Is Paris' 9th arrondisement desirable or seedy?
Sep 24th, 2004, 05:31 AM
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Is Paris' 9th arrondisement desirable or seedy?
Cousins have a hotel booked in the 9th arr(though said they preferrd the 1st or 2nd) for their first trip to Paris. I cautioned them about the 9th, as that includes Pigalle and I don't think that's what they're looking for. I don't have the hotel or address, and I realize that's the important question. Just looking for other opinions on staying in the 9th arr. Thanks.
Sep 24th, 2004, 05:39 AM
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The address is probably a key piece of information. I've read other posts about the 9th and it does indeed have seedy areas and decent areas. They could look up their hotel on www.pagesjaunes.fr, and use the photo link, then the arrows to 'walk' the streets and see for themselves how it looks.
Sep 24th, 2004, 05:41 AM
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It's only really the top strip of the 9th, along Boulevard de Clichy and particularly between place Blanche and Place Pigalle (and not really extending much north or south of that) that is the seedy area with all the XXX shops and cinemas.
The rest of the 9th varies from quiet residential (mixture of popular, middle-class and more upscale areas) to the grander Opera, Haussman and Grands Boulevards areas that are home to lots of shops, banks and businesses.
So it really depends whereabouts the hotel is located. I lived in the 9th for a couple of years and it's actually quite a desirable area to live - it's not known as dangerous or anything like that.
The rest of the 9th varies from quiet residential (mixture of popular, middle-class and more upscale areas) to the grander Opera, Haussman and Grands Boulevards areas that are home to lots of shops, banks and businesses.
So it really depends whereabouts the hotel is located. I lived in the 9th for a couple of years and it's actually quite a desirable area to live - it's not known as dangerous or anything like that.
Sep 24th, 2004, 05:43 AM
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It all depends. The 9th can be tricky -you really need to provide the hotel name and address if you want more than broad brush responses.
Pigalle aside, if its too far out, you need to be sure its close to a metro station. And even then, you might not like making line changes or starting your day with a metro ride.
Pigalle aside, if its too far out, you need to be sure its close to a metro station. And even then, you might not like making line changes or starting your day with a metro ride.
Sep 24th, 2004, 07:16 AM
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Now I'm a little nervous! We are staying at the Hotel Villa Opera Drouot in October for 2 nights - 2 Rue Geoffroy Marie - it is supposed to be a superior hotel. Is this an okay area? If so, can anyone recommend a great, reasonable priced restaurant around there? Thanks.
Sep 24th, 2004, 07:33 AM
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peels4 you'll be fine. Your hotel is at the north entrance to the Passage Jouffroy.
I stayed right around the corner from there last November. You're a couple of blocks off the grand boulevard so street noise should be a little less.
It's not reasonable, it's expensive but the Restaurant Vaudeville across from the Borse is excellent.
You're also very close to Chartier, a Belle Epoque landmark. The space is gorgeous, the food is so-so, the price is cheap and the service for me was very poor. Maybe a late lunch for the feel but definitely don't waste a dinner on it. If nothing else at least duck in to see it.
On rue cite bergere is au lemonaire. Though incredible smokey they have performers come in. I saw a poetry reading and a triplet of acapella singers on a Friday night.
It's an easy walk north to the Church of the Lorettes (mistresses.) Very interesting to have a church dedicated to mistresses. Continue walking on and find the musee de la vie romantique, George Sand's old residence turned museum. Pretty and an interesting small art collection.
I did all this and never did run into the seedy side of the 9th. I think it's even further north.
There are great subway connections and a hop-on/hop-off bus on the grand boulevard at the south exit to passage jouffroy.
It's a great area you'll have a wonderful time!
I stayed right around the corner from there last November. You're a couple of blocks off the grand boulevard so street noise should be a little less.
It's not reasonable, it's expensive but the Restaurant Vaudeville across from the Borse is excellent.
You're also very close to Chartier, a Belle Epoque landmark. The space is gorgeous, the food is so-so, the price is cheap and the service for me was very poor. Maybe a late lunch for the feel but definitely don't waste a dinner on it. If nothing else at least duck in to see it.
On rue cite bergere is au lemonaire. Though incredible smokey they have performers come in. I saw a poetry reading and a triplet of acapella singers on a Friday night.
It's an easy walk north to the Church of the Lorettes (mistresses.) Very interesting to have a church dedicated to mistresses. Continue walking on and find the musee de la vie romantique, George Sand's old residence turned museum. Pretty and an interesting small art collection.
I did all this and never did run into the seedy side of the 9th. I think it's even further north.
There are great subway connections and a hop-on/hop-off bus on the grand boulevard at the south exit to passage jouffroy.
It's a great area you'll have a wonderful time!
Sep 24th, 2004, 07:35 AM
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Peels4,
Looking on a map..your hotel is in the south end of the 9th, afr from Clichy, near Hausseman, so based on that I would not worry. Others can clarify better.
Try this webpage and enter under "nom" the naem and under "localite" Paris... to see hotel and area.
http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/
Seems like a nice enough place and street
Mike
Looking on a map..your hotel is in the south end of the 9th, afr from Clichy, near Hausseman, so based on that I would not worry. Others can clarify better.
Try this webpage and enter under "nom" the naem and under "localite" Paris... to see hotel and area.
http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/
Seems like a nice enough place and street
Mike
Sep 24th, 2004, 07:44 AM
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peels4 here's a link to my trip report from last October. The last installment is for Paris when I stayed in the area.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...p;tid=34461207
I really liked the Grand Cafe for dinner. It too was pricey, but I could have gotten out for less cutting back on a course and the wine. The space is gorgeous. In the basement of that building is where the first ever public motion picture was shown.
www.legrandcafe.com
Just west of you are two flagship stores Printemps and Galleries Lafayette.
Also in the area is the Hard Rock Cafe - Paris. All I've done there is buy a souvenir for a friend.
Sep 24th, 2004, 07:47 AM
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Thank you so much for your help!
Now one more question - can you tell me how to get from Gare Nord (we are arriving on the Eurostar) to the hotel, or point me in the direction of finding this info? And then, we need to get from the Hotel to the Airport for a flight to Italy that leaves at 9:40am - do have any ideas what time we should leave the hotel to safely arrive two hours before our flight. We are trying to budget so hoping to take the metro.
Again, thanks so much.
Now one more question - can you tell me how to get from Gare Nord (we are arriving on the Eurostar) to the hotel, or point me in the direction of finding this info? And then, we need to get from the Hotel to the Airport for a flight to Italy that leaves at 9:40am - do have any ideas what time we should leave the hotel to safely arrive two hours before our flight. We are trying to budget so hoping to take the metro.
Again, thanks so much.
Sep 24th, 2004, 07:48 AM
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Le Vaudeville is a terrific brasserie, and our dinners there run about 80 euros.
Another place to check is La Grange Bateliere. Just go through Jouffroy and left.
Indytravel...what hotel are you referring to?
Another place to check is La Grange Bateliere. Just go through Jouffroy and left.
Indytravel...what hotel are you referring to?
Sep 24th, 2004, 07:49 AM
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I love le Gallopin at 40 rue Notre Dame des Victoires, opposite the new Bourse in the 2nd arrondissement. A short walk from your hotel. It's a gorgeous old brasserie with lovely copper, wood and stained glass fixtures dating from the 19th century.
I've always found the setting, service and food (good range of traditional brasserie fare, from steaks and seafood to choucroute) to be excellent. And as far as I know, it's one of the few old Paris brasseries that remain independent.
I've always found the setting, service and food (good range of traditional brasserie fare, from steaks and seafood to choucroute) to be excellent. And as far as I know, it's one of the few old Paris brasseries that remain independent.
Sep 24th, 2004, 08:03 AM
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Hey RonZ. I stayed at the 2 star
Emeraude Hotel DEspagne
9 Cite Bergere
Paris, France 75009
It's part of the Utell Group which is where I booked it.
www.utell.com
Tiny room, tinier bathroom, view out the window into an air shaft. I paid right around 62 euro a night for it. Clean, decent I'll use it again when I want to stay in the area.
Emeraude Hotel DEspagne
9 Cite Bergere
Paris, France 75009
It's part of the Utell Group which is where I booked it.
www.utell.com
Tiny room, tinier bathroom, view out the window into an air shaft. I paid right around 62 euro a night for it. Clean, decent I'll use it again when I want to stay in the area.
Sep 24th, 2004, 08:12 AM
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The easiest way for first-timers is to simply get a taxi at Gare du Nord. It shouldn't cost more than 10-15E.
They could take the metro from inside Gare du Nord to the hotel.
Start on Line 4, Direction Porte d'Orleans, and disembark at Stop Strasbourg-St Denis. Change to Line 9 (down in same subway hall, no need for another ticket), Direction Pont de Sevres, and disembark at Stop Grands Boulevards. Walk to hotel from this metro (it will be displayed on any Paris map), and it's about 200 meters (2 blocks).
You can find how to use the metro system on www.ratp.com.
For an early flight I'd probably arrange for a taxi. CDG is typically very backed up at the security checkpoints - they should plan to leave very early (6:30am?) to arrive no later than 7:00am. Any later and they risk being caught up in traffic or backed up at the security check. They can get coffee and breakfast at the airport, after they've been checked through. A taxi will cost about 40-45Euro, roughly.
At least, this is my opinion and experience.
They could take the metro from inside Gare du Nord to the hotel.
Start on Line 4, Direction Porte d'Orleans, and disembark at Stop Strasbourg-St Denis. Change to Line 9 (down in same subway hall, no need for another ticket), Direction Pont de Sevres, and disembark at Stop Grands Boulevards. Walk to hotel from this metro (it will be displayed on any Paris map), and it's about 200 meters (2 blocks).
You can find how to use the metro system on www.ratp.com.
For an early flight I'd probably arrange for a taxi. CDG is typically very backed up at the security checkpoints - they should plan to leave very early (6:30am?) to arrive no later than 7:00am. Any later and they risk being caught up in traffic or backed up at the security check. They can get coffee and breakfast at the airport, after they've been checked through. A taxi will cost about 40-45Euro, roughly.
At least, this is my opinion and experience.
Sep 24th, 2004, 08:20 AM
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My husband and I own an apartment in the northern end of 9th. We absolutely love the area. We love the diversity of the area. Our apartment is close to the Blanche metro stop and we do not feel it is dangerous in the least. There are plenty of restaurants both south and north of us.
The area most people have a problem with is really one street: Boulevard Clichy, mainly between Pigalle and Blanche metro stops. It is very easy to avoid if it bothers you. We cross through it often to get to rue Lepic (in the 18th), which is a great market street and dead ends into rue des Abbesses, which is lively and has several restos and wine bars that we have enjoyed. There is also a Monoprix and ATM on the corner of Blanche and Clichy, right by the metro stop, which is very handy, I must say. I would also mention that you can always find a grocery store open late and on Sunday in this part of the neighborhood. There are also two pharmacies nearby.
If you head south into the 9th, there are some great residential neighborhoods with lots of fun places to eat. I would recommend Restaurant Tiger, 33 rue de Navarin, 01-48-74-08-90 -- it's a small husband-and-wife operation (like 5 tables, no credit cards) that serves great fresh seafood among other things. Chez Jean is also lovely, a little further south, and a little more pricey (8 rue St. Lazare). Of course, even further south is good old Chartier, which many people find simply too cheap to bother with, but we like it.
There are also several antique shops in the neighborhood that are worth wandering around in, one neat one in particular on Place Saint-George, which is a very pretty little spot in that neighborhood. We found shops in this area to be very reasonably priced for picking up a special souvenir.
I am no expert on this neighborhood - we have barely had our apartment one year! We learn more great things every trip we take. The general trend on the northern part of the 9th and the 18th is that they are regentrifying quickly. In fact, they are working on renovating Clichy itself - revamping the median and other parts of the street.
Hope this is of some help!
The area most people have a problem with is really one street: Boulevard Clichy, mainly between Pigalle and Blanche metro stops. It is very easy to avoid if it bothers you. We cross through it often to get to rue Lepic (in the 18th), which is a great market street and dead ends into rue des Abbesses, which is lively and has several restos and wine bars that we have enjoyed. There is also a Monoprix and ATM on the corner of Blanche and Clichy, right by the metro stop, which is very handy, I must say. I would also mention that you can always find a grocery store open late and on Sunday in this part of the neighborhood. There are also two pharmacies nearby.
If you head south into the 9th, there are some great residential neighborhoods with lots of fun places to eat. I would recommend Restaurant Tiger, 33 rue de Navarin, 01-48-74-08-90 -- it's a small husband-and-wife operation (like 5 tables, no credit cards) that serves great fresh seafood among other things. Chez Jean is also lovely, a little further south, and a little more pricey (8 rue St. Lazare). Of course, even further south is good old Chartier, which many people find simply too cheap to bother with, but we like it.
There are also several antique shops in the neighborhood that are worth wandering around in, one neat one in particular on Place Saint-George, which is a very pretty little spot in that neighborhood. We found shops in this area to be very reasonably priced for picking up a special souvenir.
I am no expert on this neighborhood - we have barely had our apartment one year! We learn more great things every trip we take. The general trend on the northern part of the 9th and the 18th is that they are regentrifying quickly. In fact, they are working on renovating Clichy itself - revamping the median and other parts of the street.
Hope this is of some help!
Sep 24th, 2004, 09:01 AM
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I stayed in the 9th in a residence hotel this summer for about four days, right near St Georges metro and off place Toudouze. I enjoyed it for a change, but I knew what I was getting into. I wouldn't call the 9th all seedy, of course (that particular location was near a good market street, which I knew, and some good restaurants. I also like the area around Trinite quite a bit.
I would not describe most of the 9th as "desirable", however, although for a resident it might be in comparison to some other places, and wouldn't recommend most of it to first-timers. I don't think St Georges place is particularly pretty myself (and I used it daily), although it does have one or more antique stores on it. I have a couple favorite restaurants in the area (like Bistro des Deux Theatres at the corner of rues Pigalle and Blanche). Rue Geoffroy Marie is quite a different area than up near St Georges.
It really does completely depend where one is staying (not to mention the hotel) and while I wouldn't recommend this are for first-timers (except down near the Opera, if that was the kind of place they wanted), I don't think one's trip is drastically ruined in any way for staying in the 9th.
I would not describe most of the 9th as "desirable", however, although for a resident it might be in comparison to some other places, and wouldn't recommend most of it to first-timers. I don't think St Georges place is particularly pretty myself (and I used it daily), although it does have one or more antique stores on it. I have a couple favorite restaurants in the area (like Bistro des Deux Theatres at the corner of rues Pigalle and Blanche). Rue Geoffroy Marie is quite a different area than up near St Georges.
It really does completely depend where one is staying (not to mention the hotel) and while I wouldn't recommend this are for first-timers (except down near the Opera, if that was the kind of place they wanted), I don't think one's trip is drastically ruined in any way for staying in the 9th.
Sep 24th, 2004, 09:43 AM
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pels4,
Looking at my handy metro map...Gare du Nord to hotel...you are not geographically very far...
Take Line 4 -Direction Porte Orleans for 3 stops (Strasbourg-St. Denis)
Change lines to Line 9 direction-Pont de Sevres for 2 stops (Montmarte). Walk couple blocks North on Rue Montmartre to Rue Geoffroy and there you are.
Looking at my handy metro map...Gare du Nord to hotel...you are not geographically very far...
Take Line 4 -Direction Porte Orleans for 3 stops (Strasbourg-St. Denis)
Change lines to Line 9 direction-Pont de Sevres for 2 stops (Montmarte). Walk couple blocks North on Rue Montmartre to Rue Geoffroy and there you are.
