Finding The Best Hotel Accommodation In Paris France: Where To Stay In Paris – Is The Second Arrondissement Right For You?

Paris’ Second Arrondissement

You’re nearly there – Paris! You can’t wait to start your journey. You’ve gotten your flights to France , now you’re trying to decide between some wonderful sounding specials on hotel accommodation for Paris, France. What arrondissement you are staying in is always an important consideration for choosing a Paris hotel even if you are looking at hotels in Paris city centre.  Here’s a guide to Paris’s 2nd arrondissement so you can learn more about whether the Second arrondissement is where you want to be!

It is not likely that you’ll spend alot of time in the Second arroondissement as a tourist, but if you choose a hotel in this here, you will be in the pulsing heart of Paris’s financial and working center. Home to the Bourse (stock exchange) and the CAC 40 index of France’s top listed companies , the 2nd arrondissement is also widely known for its thriving   fashion and journalism industries, as well as its general atmosphere of business.

What To Know About The Second Arrondissement :

The Good :

You’ll hardly see any tourists here, meaning that the people-watching will be authentic: Parisian business men and women going out to lunch, harried traders dashing to work, journalists meeting sources over tea for the next big breaking news. You’ll also be close to the beautiful nineteenth century “galleries,” a tradition when the Duke of Orleans decided to rent out his garden to shops in the late eighteenth century. These “galleries,” akin to early shopping malls, have glass windows and tiled floors, are still working now . Visit for a nostalgic and enchanting glance at Paris’s nineteenth-century past.

Here’s The Cons:

This isn’t an especially with-it area by any means, and while there are lots of places for lunch in the neighborhood, geared toward those with an expense account, nightlife absent . However, with the Marais in the fourth arrondissement only a short distance away, there’s not much to worry about. In addition, near the eastern end of the district, you may run into a few prostitutes looking to ply their trade, but don’t be too alarmed – it’s safe, if seedy, and nevertheless you’re likely to encounter far fewer than in comparable areas like Rue St. Denis or the Pigalle area.

What To Visit:

If you’re a business type , pay a visit to the Bourse, or Stock Exchange, for a look at Paris’s economic heart. Or check out the Galleries – the Gallerie Vivienne is considered the best-preserved, with authentic and gorgeous nineteenth-century decor, a stunning mosaic floor, and elegantly high end stores . In contrast, the Passage Choiseul is more “authentic,” catering to businesspeople on their way to work, and selling newspapers and offering services like shoe-shining to busy traders at the nearby Bourse.

Eating Places :

Cafe Etienne Marcel, on Rue Etienne Marcel, is a trendy Costes brothers place – less costly than most of their others – with a menu to match. Or have a drink or two at Harry’s New York Bar on Rue Danou, allegedly the birthplace of the Bloody Mary, and a hangout of Hemmingway. While Harry’s not cheap by any means, it’s nevertheless a great hangout for those who want the elegance and decadence of Art Deco bohemian expatriate life. And, of course, a bloody Mary mixed to perfection.

Shopping Spots :

Brentano’s, on Avenue de L’Opera has an outstanding assortment of English-language and art books. And, of course, the Galleries are filled with great shops . Wander in and out of some of the delightful galleries, looking at the many wonderful shops on offer, and consider buying boutique clothes and far more at all of them.