It’s a sight that will stick with you for the rest of your life: the first time you lay eyes on the magnificent Eiffel Tower rising above the rooftops of Paris. First-time visitors to the City of Lights often head to the 7th arrondissement as soon as they arrive, as this is where the Champ de Mars and the Tour Eiffel can be found.
It’s a shame that some of these visitors don’t take the time to also explore the neighborhood itself, as it is one of the most beautiful areas in Paris! The 7th arrondissement is an ancient and affluent neighborhood that boasts some of the best museums in town, as well as architecture that will absolutely take your breath away.
In this article, we’ll explore the 7th arrondissement in Paris and show you what it’s like to live here as a local!
The 7th arondissement is famous for its tourist attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower and Hôtel des Invalides, as well as for its many amazing museums, such as the Musée d’Orsay and Musée Rodin. However, it’s also a very popular residential neighborhood in Paris. Not only because many of the apartments in the 7th Arrondissement provide splendid views of the Eiffel Tower, like this beautiful 1-bedroom rental in Invalides, but also because the area is simply one of the best residential neighborhoods in Paris.
Still associated with the French nobility and upper class, this central Paris neighborhood is fittingly shaped like a diamond. It’s bordered in the north by the Seine River, to the southwest by the Avenue de Suffren, and to the southeast by the Rue de Sèvres. It’s very well connected to the other arrondissements of Paris by the Metro lines 6, 8, 10, 12 and 13, and by the RER C. This means it both provides a fantastic base to explore the city during a holiday and an ideally located home for a longer stay in Paris. Welcome to the 7th arondissement!
Shopping in the 7th Arrondissement
Le Bon Marché in the 7th Arrondissement is the oldest department store in ParisThe 7th arondissement boasts many amazing shops, from tiny specialty shops to big department stores. You’ll find most of the stores along the biggest streets of the neighborhood, such as the Avenue Bosquet, Boulevard Raspail and Rue de Sèvres. The following are some of our favorite shops in the area:
- Le Bon Marché on the Rue de Sèvres is the oldest department store in Paris. The luxurious store offers many high-end brands, and also boasts a wonderful food court called La Grande Épicerie de Paris. This food store not only offers fresh French produce, but also has a great international foods section.
- It’s easy to miss the deceptive façade of Deyrolle on Rue de Bac. From the street the shop looks like a small gardening store, but when you enter and head upstairs you’ll discover a fascinating taxidermy collection. This museum-like shop was featured in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris and is definitely worth the trip!
- Technically just outside the 7th arrondissement, Beaugrenelle on Rue Linois is a huge mall consisting of three different buildings on the Rue Linois. Besides shops such as Marks & Spencer, Uniqlo, H&M, Mango and Zara, the shopping center also boasts a cinema and several restaurants. Furthermore, it provides a free boat shuttle across the Seine River.
- The 7th wouldn’t be truly Parisian if it didn’t have some amazing food markets. Rue Cler is a cute market street filled with little food stores and stalls selling fresh produce. The Saxe-Breteuil Marketon the Place de Breteuil is one of the most beautiful food markets in Paris. Open on Thursday and Saturday mornings, you can shop for fresh produce and flowers with the Eiffel Tower rising in the background.
7th Arrondissement Cafés, Restaurants and Bars
The 7th arrondissement has a lot of diversity to offer when it comes to food and drinks. From trendy coffee shops to traditional French restaurants, you’ll find everything culinary you could ever wish for in this area!
- Cafés
Coutume Café on Rue de Babylone is a trendy café selling some of the best coffee in town, and is very popular among both Parisians and visitors. Café des Officiers on the Place de l’École Millitaire is another favorite among the locals, and great for brunch. Café Constant on the Rue St Dominique is a nice French bistro where you can enjoy a proper French lunch. Other nice cafes in the area include Le Tourville, Café de l’Alma and Café Le Flores.
- Restaurants
The spectacular view from the restaurant Le Jules Verne in the Eiffel TowerFor a truly unforgettable experience, head to the iconic Le Jules Vernes at the top of the Eiffel Tower! The restaurant not only boasts some of the best views in the whole of Paris, but also serves delectable dishes. Be sure to make a reservation! This also goes for the exquisite L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon on the Rue Montalembert. Dress up and prepare for an evening of some of the best that French cuisine has to offer. For more delicious French fare, head to Au Pied de Fouet on Rue de Babylone. This intimate restaurant serves simple and amazing food at a very decent price. More favorites in the area include Chez Germaine, l’Oasis, Tribeca and L’Assemblée.
- Bars
Bar du Central on Rue Saint-Dominique is a great late-night bar that serves delicious cocktails. Le Gatsby on Avenue Bosquet is another wonderful cocktail bar with a speakeasy-like vibe. Collin’s Pub is a nice Irish pub on Rue de Grenelle with a decent selection of beers. Lastly, Le Quai on the Quai Anatole France next to the Musée d’Orsay is a wonderfully located restaurant/bar on a boat. Sit outside on the deck and enjoy the views!
Stay in a 7th Arrondissement Apartment
If you’re coming to Paris on a holiday, consider staying in a 7th Arrondissement vacation rental apartment, so you’ll be close to many of Paris’ best landmarks! By staying in an apartment you’ll also have the comfort of your own kitchen where you can try your hand at preparing your own French meal!
This is also a great advantage if you’re considering coming to Paris for a longer period. You can save money by cooking, and still enjoy living in a furnished apartment near the Eiffel Tower! Your apartment will provide a real home away from home, and you’ll get to feel like a true Parisian!
What to See & Do in the 7th Arrondissement
The Assemblée Nationale in the 7th Arrondissement of ParisBy staying in the 7th arrondissement you’ll never lack things to see and do! Visit the area’s most beautiful landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Hôtel des Invalides, the Assemblée Nationale and also don’t forget to marvel at the architecture of the beautiful houses, or hôtels, in the neighborhood, such as theHôtel Matignon, which is the official residence of the Prime Minister of France. This neighborhood also boasts some of Paris’ most beautiful bridges across the Seine River, such as the Pont Alexandre III, Pont de l’Alma and Pont d’Iéna.
The neighborhood also holds two of the most famous museums in Paris. The Musée d’Orsay is perhaps the best-known Parisian museum after The Louvre. This museum is housed in a former train station, and displays beautiful French art focusing on the 19th Century and early 20th Century, including the impressionists and post-impressionists. Moreover, The Musée Rodin is located in one of the most beautiful hôtels in the neighborhood, and contains many of Auguste Rodin’s most famous sculptures.
Paris’ Musée du Quai Branly in the 7th ArrondissementIf you have the time, there are also several other great smaller museums you can visit in the area. You have the Musée des Egouts de Paris (The Paris’ Sewers Museum), Musée de la Légion d’Honneur et des Ordres de Chevalerie, Musée Maillol, Musée de l’Ordre et de la Libération, and the Musée Valentin Hauy. Lastly, there’s the Musée du Quai Branly, which is a wonderful museum located in a strikingly modern building and featuring indigenous art from all over the world. To see how you can visit these museums for free, check out Top 10 Free Things to See and Do in Paris.
The amazing green space Les Berges on the banks of the River Seine in ParisThere’s nothing quite like exploring the city of Paris on foot. The 7th arrondissement features some beautiful parks that make for amazing walks. The best known of these is probably the Champs de Mars, as you’ll find the Eiffel Tower in the center of this park. The Esplanade des Invalides is the other famous park, or rather meadow, of the neighborhood. The Esplanade Jacques Chaban-Delmas and the Square Samuel Rousseau are two other great green spaces. Finally, Les Berges is an amazing new green space project on the banks of the Seine between the The Musée d’Orsay and the Pont de l’Alma. Here you’ll find different park spaces, a public garden, and even some floating greenhouses!