If it’s your first time in Paris then don’t make the 15e a priority - this city has a lot to offer and the 15e 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 to See
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: amberminogue@gmail.com, and let her know we sent you.
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 15e, 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 15e 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!
Best Places to Hang Out
Parc Andre-Citroen & Its Balloon Ride
Want to grab a unique photo of the city? 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).
Not one of our longer blogs, while we love it, the 15e 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. Join us tomorrow as we look at one of Paris most controversial arrondissements… the 16e.