2 ARRONDISSEMENT

The financial center of Paris and the smallest quarter

Situated on the right bank of the river Seine, this quarter is an important business district.  There are not much tourist attractions here, though mythical Paris arouses on the famous Passages, old-fashioned commercial malls built on the beginnings of the 19th. Century.

Rue Montorgueil  by vince 42

SLEEPING

Park Hyatt Vendome  Metro:  Tuileries, Opera.   Precious luxury hotel, decorated in a modern classic style.  Situated on the rue de la Paix.  From US$ 700.

Daunou Hotel      Metro:  Opera.  6, rue Daunou.  Great location, between, the Opera and Place Vendome.  Price range 104/151 Euros.

Park Hyatt Paris Vendome  by pionko

FOOD & DRINK

Rue Montorgueil.  Metro Etienne Marcel or Sentier.  The rue Montorgueil is a narrow and lovely street near Les Halles, between rue Etienne Marcel and rue Reaumour.  It is  flat and closed off to cars, and full of the best food shops and kitchen ware stores in Paris.  It was home of the former market of Les Halles, which has now been relocated to Rungis, in the outskirts of Paris.

Le Pain Quotidien    2, rue des Petits Carreaux.  Metro:  Sentier.  Boulangerie and patisserie.  If you choose not to have breakfast at the hotel and enjoy socializing with local people, the Pain Quotidien is a nice option, they also serve lunch and Sunday brunch.  This is a chain store, so you may easily find other locations around the city.

Librairie Gourmande   92/96, rue Montmartre.  Metro:  Sentier.  Magazines, old and new books totally dedicated to food.  World cuisine, wines, the art of table decoration, veggies, regional french cuisine, great chef books.  A treasure for food lovers.

Le Pain Quotidien by anjadora 

SIGHTSEEING

The Passages.    You won’t miss this jewel while you are in Paris. This covered passages from the late 1700’s are the ancestors of today shopping malls. Under shelter from wind and bad weather, horse-drawn vehicles and mud, these galleries allowed merchants to expose their goods and provided shelter to the elegant ladies, who would not mix around with common people.

Passage Vivienne      This gallery is magnificent, not only for its architecture but also for its exquisite shopping and charm. Metro: Bourse.

Passage du Grand Cerf     Probably the hippest of all.  Metro: Etienne Marcel

Also worth a visit the Passage des Panoramas.

SHOPPING

Place des Victoires. An elegant square located a few steps northeast from the Palais Royal. Designer boutiques, and sophisticated shopping.

Place des Victoires  by gros lourds