If you know the Latin Quarter like I do this beautiful Art Deco apartment is in a perfect location.
The Rue Mazarin sits centrally so that you can walk to the Louvre down the exquisite Art Galleried Rue du Seine across the Pont des Art, or via Notre Dame (the renovations are incredible) over to the Isle St Louis to the Marais, or stroll to St Germain des Pres to enjoy a coffee at Cafe Flore whilst enjoying the lively Rue du Bucci.
When I lived in Paris this was a working market street, fruit and veg and amazing charcuterie, this street is 1minute from the apartments front door is a bustle of cafes, a Carrefore supermarket (big for a city road shop & well stocked),, Grom the fabulous ice cream shop (just down from Paul on the Rue de Seine), Maison Thevenin for the best croissants and Tachen sits proudly still at one end.
If you are looking for a vibrant Paris experience you can certainly find it here, my favourite chichi restaurant & balcony bar is at Alcazar hidden a few doors down on Rue Mazarin (dress to impress). Terrance Conran was a pot washer here as a teenager before he became the God of design and bought this restaurant; he completely renovated it in 1998 when I lived close by, it’s newly renovated and is looking sensational.
If you are here for the art and gardens you are also in the right location, e.g. Jardin du Luxembourg is a short walk through one of the best shopping areas as it’s small scale beautiful independent shops, with Yves Saint Laurent boutiques thrown in for good measure - my daughter and I booked a perfume creation tutorial at Molliard at St Sulpice and it was divine.
Let’s just talk Metro here, Odeon your closest station is on the 4 line (direct to Gare du Nord - buy your carnet of metro tickets at the Eurostar buffet bar and laugh as you pass the ticket queues at GdN.
It’s also on the 10 line, get the Paris Metro app it’s genius, this means you can easily get around Paris and travel out cheaply even to Le Puce, the flea markets in the outer arrondissement if desired. Remember these simple tickets can allow you to travel on the bus, tram and RER as well.
We will definitely return to Catherine’s adorable apartment, this is abnormally quiet for the Left Bank, there can be a little low cafe noise when the windows are open onto Rue Mazarin, but I’m a light sleeper and this was quiet in the bedroom at the back of the apartment. This bedroom also has the benefit of a light well and a large window.
The bathroom is fabulous for Parisien apartment standards, and as I’m a clean freak Catherine’s apartment could not be faulted. The kitchen worked perfectly so if you want to cook and enjoy a meal in the Salon you can, and we did a couple of evenings, after which we went to Bar du Marche to meet friends for drinks.
I can’t thank Catherine enough for her hospitality and kindness, she will answer questions and help you if desired, and I can guarantee staying here will give you Parisian memories to last a lifetime.