigale area. However, it is a bit sleazy. We tended to just walk through and not linger there.
We wanted to stay there again in November but the apt was booked so we are in the Louvre Loft on Rue Mandar. I really prefer this area to some of the other areas we've stayed in over the years. It has a real homey feel to it. Be aware that unlike the 7th arrondisement, for example, English is not widely spoken by the shop keepers here. The only place I can think of where they spoke English to us was in Stohrer, which is an expensive but beautiful boulangerie. I do a lot of pointing. LOL

basingstoke2

I agree with Suzanne about the area - we enjoyed it and walked most everywhere. We stayed in the VinP studio #176 which is nearby, and going down to Rue Montorgueil every mornng as it opened to shop for our breakfast was always a high point of the day. Stohrer's, although a bit pricey as noted, is a treasure and after my first visit I was always greeted by name. Also, get one of those rotisserie chicken on Rue Montorgueil - you will see the place.

We liked studio #176 although the pictures of #179 look nicer. #176 is on the 6th floor of an elevator (2!) apartment building on Blvd Sebastopol and is just steps from a metro station. Although the blvd is busy, the studio was quiet with its double glazed windows. The monoprix next door was a handy plus.

Suzanne2

Stohrer sells these fab tartes. We had the tomato ones for dinner a few nights. We bought our chicken and pommes de terre from the Butcher shop.

basingstoke2

BTW, some photos of Rue Montorgueil
http//tinyurl.com/2bpygjn

Myda

Thank you so very much Suzanne and basingstoke, you guys are awesome, that's why this forum is my go-to every time I need travel-related info. For 3 days we'll be doing day tours (Dijon, Reims, etc.) and will be going back to the apt. past midnight, are we going to pass through St. Denis on our way back? The info about the apt. being inside is very important to us as we're both light sleeper.

basingstoke2

You may well want to look at #176 then. We found it quite comfortable and it is only a few steps (I counted them once and I believe it was 80 steps from the station to the building's doorway) from the Reaumur-Sebastopol metro station and you would be walking on a main blvd. The building is well kept up and secure with a coded entry, and you do not hear your neighbors. Although it is not as renovated as #176, it was fine and one thing we liked was the shower being separate from the wc. We thought the slanted ceiling might be annoying but it was not a problem at all. The sleeping arrangement is 2 day beds that double as sofas during the day and can be arranged as either 2 twins or pushed together making a king. And, as noted, it was quiet. The only sound we could hear from the street was if an ambulance or something with a siren would pass, and that only happened a few times while we were there. Also, a bus that goes to Gare du Nord is just across the street.

Suzanne2

You will not have to walk on Rue St Denis. If you exit at Les Halles just walk up Rue Montorguiel to Marie Stuart and turn right. We walked on Rue St. Denis late at night a few times and it was really not a big problem. The working gals are not aggressive. They simply stand in doorways. There are some street clubs and naughty lingerie shops. That's about it.

Some people find the area in front of the Les Halles shopping center to be intimidating at night. It is full of rowdy teens
at night. We were not bothered by them. If you don't speak to, or make eye contact with anyone they tend to leave you. alone. You can also use the Sentier metro stop at the north end of Montorguiel. I think late at night though you are better off in a busier area.

Myda

Thanks, Suzanne....really appreciate the info.

basingstoke2

Try the Cafe- Grille Montorgueil. The food is very good as are the prices. It is in the photo link above. The two dishes pictured are from that restaurant - one is a salad of sorts and the other is duck (it was delicious).