Living in Paris means not needing to find a room for the night, but I do like to keep up to date with new openings for when I need to make recommendations. It's been interesting to see how popular hostels have become, but most are huge spaces and parts of international chains, with locations that look the same in every city.
Les Piaules is not like that. It feels more like a boutique hotel, even if it can still cheaply squeeze you into a dorm for eight people. What sets it apart is not the rooms or the beds, but the atmosphere. It's housed in a converted 1930s art deco style office block to start with, but it also has a cosy bar that is open to everybody. Perhaps best of all though is the rooftop terrace, reserved only for those staying at the hostel.
The neighbourhood is a cool one, with perhaps the city's best nightlife nearby. It's also just a 5-minute walk from my home, so I sometimes pop along to the bar. With its international globe-trotting atmosphere, it feels like I'm travelling in my home city!
Find your way with 168 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
"Rue Mallet-Stevens" in Paris is notable for the 'villas' designed by the aforementioned, and the works by Le Corbusier...
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"Rue Férou" in Paris has a mural of Rimbaud's Bâteau Ivre on what is now a tax center. It's all written by hand by calligrapher Jan Willem Bruins.
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"Coutume Café" is THE place in Paris you should take any sceptic who still believes it is impossible to find a good cup of coffee in the French capital...
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"Chapon Chocolat" in Paris is the only high-tier chocolatier that has a chocolate mousse bar! The owner drew inspiration from picking ice cream flavours...
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"Assemblages" is a wine bar in Paris you should definitely visit if you're walking through Place des Vosges. The owner is a cabinet maker - and it shows!
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"Rue du Montparnasse" in Paris is THE place to be to try authentic French savory crêpes, aka galettes, just like they make them in Brittany.
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"Jardin Catherine-Labouré" in Paris was an orchard that belonged to the Filles de la Charité convent; today, it's the perfect place to take your kids!
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"Les Copains du Faubourg" with its English bulldog mascot makes a perfect egg & bacon roll that never fails to draw me in...
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"Maison POS" in Paris is a fruit & veg seller is focused on organic fresh produce. It's a pleasure pantry where you can discover local tastes!
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"Chez Antoine" in Paris is great any time of day! It's the kind of place they always remember my order - a Pizza Sicilienne usually...
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"La Kabane" in Paris is a go-to place of mine for citron, coconut, triple chocolate and granola cookies! I love their dog...
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"Refuge BD" in Paris is a local comic book or BD shop where I've been doing 'click & collect' during the lockdown...
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168 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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