Should I Visit Paris’ 15th Arrondissement?
If it’s your first time here then don’t make the 15th arrondissement of Paris a priority - this city has a lot to offer and the 15th is very residential. But, if you’ve been here before, you might want to check it out because there’s some great stuff to see here and some excellent food hidden away.
What are the Arrondissements of Paris?
Paris has 20 arrondissements, or municipal districts. Nearly each arrondissement has its own local mayor (though some share mayors) and they all have a distinct vibe from one another. The best way to remember how they’re numbered is to think of a snail shell, starting in the center with 1 (where the Louvre is) and winding its way around to the left until it reaches 20. Not all arrondissements are created equal - some are calmer, some are foodie central, others are boring, and some are crowded. We’ve written an article on each to help you research where you might like to be for your stay in the city of Light. (Hint, if you’re looking for local hidden gems that center around food and drink, skip to the 11th!)
What’s the 15th Arrondissement Known For?
The 15th arrondissement is probably most known for its residential energy. Young, fairly well off families, kids, clean streets… and not a whole lot for the average tourist. For professionals, it’s probably most known for the Parc des Expositions. In fact, this may have come up in your research online. The Parc des expositions in a huge event hall at the Porte de Versailles, at the very edge of the city. It’s a fantastic experience… if you’re interested in the expos that are on! Otherwise, forget about it and head towards the center.
Is the 15th Arrondissement in Paris Safe?
In general, yes the 15th arrondissement is considered safe. Still, there are places we would avoid wandering around at night, notably by Montparnasse station, by the Eiffel tower, by the Javel metro station, and in general down along the river and the southern edge of the city. If you’re plop in the middle of the 15th, you’ll feel perfectly safe!
What to Do in the 15th Arrondissement
Bourdelle Museum
The Bourdelle museum is dedicated to the works of 20th century sculpteur Antoine Bourdelle and it is housed inside his old studio. Open daily, except for Mondays, it's a wonderful look inside one of France’s lesser known artists. We LOVE this museum, it gives us aspirations of having our own atelier (workshop) one day. If you’re looking for a museum tour, from obscure places like the Bourdelle to more famous (I’m looking at you Mona), our friend Amber is one of the best guides in the city and can organise a private tour tailored to your interest. Hit her up here: [email protected], and let her know we sent you.
We have some more exploring of the 15th arrondissement to do. For instance, have you heard of the Musée de la Poste? We’ll be checking that out at some point in the next few months - assuming Jay’s Patrons vote for it that is!
Rue du Commerce
If you’re into shopping, you’ll want to hit this street. Rue du Commerce is called the best shopping street in Paris, but we do disagree with that. There are hundreds of little shopping streets, nooks, and crannies in this city. If you’re looking for some really nice clothing shops, this is for you. Otherwise, it’s not worth it.
Where to Eat and Drink
Coffee
Good News Coffee Shop
Owned by our friend Fox, this place wasn’t the first to bring specialty coffee to the 15th, but it reinforced a very tiny beachhead when they opened. A relaxing spot to meet friends or even get some work done, the location allows this coffee shop to really stretch out (you won’t get this much space in the center of town). Our pick is their house filter and the cakes are a real treat if you have room. If they’re serving their famous sausage roll, don’t let it pass you by (and if they aren’t, remind them Jay is craving it back on the menu toute de suite).
O! Coffee
'Australian cafe slinging great coffee with good vibes only’ just about sums up O! Coffee. While France may have mastered café culture, no one does coffee quite like the Aussies these days. No cafe crème here; it's flat white and carefully crafted espresso all the way. Pair with some toasted banana bread served with hazelnut butter for a really great start to your day. They were putting avocado on toast before it was cool.
Food
MELT Cambronne
Texas? BBQ? Paris? Has the world turned upside down? Melt is a leader in smoked meat here in the French capital and you’ll find all the hallmarks of a quality smokehouse here on the menu. Brisket, pulled pork, ribs, smoked chicken, homemade sides, you name it, they’ve got it at Melt. With a couple of locations around the city now (keep your eyes open for their delis!) these guys are really on the up and up.
Luckily Melt Cambronne is off the beaten path in the 15th so grabbing a table won’t be a problem for you. Paris is not just a place for French food and if you want more recommendations that reflect the diversity of the city, then be sure to grab our Guide!
Oppa Cantine
This place is a total hit if you’re craving some Korean BBQ, fried chicken or a bimbimbap. It’s unassuming, and you could walk right by it without knowing what you were missing. And it’s actually not crazy far from the Eiffel Tower, and would be worth avoiding the crowds in the over priced bistrots…
Best Places to Hang Out
Parc Andre-Citroen & Its Balloon Ride
Want to grab a unique photo of the city from the “Ballon de Paris”? Looking for a view of Paris that no one else has seen? Did you know there is a balloon ride in Parc André Citroën that you can go up in? Tucked in a futuristic park and technically used for recording weather readings, this balloon rises 150m into the Parisian air and offers a totally different view to every other spot in Paris. It’s not as pretty as the hot air balloons of old, or the new one built for the Olympic Torch, but you can’t ride those. You can ride this (if the weather is good, so be sure to check that it’s actually in operation before you go).
Ile aux Cygnes
Names the island of the swans, this place is far outside of the center of Paris. Truly, there’s not really a reason to visit unless you’re staying in the neighborhood, or you’re particularly passionate about the statues of liberty. This man made island connects several bridges, and houses one status of liberty at its southern tip.
There are lots of wonderful green spaces in the 15th arrondissement of Paris - if you don’t feel like seeing the balloon, you could always check out the large Parc Georges Brassens or the Square Saint-Lambert, which in the summer is busy enough to rival Place des Vosges.
Not one of our longer blogs, while we love it, the 15th isn’t overflowing with our favorites. But for hardened Paris lovers there are some great places to see and some lovely quiet backstreets to wander.