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
Music Avenue Paris is my local soul/funk/hip-hop specialist. The place has been going since 1995 and every year they really celebrate record store day!
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Entering "Le Silence de La Rue" in Paris you fall silent yourself, in awe of the copious racks of cataloged vinyl & merchandise from indie to rock...
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Les Brutalists is where you'll find a leather maker's workshop that produces customized leather belts and unique, edgy accessories!
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The records sitting in the racks at Vinyl Office make it seem like someone's prized personal collection, with a special focus on black music!
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Cafe "Nomade" is based in an ex-tapissier. It's a perfect morning stop-off ofr a combo of filter coffee, pressed juice and a croissant or pain du chocolat.
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"Jardin Nelson Mandela" in Paris is a new public garden. What's remarkable is the number of shadows to be found there -- useful to remember in the summer.
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"Fontaine de La Croix" in Paris is a folie that's a street relic of a roundabout with many bizarre details that make it very attractive to me...
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"Musée de l'histoire d'immigration" Paris started off as a small museum on ex-French colonies; now it celebrates immigration into France. Lovely terrace
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"Rue du Pelican" in Paris has an isolated space that feels like a time capsule. One can build tall stories of what shady goings-on must've gone on here...
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"Charonne" Paris is an area that in my opinion has been the area which has managed to keep its original identity the most. I love the benches here...
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"Les Douches Gallery" Paris is situated in what was once a public bath built in the 1930s. The gallery itself is fascinating, but the building is better!
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168 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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