Claire's flat is perfectly situated at the heart of the Marché d'Aligre, giving you the experience of living like a local in an authentic Parisian neighbourhood. It's filled with fantastic restaurants, bars and shops while at the same time being accessible to anywhere else you'd want to go. It is located right between a couple of métros, including the Gare de Lyon which services multiple lines, so the whole city is right at your fingertips. The prices in this area are extremely reasonable and will spoil you for the rest of Paris. (Hot tip: go to Le Baron Rouge for a huge selection of wines by the glass or carafe, and if you like, bring your own bottle to fill up from the assortment of kegs in the bar. Be warned it gets busy at night!) The market itself was amazing; we loved getting up each morning to buy produce and ingredients for our meals fresh off the stalls, and, in addition, there is a section for books, antiques, clothing and other assorted treasures. The area is away from the tourist crowds so you can soak up real-life Paris. I cannot recommend staying in this area enough, especially if you've been to Paris several times as I have and appreciate a more local flavour.
The flat itself is stylish and comfortable, with more room than usual for accommodation in this city. It is on the 4th floor with no elevator (so be warned if you have heavy bags like me - it will be a workout!) and looks out over the market, which starts right below you with the fruit and veg sellers. The windows are sound-proof so you cannot hear any noise from the street, the bedroom faces the courtyard, and the neighbours seem quiet and respectful (aside from a noisy dog that will greet you with high-pitched barking every time you pass by the second floor). We stayed for a week, and it was a very pleasant stay in a lovely flat with all the comforts of home. We wished we had more time as there was so much to explore just in the area!
Merci beaucoup, Claire! We have fallen in love with Paris all the more thanks to staying in your flat and neighbourhood. We will definitely seek out this area next time we come!