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The best streets in Le Marais
Le Marais has a lot of great places, known only by the Parisians. The best streets are a good way to discover the quarter in its intimacy: secret alleys, discrete parks, tiny arcades will not have any secrets for you with this summary. Read on to find out which ones are the best streets in Le Marais and become an expert of le Marais!
Le passage de l’Ancre (the Anchor’s passage): the secret one
One of the cutest streets in the Marais! In just fifty meters, you discover a little green heaven with this private alley. Silent and colorful, you will find here a completely different atmosphere compared to what you can find in the city. The majority of the façades are former shop windows, now occupied by offices. The last shop in activity is Pep’s, a little boutique specialized in umbrellas, parasols and walking sticks. A very picturesque one!
It’s one of the oldest passages in town. Its name refers to an inn, with a sign of anchor (“ancre“), which was on this street during the Middle Ages. Two ways to access: the best one is 223, rue St-Martin (with a beautiful arch) or 30, rue de Turbigo. Be careful, it’s sometimes closed on weekends.
What to do: Visit the Musée des Arts et Métiers de Paris (Museum of Arts and Skills) which presents the history of the greatest scientific and technical inventions.
What to see: Stroll around the around the very close neighborhoods of Beaubourg. Or check out rue Montorgueil, a hip Parisian street with plenty of dining.
Where to eat: Klay. A nearby sports club with a cute courtyard cafe, this trendy eatery offers delicious and healthy options. 4Bis Rue Saint-Sauveur, 75002 Paris
Village St-Paul: the repair of the antique dealers
These hidden squares are forming a little village in the heart of the Marais. It’s also considered to be one of the best streets in the Marais. It is the perfect place to find an art piece or an antique. Here, more than 200 antique dealers are opening every day, even on Sundays! You will find here every style you want, from the Middle Age to the seventies, and also brand new style with the recent installation of modern designers (learn more about the best designers of the Marais). You get to this little village by various passages and arrive in just a few seconds in a completely other atmosphere than the noisy one of the nearby Rivoli and Seine streets. I advise you to go to a cheap and good restaurant, Le Chanard, located at 8 rue St Paul, with an atmosphere of a little Parisian bistro (read more about Parisian bistro)! The complete “village” is between four streets: St Paul, Jardins St Paul, Ave Maria and Charlemagne.
What to do: Shop for antiques!
What to see: Paroisse Saint-Paul Saint-Louis. This old beautiful church is right next door and definitely something to see in the Marais.
Rue des Rosiers: Jewish ambiance
Part of the Marais is also known for being the Jewish Paris. The rue des Rosiers is the most famous Jewish street of the Marais, and for me, it is the best street! You will find here a synagogue, specialized Hebraic bookstores, or famous stores, like the delicious restaurant Chez Marianne. Here you can see Jews with their traditional clothes and kippas. It’s also a historic street because of the several commemorative plaques for the victims of the Shoah and the anti-Semitic attack that happened in 1982 against a restaurant. In this street you can eat the best falafels and shawarma in Paris at the L’As du Fallafel and be shipped abroad! At the tenth of the street, a cute garden called Jardin des Rosiers – Joseph Migneret welcomes you: it’s a meeting of gardens of former private houses, very calm and a good spot for a rest after a walk!
What to do: Shop, walk around, people watch!
What to see: Joseph Migneret Garden is a cute spot located at 10 Rue des Rosiers, 75004 Paris
Where to eat: L’As du Fallafel, of course! 32-34 Rue des Rosiers, 75004 Paris
Place Ste-Catherine: the Parisian secret spot
This square is one of the best secret streets of le Marais! Far from the commotion of the city, you will find on this square a nice ambiance, very calm and picturesque. It’s a perfect spot to spend a couple of hours on a bench or a terrace – more than seven bistros and restaurants in a nice traditional setting are located here. It’s an unknown place even for Parisians (more addresses of outdoor seating restaurants)!
If you want to discover traditional French food (BDJ Café, Chez Joséphine, Le Marché), I advise you to go there! The restaurants aren’t too expensive (between ten euros and twenty euros, fifteen euros for lunch) and the waiters are very cautious and kind. I think this is the best place to go if you want to avoid noisy Paris, with its cars and its crowds. Furthermore, the square is perfectly located between the St-Paul subway station and the Vosges’ square. You will find this place between the streets de Turenne, de Sevrane and St-Antoine.
What to do: people watch, eat, draw, relax.
What to see: The nearby Jardin de l’Hotel de Sully in the heart of Marais.
Where to eat: B.D.J Café. 5 Rue de Jarente, 75004 Paris.
Rue des Barres: the medieval part of the quarter
Between the beautiful church of St-Gervais and the tiny Couperin square, this little street is one of the best streets of the Marais. You will find here a very nice atmosphere of a little town: the cobblestones, the timbered houses (“maisons à colombages“) and the old stones will make you smile! It’s a nice way to catch a beautiful view of the Seine – I mean perfect to spend the end of the afternoon. This street is one of the oldest of the quarter, it dates back from 1240 and it is very beautiful. Special mention to the restaurant L’Ebouillanté, with a great terrace to spend a fun moment in le Marais!
If you want to spend the afternoon walking in the Marais, read more about this neighborhood here. Otherwise, if you want to shop in that area of Paris, this article is made for you! You can also book our trendy Marais free (tip-only) walking tour.
What to do: Spot some historic buildings, eat, relax.
What to see: Église Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais, which has been there since the 7th century.
What to eat: Chez Julien is a fancy French eatery with views of the Seine.
You now know some of the best streets in Le Marais! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article and that it has been helpful! Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need further information about anything! As you will be walking the Marais neighborhood, you will wander its streets aimlessly. You will probably stumble upon stunning and charming streets that will become your favorites! So, feel free to share your experiences and tell us which ones were your favorite streets in Le Marais! See you soon in Paris!
*Originally published by Clem in January 2018 and updated by Arielle in December 2019.
