I have to admit that when my traveling companion and I failed to find a suitable apartment to rent in the Marais district of Paris, we were both very disappointed. However, we both had no reason to be sad because we found the area right outside this apartment and on the surrounding streets to be more lively and fun than the Marais.
Every night the restaurants, cafes and wine bars were filled with people enjoying themselves. We easily found great food very close to the apartment. Chez Paul across the street was are first night's meal and the dinner was delicious. There are so many small shops to explore and it just a short walk to Rue St Antoine in the Marais if you want to go there. Don't miss one of the oldest indoor and outdoor markets, Beauvau, just a 10 minute walk for the best cheeses, pates, breads and produce. There is also a weekend flea market that we chanced upon when it was closing but I managed to snag a cute little treasure at a good price. That started at the intersection of Charonne and Rue Faidherbe and ended around 7:30 but I don't know when it starts.
The apartment with 2 bedrooms upstairs and an extra toilet downstairs was great and filled with natural light. The beds are very comfortable. The apartment is in a courtyard filled with greenery and a respite from the busy streets just outside. The kitchen worked fine for breakfast and our quick impromptu snacks and small meals but the stove/ oven is tricky to figure out. There is no dishwasher. We used the clothes washer for a quick load of laundry and the drying rack provided. We found extra toilet paper, paper towels, dish towels and bath towels in the cabinets because for a week's stay, what was put out only lasted a few days. Bring your own condiments such as sugar or anything you can't live without because there were 2 tea bags and 3 Nespreso pods. The garbage cans were quite small for a week but we squeezed it in.
Our hosts were extremely responsive and were happy to help us when there were questions or issues. One key for 2 people was a bit inconvenient if you are with others and don't do everything together. Otherwise, a great location and a very nice apartment.