Paris’ colorful Marché d’Aligre is one of the most popular markets in the city, and it is also at the center of a vibrant neighborhood that offers visitors a variety of interesting and unusual things to do. Situated between the Place de la Bastille to the north and the River Seine to the southwest, the neighborhood surrounding the Aligre market is both traditional and elegant, quietly residential in some corners and bustling with renewed energy in others.
Located in the 12th arrondissement (district), the area is not exactly reserved or little known, but many tourists never venture to explore it. This makes it an ideal district to consider spending some time if you are looking for unusual ways to see Paris. Read on for eight neighborhood spots worth visiting and exploring, such as walking trails, shops, restaurants, markets, and bars. The list starts with some of the more traditional and timeless things to do in the area before moving on to some of the promising addresses worth checking out.
Visit the artisan shops on the Viaduc des Arts
Take the time to explore the complex of artisan shops and pleasant cafes known as the Viaduc des Arts, located just below a part of the Daumesnil avenue promenade. The viaduct, which had a train that ran over it during the 19th century, has been repurposed to accommodate various local artisans and their workshops.
The 64 vaulted arches of the viaduct house shops and workshops as varied as art galleries, woodworking workshops, antique shops, weavers and porcelain painters. If you are looking for an original and not clichéd gift from Paris, this is definitely a place worth reading. There are several nice cafes and restaurants located in the same complex, so it is a good possibility to stop for a coffee or a decent lunch between shopping and walks.
How to visit: Shops start at 1, Daumesnil avenue. Take lines 1 or 8 on the metro to Ledru-Rollin or Gare de Lyon.
Shop at food markets
Comprised of semi-permanent stalls open every day except Monday, as well as the Marché Beauvau covered market (dating from the late 18th century) and permanent shops that line the surrounding streets, this area is collectively known as the »Marché d ‘Aligre «By residents who frequent the area.
This is the place to go if you’re looking for loads of delicious fresh produce, from eye-catching purple artichokes to juicy berries, summer melons, and fragrant wild mushrooms. There are also numerous excellent cheese stalls and shops throughout the market, as well as fishmongers, butchers, upscale bakeries, wine shops, and flower vendors.
How to Visit: If you’re looking for the full Paris market experience, with crowds, buskers playing old-fashioned guitar or accordions, and vendors shouting cut prices during the merry din, go on a weekend morning. For a calmer environment that allows you to visit without feeling like you’re being pressured, go on weekdays. Generally, it stays open early in the morning around 8 to 9:00 a.m., and closes around 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. It is located on the Place d’Aligre in the 12th arrondissement. Take metro line 8 to Ledru-Rollin or Faidherbe-Chaligny.
Drink in one of the best wine bars in the city
Located on a corner of the Place d’Aligre, Le Baron Rouge (1, rue Théophile-Roussel) is a favorite and unpretentious bar that has won the favor of wine aficionados and casual patrons of the neighborhood. Offering a wide variety of wines, from inexpensive reds and whites to prized vintages, it is also a wonderful place for a casual and relatively inexpensive meal of cheese and cold cuts, or fresh oysters with a slice of baguette and salted butter. These staples taste so much better, of course, accompanied by a delicious glass of Sauternes or Cotes de Nuit.
Another bar that we highly recommend is Le Siffleur des Ballons (34, rue de Cîteaux), praised by foodies for its excellent but affordable prices by the glass and its delicious French specialties (from artisan pates and sausages to crispy roasted potatoes and cheeses. creamy).
How to visit: Le Baron Rouge doesn’t stay open very late, and their opening hours have been known to be inconsistent, so plan a pre-dinner drink or early dinner here.
Stroll along the boardwalk
Built along a vanished above-ground railway, the Promenade Plantée (literally, Planted Promenade) is a pedestrian path that stretches for just under a mile from nearby Place de la Bastille in the north to the Jardin de Reuilly in the southwest . The world’s first above-ground pedestrian promenade, the Promenade, also known as La Coulée Verte (The Green Corridor), is especially enjoyable in the spring and early summer months, when dozens of varieties of trees and plants bloom.
Lavender, cherry and maple, tall bamboo shady corridors, roses and countless other varieties of fragrant and beautiful flora are planted along the path. You’ll also see intriguing Parisian architecture along this route. A handful of street art and colorful murals also adorn the walls of certain buildings on the waterfront.
How to visit: There are access points near the Place de la Bastille on Rue de Lyon, on Avenue Daumesnil (Metro: Daumesnil) and from the Jardin de Reuilly (Metro: Reuilly-Diderot). Look for signs and go up the stairs from street level to access the path. (The walk ends at the Jardin de Reuilly, but for a longer walk, walk another 1.8 miles to the massive Bois de Vincennes park at the eastern end of Paris.)
Try some fantastic local Italian food
There has been something of a renaissance in the French capital when it comes to cuisine from Naples, Rome, Bologna and elsewhere in Italy. Young restaurateurs in search of opportunities have established exciting new Italian restaurants in the city, and many of them are concentrated in the neighborhood surrounding the Aligre market.
To enjoy delicious Neapolitan pizzas made in wood fired ovens , head to East Mamma. It is modern but friendly, and the prices are affordable. In addition to delicious Italian-style pizzas, pastas and desserts, the restaurant offers a wine list consisting of 180 varieties (mostly Italian), all purchased directly from the winegrowers.
Or head to Retro Bottega to sample the delicious recipes of Pietro Rusanno, a native of Rome who opened the small wine shop and bar that transforms into a restaurant for lunch and dinner. Homemade ravioli and tortellini filled with creative and traditional ingredients like ricotta, crab, sesame and sea asparagus are among the delicacies. All the wines sold in the restaurant are Italian, and many are biodynamic, but wine by the glass is not an option. As a result, your bill is likely to be expensive if you want wine to accompany your meal.
Sample of delicious baked goods
A relatively new way of arrival in the gifted gourmet Aligre neighborhood is Farine et O. Run by Olivier Magne, an award-winning local baker, the bakery’s delights are numerous. Wonders of Magne con pains au chocolat with oranges and spiral-shaped viennoiseries filled with chocolate and pistachio, as well as a variety of delicious and delicious cakes.
One of the best bakeries in the French capital, this is an address that is constantly full of customers. Try the delicious oily focaccia and multi-seeded baguette, equally crunchy and chewy. For dessert, the lemon tart is spicy and not too sweet, not to mention beautiful. Like we said, it’s hard to go wrong here.
How to visit: Be prepared to wait as there is often a line before and after work when locals stock up on bread for dinner. Find it at 153 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 11th arrondissement. Take metro line 8 to Ledru-Rollin or Faidherbe-Chaligny.
Have a creative cocktail
Paris has seen an influx of speakeasy-style cocktail bars in recent years – places whose old-school brand of cool and intimate settings brings together hipsters in search of quirky settings, and cocktail purists who won’t settle for nothing less than an excellent drink
Moonshiner is one of the best of this new crop. Located behind a blank door at the back of a pizzeria, it’s actually an “open secret,” but the process of getting there is novel and fun. Inside, a team of talented bartenders mix creative and surprising beverages for the palate amid low light, vintage, comfy sofas, and ambient music.
How to visit: It is immensely popular, even on weekdays. Try to get there early if you want to sink into the deep sofas and chairs in the back with your fancy drink in hand. The bar is located at 5 rue Sedaine, 11th arrondissement. Take metro line 8 to Ledru-Rollin or Bastille.
Eat at a local eclectic cafe
Assuming you don’t mind visiting some of the distinctly modern-feeling corners of the neighborhood, head over to Mel, Mich & Martin – a cafe, gallery, shop, and lunch concept that offers a mix of good food and coffee, free wifi, and Eclectic items for sale or to enjoy on site.
This is a cafe that feels as far removed from the traditional Parisian cafe as you can imagine. Less interested in tradition for the sake of tradition, he still adheres to high French quality standards – the coffee is delicious (but you can order all kinds of American-style barista drinks here, from lattes to iced coffees similar to desserts). The food menu is similarly inspired by North America – from bagels to muffins to cookies that ooze melted chocolate, this is definitely a good place to get your fix if you’re craving that kind of thing.
On the walls and around the great venues, there are art and design objects for sale, vintage furniture that gives a cozy and relaxed feel to the place, music and movie memorabilia, and various ornaments. The internet connection is solid, so if you need to work for a couple of hours with free wifi, this is a good option.
How to visit: It is at 8 rue Saint-Bernard, 11th arrondissement. Take metro line 8 to Ledru-Rollin or Faidherbe-Chaligny.
