Quartier Latin Apartment

Left Bank Nest for Two

A fifth-floor flat in the lively Latin Quarter, this quiet, open plan space hits all the high notes of a Paris apartment—wrought-iron-framed French window ledges overlooking romantic rooftops, a refined marble hearth and hardwood floors, an exposed ancient beam, and that artful French knack for decorating a space with a mix of antique and modern art, books, and objets that give it a certain je ne sais quoi.

A five-minute stroll to the Seine and Notre Dame, this 30sqm apartment is a romantic hideaway for two, tucked into the fifth floor of a classic residential building. Be like a Parisian and climb the stairs to the art-filled perch, decorated with an array of 19th- and 20th-century paintings, books, and Japanese-inspired furnishings.

A bed for two on patinaed wood floors looks out onto classic Parisian facades, opposite a curlicued balconette. The living area has an ancient marble hearth and art pieces from around the globe and through the eras. There’s a compact kitchenette for preparing market finds from the neighborhood's famed farmstands or for packing a picnic to enjoy in the Luxembourg Gardens, a 10-minute walk away.

Around

Paris’s 5ème arrondissement, also known as the Latin Quarter for its scholarly history (Latin was the language of academia until nearly 1800), is home to the Sorbonne, l’Ecole des Beaux Arts, and several public Paris universities. A pure Left Bank district—the stomping grounds of academics and artists, students, and writers—the district’s narrow streets (Paris’ narrowest is in the area) are walkable, and the best thing to do is to wander curiously, or as the French put it: flâner. There are restaurants, cafes, and bakeries just downstairs, including a favorite, by-reservation French-Japanese restaurant, Kokoro. The youthful Boulevard Saint-Michel is one of the quarter’s busiest streets, a popular strip of restaurants, cafes, Greek food outlets, kabob stands, and dozens of sidewalk cafes packed with students. The independently owned Shakespeare & Company bookstore, popularized by Hemingway in his memoir,A Moveable Feast, still greets a crowd daily, and the neighborhood’s streets range from the hushed and historical to the thronged and touristy. Slip away from the sightseeing crowds into the Jardin des Plantes, a 17th-century botanical garden with alpine, rose, winter and Art Deco garden sections. Entry to the lush locale is free, though the zoo and Natural History Museum on its grounds have an entry fee.

A must-visit gastronomical street nearby is Rue Mouffetard, a market street Julia Child made famous in the US. Its vibrant produce stands and fragrant bakeries are a great place to grab a picnic before heading to a quiet square or the banks of the nearby Seine. Paris’ Grand Mosquée’s garden makes for another beautiful, plant-filled food stop as the mosque’s interior is lush with greenery and lined with fountains and ponds. From the Pantheon to the churches of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont or Eglise Saint Severin, among others, the quarter is filled with historical monuments. Some date from Roman times, as the neighborhood is Paris’ oldest, the original Lutetia, and remains of the ancient arena/stadium are also in the area. The Latin Quarter is bordered by the Seine, the neighboring 6ème arrondissement and the Jardin du Luxembourg, and the Boulevard du Port-Royal to the east/southeast.

Location

Nearest airport: Paris Orly (20 minutes); Paris CDG, (30-45 minutes)

Best time to visit

April to October