What a stellar Airbnb! I travel most of the year, and stay in a lot of Airbnb's. You know how it is. Some are not what they advertise. Location is not great. Pictures look better than actual place. Not too clean. Some are like corporate apartments.
This place might very well be the best Airbnb I have stayed in. First off, I am a little biased. I had a chance to meet Chris and Philipe and not only is the apartment perfect, but they are two wonderful people. They love this neighborhood and when asked, tell you the best places to go for pretty much anything. I had little things like needing pants hemmed, a bit of cleaning done, some prescriptions. Chris had recommendations for everything that worked out great. The neighbors in the building are just as friendly. When you are new to a neighborhood in France, the first thing people tell you is where to buy bread, croissant and wine.
On the neighborhood. This is a great part of Paris because there are no monuments, so that means not a lot of tourists. You can live like a local here. There are so many shops, cafes and restaurants within walking distance. I was going to French school near the Centre Pompidou, which is close to the Marais and Des Halles. 20 minutes walk. My office was in Canal St. Martin. 10 minutes walk. It is really a good location with a metro station a half block away. Some of my friends who live in Paris told me this area was a great place to live, a little bohemian, with artists and writers, but also a good neighborhood with a lot of ethnic flavor. I did want to comment on one review. This is an urban neighborhood. There are a lot of people of African descent living on one side of the neighborhood. The people often hang out on the street, it's their culture. It is very safe. My friends tell me most places in the 20 arrondissements is a good neighborhood. So if you are looking for an experience like a Hilton near the Eiffel tower, you should go there. With the mediocre food (which in Paris is still pretty good), fellow tourists and occasionally swarmy service. If you want to be in a real neighborhood with real people, come here. I especially liked the variety of things to do here. You are in the heart of the theater district, the French love dinner-theater and it is literally right here. Everything from Turkish to Kurdish to Japanese to classic French. Several fantastic bakeries, including Juhles and Bon Homie.
On the apartment. Top floor with a lift. View of the Eiffel tower. Great sunsets. The kitchen is extremely well equipped. Probably the best equipped of any place I have stayed, not only in the quality of the cookware and tableware, but in the number of settings. Also there is just about anything type of pot, pan or gadget you may need to take advantage of the fantastic vegetable, fruit, meat and fish you can buy around the corner. I like to cook but mostly just like to know what I am eating, so this place was perfect. Having got to know Chris and Philipe a bit, they are both the type of people who keep a very clean place (I say this because, I will admit, I am not). Their attention to detail in both cleanliness and detail in the furnishings will be one of the first things you notice. Plenty of room, a desk to work at and something rare, a really comfortable bed. The apartment is large and the place is actually better than the pictures.
Communication was quick, Chris and Philippe very helpful with any question or request I had, the apartment is modern meaning good appliances (including a working washer and dryer...score!), no funny smells like you get in some old buildings (I was in Amsterdam for 2 months in a nice place but oh, that musty smell every morning), and good plumbing. The building has a lot of character but again is modern and well kept.
I am a little biased, as you can see, by both the place and the guys that run it. In fact, I am a little torn about writing this review because I do come to Paris fairly often and plan on staying here when I do, so a part of me hopes the apartment is available. So if you are not moved to make a reservation here, I can live with that. But the other part of me hopes that you will experience Paris as I have, and a big part of that is this flat, and Chris and Philipe. It's up to you.