Jennifer Morrison (1984)

Paris is known for being one of the world’s most fashionable cities but while you’ll find plenty of fancy boutiques and luxury designer shops it can seem impossibly hard to look good on a budget here. That’s where Guerrisol, an amazing chain of second-hand thrift shops, comes in. 

These shops are neither clean nor organised so they’re not suitable for faint-hearted bargain hunters but despite some questionably smelly t-shirts and dodgy hawai-print shorts these warehouse style clothing emporiums are fantastic places to pick up some vintage bargains.

Prices start as low as € 2, I’ve frequently spent as little as € 20 and still managed to walk out with a bag stuffed with about 8 different items, including shoes! The clientele is a diverse mix of locals, students, parents on a budget, stylists, and fashionistas. You need to come prepared to dig through piles upon piles of clothes and vast bins of handbags and scarves but trust me, it’s worth it. I never leave empty handed!

Most of the shops are located in the north of the city but you can find a full list of addresses on their website. My personal favourites are the ones in the 17th and 18th arrondissement near metro Place de Clichy and Anvers. Happy bargain hunting!

The beauty of the meandering River Seine captivated the Impressionists whilst Amélie Poulain chose to set free her beloved goldfish in the picturesque Canal St Martin. Paris isn’t short of famous waterways but the little known Canal de L’Ourcq isn’t one of them. And that’s exactly why I love it.

This lesser known stretch of water technically begins over 100km away from Paris near the small village of Troesnes. However if you follow the canal all the way to the city; which I have to admit I haven’t done (yet!), you’ll find it eventually enters Paris when it joins with the Canal Saint-Martin to form le Bassin de la Villette, Paris’s largest artificial lake.

Paris is an unquestionably beautiful city but even the proudest Parisien would have to admit that all those quaint narrow streets can make you feel a bit claustrophobic after a while. A lazy stroll or relaxing cycle along the wide banks of Canal de L’Ourcq is the perfect remedy for those in search of a little breathing space.

This cool spot is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde character. By day it’s a chilled and laid-back local café but at night it turns into one of the neighbourhood’s hottest, and busiest, bars.

Part of its appeal lies in it’s size, it’s huge! Inside there’s plenty of cosy booth style seating as well as a selection of tables, chairs and high bar stools. Outside there’s a spacious pavement terrace, perfect for people watching even in winter thanks to the handy heat lamps.

The style is old school Paris brasserie, think trendy retro features and mirrors aplenty with a predominantly young and fashionable crowd. At weekends a DJ keeps the party going until the small hours and despite the plethora of seats you’ll be hard pushed to find a free space.

One way to be sure of a table is to head here for dinner first, Café Commerce serves a no-nonense, reasonably priced menu featuring traditional bar snacks such as hamburgers and pasta dishes. But the best deal is the happy hour offer, € 7.50 for a pint and a bowl of chips, definitely worth taking advantage of!

Just minutes from the Sacre Coeur this interesting art gallery is a great place to stop if you want to see something a bit different during your visit to Montmartre. A gallery, bookshop and café all rolled into one. The best time to visit Halle Saint Pierre is at weekends when it’s particularly lively and they often run special events.

The art exhibitions tend to focus on contemporary art from across the globe, the current exhibition focuses on Italian artists. Make sure to leave time to check out the cute bookshop too, unfortunately most of the titles are in French but they also sell a cool line of unusual postcards.

However, much as I enjoy the exhibitions I have to admit the café is probably my favourite part of this spot! Bright and spacious it’s a really wonderful spot to while away a few hours with friends or alone. They do a good range of light snacks and also a fantastic selection of cakes for those with a sweet tooth!

P.S. You can go to the café without having to pay to visit an exhibition!

I learnt French in a school just around the corner from L’Alibi and after class it was always our favourite spot to head for a little drink. Hidden away on a quiet backstreet corner in the north of the 18th arrondissement L’Alibi is far off the normal tourist track.

This is a real neighbourhood bar, it feels like it hasn’t changed for decades and that’s what makes it so special. The back of the bar is filled with comfy seats and sofas and is a lovely cosy refuge in the colder winter months. Original traditional French brasserie features such as a mosaic tiled floor and chrome counter bar add to L’Alibi’s authentic charm.

However, what I like best about L’Alibi is the genuine welcoming atmosphere. You’ll see old men with even older dogs propped up by the bar, shop-keepers and market-stall holders catching up on the gossip, as well young people from the area relaxing with friends. It’s a real mix of people and  although most are locals they’ll be more than happy to have a chat with you too, a great way to practice your French! 

One last point in L’Alibi’s favour, they serve a fantastic selection of specialist Belgian beers at extremely reasonable prices, a good excuse to sample more than a few!