Paris: The 2nd Arrondissement
You’re nearly there - Paris, the fabled City of Lights! You can hardly wait to land. You’ve gotten your bargain flights to Paris, France , now you are assessing some great looking deals on hotels and other accommodation in Paris . 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 Second arrondissement so you can learn more about whether this area of Paris is where you want to be!
It is unlikely that you will be spending alot of time in the Second arroondissement as a tourist, but if you choose a hotel in this district, you’ll be in the pulsing heart of Paris’s financial 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 :
The Good :
You’ll hardly see any tourists here, so that the people-watching will be strictly French : Parisian business men going to lunch, stressed out traders rushing to work, journalists meeting sources over coffee for the next big scoop . Those who stay here will also be close to the wonderful 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,” along the lines of early shopping malls, have glass windows and tiled floors, are still working now . Visit for a nostalgic and enchanting look at Paris’s 19th century past.
What’s Not Good :
This is not an especially trendy section by any means, and while there are many 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 few minutes away, there’s not much to worry about. Also, 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 , visit the Bourse, or Stock Exchange, for a look at France’s economic heart. Or check out the Galleries - the Gallerie Vivienne is regarded the best-preserved, with geniune and stunning 19th decor, a magnificent mosaic floor, and elegantly upscale stores . In contrast, the Passage Choiseul is more “authentic,” catering to business men and women on their way to work, and selling newspapers and offering services like shoe-shining to busy traders at the nearby Bourse.
Eating Spots :
Cafe Etienne Marcel, on Rue Etienne Marcel, is a hip Costes brothers joint - less expensive than most of their others - with a menu to match. Or have a drink 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 not cheap by any means, it’s nevertheless a wonderful hangout for those who want the elegance and decadence of Art Deco bohemian expatriate life. And, of course, a bloody Mary mixed to perfection.
Where To Shop In Paris’s Second Arrondissement :
Brentano’s, on Avenue de L’Opera has an outstanding selection of English-language and art books. And, of course, the Galleries are filled with fascinating shops . Stroll in and out of a few of the delightful galleries, looking at the many wonderful shops on offer, and take a look at buying boutique clothes, antiquarian books and far more at all of them.
