Jeff Mills Coastal Vacations Club Blog

Paris: The Second Arrondissement

You’re nearly there – Paris! You can hardly wait to get there. You’ve gotten your deals on Paris, France flights , now you are considering some great looking offers on a bunch of Paris hotels. Where you are staying in the city is always an important consideration for accommodation in Paris, France 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 this neighborhood in Paris is where you want to be!

It is unlikely that you’ll be spending alot of time in the 2nd arrondissement as a tourist, but if you choose a hotel in this district, you’ll be in the heart of Paris’s finance center. Home to Paris’s Bourse (stock exchange) and the CAC 40 index of France’s top listed companies , the second arrondissement is also widely known for its thriving   fashion and journalism industries, as well as its general atmosphere of business.

What You Need To Know About The Second:

What’s Good :

You will hardly find tourists here, so that the people-watching will be authentic: Paris’s business men and women going to lunch, harried traders dashing to work, journalists meeting sources over tea for the next big scoop . Visitors will also be close to the lovely 19th “galleries,” a tradition when the Duke of Orleans decided to rent out his garden to shops in the late eighteenth century. These “galleries,” along the lines of early shopping malls, have glass windows and tiled floors, are still operative now . Visit for a nostalgic and enchanting look at Paris’s nineteenth-century past.

The Bad :

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

What To See:

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 regarded the best-preserved, with authentic and gorgeous nineteenth-century decor, a magnificent mosaic floor, and elegantly upscale shops. In contrast, the Passage Choiseul is more “authentic,” catering to business folks on their way to work, and selling newspapers and magazines and offering services like shoe-shining to harried traders at the nearby Bourse.

Eating Spots :

Cafe Etienne Marcel, on Rue Etienne Marcel, is a hip Costes brothers joint – 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, reputed to be the birthplace of the Bloody Mary, and a hangout of Hemmingway. While Harry’s isn’t cheap by any means, it’s nevertheless a great hangout for those wanting the elegance and decadence of Art Deco bohemian expatriate life. And, of course, a bloody Mary mixed to perfection.

Where To Shop :

Brentano’s, on Avenue de L’Opera offers an excellent assortment of English-language and art books. And, of course, the Galleries are filled with fascinating stores. Stroll in and out of some of the delightful galleries, looking at the many wonderful shops on offer, and consider buying art and far more at all of them.

 

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