genio67

We have been to Paris many times before and usually stay in the Marais. We will have our young children with us on this trip and were thinking of staying somewhere different for a change and perhaps an area that is a little less hectic. I don't know the 7th arr very well other than an occasional trip to Rue Cler to assemble a picnic near the Eiffel Tower or the Rodin Museum, but it always seems fairly pleasant ( if not a little boring I guess). This will be a 2 night stay in August at the end of a 3 week trip. We will do some sighseeing but will be leisurely exploring. Are there good restaurants in the neighborhood for an evening meal and places to stroll, have ice cream etc? Any thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

StuDudley

>> Are there good restaurants in the neighborhood for an evening meal and places to stroll, have ice cream etc?<<

Probably a higher concentration of restaurants mentioned in the Michelin Red Guide than any other area in Paris. You could eat at 3 Christain Constant restaurants all within the same block and have some wonderful & different dining experiences.

We like the tranquility of the 7th - especially compared to the Marais which we found to be a little too hectic for our tastes.

We've spent 5 weeks in apts in the 7th, 4 weeks in the 15th, and 1 week in the Marais - plus the other dozen or so 2-4 night hotel stays in the 6th & 14th.

Stu Dudley

genio67

Stu, thanks for your reply. It sounds like it could be a good choice for us on this trip.

StCirq

When I traveled to Paris with kids, which I did 20+ times, we always stayed in the 7ème, so I know it well. There are restaurants galore (including all manner of ethnic ones as well as French ones), great pizza/pasta (Pizza Tina on Ave. Bosquet - my kids' favorite), creperies, all kinds of cafés, small specialty food shops (including a great chocolatier), and yes, I'm sure we had ice cream many times (though I can't remember where at the moment). And it's fairly quiet at night so everyone can get a good night's sleep. I don't stay there any longer, but it was great with kids!

billandcindy

We've stayed on the eastern side of the 7th several times. Rue du Bac and Rue du Cherche-Midi are excellent "strolling" streets. The latter has some good restaurants. Rue du Bac has one of the best ice cream stores, a block or so north of the Bon Marché (don't miss at least looking inside the Grande Épicerie). We've stayed in both the Hotel Varenne and the Hotel Bourgogne Montana and would recommend either one. Also, there are some nice walks east of Blvd Raspail, including north on Rue du Dragon (from Rue de Sèvres) to Blvd Saint Germain, and east on Rue d'Assas from the Babylone/Sèvres intersection to the Jardin du Luxembourg (a must see). And, if you enjoy quaint green spaces, check out Jardin de Babylone, a small park on the same-named street and to the rear of the prime minister's palace, Square Boucicaut, another small park on the east side of the Bon Marché, and Square Chase Récamier, an even smaller, hidden "park" east of Boucicault off Rue de Sèvres. I also would definitely recommend visiting the Saint Sulpice plaza and church (just into the 6th arrondissement), which is very impressive, especially at night. You could do that while returning from the Luxembourg gardens.