Montmartre

“Tucked away on the far edges of the quiet 17th Arrondissement, Batignolles is a respite from the busy touristy attractions of Paris. A residential neighborhood home to many young families, it’s reminiscent of a small town with its sleepy streets, a church, and a beautiful park — the Square des Batignolles.

I used to perch myself on a bench with a good sandwich from a boulangerie (whichever one I spotted on the road), and after a few minutes of basking in the peaceful scenery of those green lawns, wild flowers, ponds, a waterfall, and families taking their kids and dogs for a walk, I would forget I lived in the city.

I had an apartment on Rue Cardinet, so it was just a straight walk through the train tracks to get to the square. Batignolles has a village feel, and is less popular than other parts of town like Le Marais, so you’ll be pleasantly amused without the stress of having to share the sidewalks with hordes of people.

I loved perusing the boutiques in the area (though I might add a tad more expensive than the norm). As for restaurants, there’s a host of delectable international cuisine to explore from Chinese to Middle Eastern to Italian. For those fans of the ‘Mamma’ chain, there’s a Mamma Primi on Rue des Dames. This same street is dotted with contemporary bars for an evening of cocktails among friends — and this is the best part about Paris. Every neighborhood has its charm.”