Chic, artsy, and just a wee bit snobby — this is the best-known corner of the Sixth Arrondissement — the arrogant older sister to the nerdy Latin quarter, dueling for the affections of left bank lurkers. Voilà — elegant postcard mix of restos, bars, coffee shops, art galleries, and shopping from clothing to vintage objects and furniture, smack in the center of Paris.
Highlights here include the picture-perfect, quiet area around Place de Furstemberg, the garden adjacent the thousand-year-old church after which the quarter is named [St. Gemrain-des-Pres, the oldest building in Paris]…and of course, tourist ground zeroes — le Café de Flore, and Café des Deux Magots. [Skip the dinner there and just have a coffee on the terrasse while taking in the scenery — the food is pricey and frankly not worth the spend.]
For a promenade — La Cour du Commerce-Saint-André, Rue Bonaparte, Rue Jacob, and Rue de l’Université. Touristy rue de Buci is filled with restaurants and bars or varying appeal — it’s where this posh hood lets down its hair and gets loud. Here is the PARIS » D E F I N E D MAG < do-this : edit > — in the St. Germain-des-Prés neighborhood, these are the spots worth the wander…
