Paris Center Town Hall (l.), rue Vieille du Temple (r.) – ©Le Marais Mood
Haut-Marais is currently the 23rd “coolest” neighborhood on the planet, according to the lifestyle magazine Time Out, which each year establishes a ranking of the 40 trendiest neighborhoods around the world.
The first question that comes to mind: but why isn't the Marais in the first place it deserves – no, no, we are not chauvinists! – rather than in the second part of the ranking? Answer: quite simply because there are many other trendy neighborhoods all over the world, which is happy news in itself.
Time Out awards the top five places to Laureles in Medellin (Colombia), Smithfield in Dublin (Ireland), Carabanchel in Madrid (Spain), Havnen in Copenhagen (Denmark) and Sheung Wan in Hong Kong.
Please note: the British magazine only reserves two places for French quarters. And while reading that “Haut-Marais is the coolest Parisian district of the capital”, you have to quickly swallow your Parisian self-esteem when discovering – oh, amazement! – that Cours Julien in Marseille ranks in 12th position, far ahead of the beloved Marais Mood district (read the full ranking of the 40 cities below).
Rue de Turenne, ©Le Marais Mood
Here is what Time Out writes about Haut-Marais: “It is not for nothing that, for the fourth year in a row, we designate Haut-Marais as the coolest Parisian district. Wedged between the touristy Marais and the more bohemian 11th, it continues to be enriched with cool places.
In the area bounded by Rue de Beaubourg, Rue de Turenne and Rue des Haudriettes, you'll find top-notch art galleries like Perrotin and Thaddaeus Ropac, fashion haunts like Merci, the city's best cocktail bars and the market. Paris' oldest and liveliest food joint, Enfants-Rouges, home to the legendary sandwich bar Alain Miam Miam and the best cuts of meat from The Butcher of Paris (to name just a few). »
Red Children's Market, ©Le Marais Mood
In the “The Perfect Day” section, Time Out suggests the following itinerary: “Wake up in a hotel dedicated to the Maison Proust, then have breakfast with a Taiwanese touch at the Petite-Île bakery. Stop by Broken Arm to shop for stylish clothes, then enjoy lunch at Children's Market. Digest by leafing through the art books at Ofr.
Bookstore 0fr, ©Le Marais Mood
At aperitif time, take a tour (responsibly, of course) of the city's best bars: Little Red Door, Cambridge Public House, Candelaria, without forgetting the already legendary Bar Nouveau, under the leadership of Remy Savage, the cocktail magician. If you're feeling up to it, end your evening at the iconic Les Bains club. »
And to conclude: “Plan your trip around a dinner reservation at Datil, rue des Gravilliers. This newly opened restaurant is run by local chef Manon Fleury, who teamed up with chef Laurène Barjhoux to create a predominantly plant-based menu. »
► The Time Out ranking
1. Laureles, Medellin
2. Smithfield, Dublin
3. Carabanchel, Madrid
4. Havnen, Copenhagen
5. Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
6. Brunswick East, Melbourne
7. Mid-City, New Orleans
8. Isola, Milan
9. West, Amsterdam
10. Tomigaya, Tokyo
11. Baltic Triangle, Liverpool
12. Cours Julien, Marseille
13. Arts District, Los Angeles
14. Chinatown, Singapore
15. Fort Greene, New York City
16. Leith, Edinburgh
17. Enmore, Sydney
18. Costa da Caparica, Almada
19. Hyde Park, Chicago
20. West End, Glasgow
21. Sea Point, Cape Town
22. Neukölln, Berlin
23. Haut-Marais, Paris
24. King's Cross, London
25. Hannam-dong, Seoul
26. Coral Gables, Miami
27. Richmond District, San Francisco
28. Vinohrady, Prague
29. El Clot, Barcelona
30. San Miguel Chapultepec, Mexico City
31. Exarcheia, Athens
32. Bebek, Istanbul
33. Ponsonby, Auckland
34. Zhongshan, Taipei
35. Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Manila
36. Downtown, Montreal
37. Dotonbori, Osaka
38. The Annex, Toronto
39. Song Wat, Bangkok
40. Cantonments, Accra
Text: Axel G.
20.11.23
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