elsiejune

Paskee: we really enjoyed this area when we stayed for a week last May. You might want to read my trip report for additional information: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34627100

Bon voyage!
P.S. can any of the fodor's regulars tell my why the thread link appears twice, even though I only typed it once? What am I doing wrong? Thanks.

elsiejune

Ok, it seems that the thread appears twice when you preview a reply - then disappears once you post a reply. Exactly why, who knows, but the end result is fine. Sorry for my confusion.

italy06

Everyone's right - Paris is a walking town. That being said, we loved the 7th. Places to see:
One of the best bakeries ever - Poilane
ask them to show you the basement bakery
One of the best places for chocolate - Maison du Chocolate
There's a great food market that's part of Bon Marche
GREAT shoe shopping
And a Bistro we loved so much we went there twice-
Le Pochtron Bistro on Rue de Bellechasse

There is also a new book out called Gourmet Shops of Paris by Pierre Rival and Christian Sarramon. It's fantastic! And it will give you all of the addresses in the back to get to the coolest shops in town.

Have fun!

tuscanlifeedit

Wait a minute! Just a few days ago, we were told that the 5th and 6th were horrid places that were representative of some awful middle aged American tourists' idea of Paris. Now we are told the 7th sucks, too. That's three central arrondissements down. Maybe we should all stay someplace that no tourists ever see; but then, we will shortly ruin it and sadly, Paris will just be totally screwed up for all tourists, forever.

But in the meantime, I really like the 7th, and stayed there on my last two visits to Paris. It's quiet at night, but so are we.

There is an absolutely wonderful chocolate shop, Michel Chadon, where the little squares called pavees are incredible.

You will have a great time. And if you like things relegious, your family might be entranced by the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal. Not too far from Bon Marche, and there are plenty of cafes nearby.

Dave_in_Paris

Well, golly! There are lots of arrondissements, and all of them have their charms. Rick Steves seems like a nice fellow, and I'll bet most of the folks who pack his guidebook(s) are, too. Come often, range widely, enjoy!

degas

Enough with the negative waves about rue Cler! I stayed there on my first trip and have some very nice memories of the area.

TPaxe

The 7th is a wonderful part of Paris. Close to the Rodin Museum, Les Invalides, walking distance to the d'Orsay and then again across the river to the Louvre. Easy to get to the Champs Elysees to visit the Grand Palais, Petit Palais. Great neighborhood restaurants and many bus routes along the way.

What is this about the 7th not being a great place to stay. it's gorgeous, especially crossing the esplanade in front of Les Invalides to get to St Germain des Pres or Place de la Concorde.

If you have a nice rental in the area, I would recommend staying there.

bob219

I think the 7th is great! One particularly good place we found is Le Bistro de Breteuil at 3, place de Breteuil.

lucielou

Pardon my ignorance but I had to google this Rick Steves guy, as i'd never heard of him in my life before! but he seems pretty popular/unpopular in USA!!

jlillberto

We stayed in the 7th last April and really liked it. It was great to go back to the relative calm after the hussle and bustle of the 6th. I've also stayed in the 1st, the 9th (near the Opera) and the 6th. They all have been just fine. Paris is so easy to navigate that I can't see why one should be limited to any one area.

That being said, I strongly second Gretchen's statement...DO NOT EAT AT THE CAFE MARCHE. It was absolutely the worst meal I've had anywhere. A frozen t.v. dinner would be better.

Art_Vandelay

Take the average Fodorite's:
- age
- income
- nationality

...and you don't need a PhD in demographics to understand why Fodorites love the 7th: an arrondissement that it full of older wealthy people and American tourists. The perfect match!

"I think I would speak for the majority of Parisians in saying that the 7th arrondissement (along with the 16th) is about the last place we would want to spend any time": Kerouac, you took the words out of my keyboard.

ekscrunchy

So where would all the down-with-the-seveth-ers recommend as a good place to stay in Paris? With fewer tourists and good, moderate priced hotels and good places to eat and shop?

Travelnut

eekscrunchy, some of us have been enjoying the 13th/Gobelins/Italie, 14th/Montparnasse/Denfert, 17th/Villiers and 11th/Oberkampf/Parmentier/Voltaire areas and have posted about them.

Every arr. has markets and places to eat, as that is what the Parisians need as well.

ekscrunchy

Thanks! I will check them out before I go in October.

kagoo

Thanks to the many who wrote in defense of the 7th. My husband and I have been eagerly awaiting our April vacation, which includes a week in an apartment near Rue Cler. We are not wealthy, we are adventurous, we booked the apartment based on lots of research (including this site), convenience and affordability. We plan to roam all over Paris on foot (we've been there once before, 15 years ago; that's what we did then; that's what we do wherever we go) and are excited beyond words. Hearing so much negativity about the 7th, particularly the sweeping generalizations about the people who so stupidly choose to stay there (some of us, believe or not, had no idea Rick Steves was a fan), was beginning to take the edge off. But I've regained my senses, take it for the reverse snobbism that it is, and continue to count the days.

So thanks again to those who put the 7th in the proper perspective.

WestonTraveler

Has anyone stayed at the Hotel de Varenne? How far is it from the metro? It is hard to tell from the maps that I have seen. Also, is it safe for a woman and child walking alone at night?

Steveboy

Kagoo:

I predict you will love the 7th. I’ve stayed in 8 different arrondissements over the years, and my family’s week in the 7th this past December was memorable. As others have said, it’s a bustling area during the day that quiets down at night, with excellent bistros and a residential feel. That said, the Paris metro system makes virtually everything accessible. Rue Cler is one tiny little street in this neighborhood. Take it or leave it, it gets far too much credit or blame – depending on your point of view – for making the 7th what it is. This is an arrondissement that also has the Eiffel Tower, the Rodin Museum, the Invalides, the Musee D’Orsay and a remarkable number of excellent food shops and specialty stores.

The naysayers are an interesting group. They seem to know our very motives – why we go where we go, and who we listen to. With their anti-Rick Steves obsession and their “stay away from tourists” mantra, they actually sound far more sheep-like than the thoughtful posters who have given you so much great information about the 7th and its many virtues. Have a great trip.

kagoo

Why thank you, Steveboy, for your thoughtful and encouraging response. It's funny to hear those naysayers disparaging "tourists." Aren't we all tourists at some point (unless we never leave home)? For my part, when I see someone on a Philadelphia street holding a map and wearing a puzzled expression, I always ask if they need help. I certainly don't think less of them because they don't live here! (And I believe in karma.)

I have, indeed, gotten invaluable advice from people on this forum, and I know we'll have a delightful time -- we always do! I promise to report back.

Thanks again!

AnthonyGA

Generally speaking, the adventurous do not flock to the rue Cler. Those who are adventurous are more likely to draw a line through any destination that is popular; thus, they might enjoy what they find or they might not, but it will at least be different from the beaten path, and thus adventuresome.

francophile03

To WestonTraveler, the Hotel de Varenne's website says that the Varenne metro station is 200 m. from the hotel.

While I've never stayed at the hotel or in the 7th, I understand that it's a very safe area even at night. But I've walked in the neighborhood during the day when I visited the Musee Rodin. There are several embassies located near to the hotel so it's pretty safe.