The Right Bank sits north of the Seine and has historically been Paris's business and shopping side — think Louvre, Opéra, Champs-Élysées. The Left Bank, to the south, leans more toward its student and intellectual history around the Latin Quarter.
Discover Authentic Paris Right Bank: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Paris Right Bank, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Butte Bergeyre, the Aligre market and Perrotin gallery in the Marais.
Top 5 Things to Do in Paris Right Bank
Le Marais
Cobbled streets, Renaissance mansions, and some of the city's best falafel around Rue des Rosiers. Place des Vosges, Paris's oldest planned square, sits right at its edge.
Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur
Steep streets climbing to a basilica with one of the widest views over Paris. Come early or late in the day to skip the crowds gathering around Place du Tertre.
Opéra & Grands Boulevards
Home to the Palais Garnier opera house and the grand department stores, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, both worth a look inside for their stained-glass domes alone.
Canal Saint-Martin
A slower stretch of the Right Bank, with iron footbridges and tree-lined quays. On warm evenings, the banks fill with people and takeaway food from the surrounding bistros.
Champs-Élysées & Golden Triangle
The avenue running from the Arc de Triomphe, flanked by flagship stores, with the couture houses of the Golden Triangle just to the south.
Explore Paris Right Bank's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Paris Right Bank
We've mapped local spots on the Right Bank.
Neighbourhoods & markets
Butte Bergeyre
Less touristy than Montmartre: a residential hilltop of cobbled streets, colourful houses and gardens in northeast Paris, close to the Buttes-Chaumont park. Wander up.
19th arrondissement · Neighbourhood · Perfect for a quiet stroll
Marché d'Aligre and its passages
The lively Aligre market: fresh produce, cafés, bars and antiques – stop for a glass at Le Baron Rouge. Then slip through the passages of the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, such as Passage de la Main d'Or.
12th arrondissement · Market · Made for food and local life
Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre
Each October, Montmartre's grape harvest festival fills the 18th arrondissement with cultural, musical and gourmet events.
Montmartre · Festival, October · Great for a festive atmosphere
Ground Control
A social space by Gare de Lyon with exhibitions, concerts, food trucks and a green terrace. Early for your train? Come here.
12th arr. · Cultural venue · Perfect before a train
La Petite Ceinture
A former railway line, now a 10 km walk past community gardens, graffiti and wild nature.
12th arr. · Urban walk · Ideal for a different Paris
Le Comptoir Général
A Caribbean-themed hideaway by the canal, with a tiki bar, a rum cellar and a gallery of curiosities.
10th arr. · Bar · Perfect for an evening out
Boom Boom Villette
Next to the Cité des Sciences: a food court, bowling, escape games, a cinema and DJ sets.
19th arr. · Leisure centre · Great for groups
Le Bar à Bulles open-air cinema
Free outdoor film screenings every Wednesday in summer, just behind the Moulin Rouge.
Pigalle · Open-air cinema · Made for summer evenings
Art & ideas
Perrotin Marais
In a mansion on rue de Turenne, Emmanuel Perrotin's gallery shows French and international artists such as Maurizio Cattelan, Takashi Murakami, Sophie Calle and JR.
Le Marais, 3rd · Art gallery · Perfect for contemporary art
Les Douches la Galerie
A small gallery near the Canal Saint-Martin devoted to contemporary photography, from rising talents to great names.
10th arrondissement · Photo gallery · Made for photography lovers
GoodPlanet Foundation
In the Bois de Boulogne, Yann Arthus-Bertrand's foundation hosts workshops, exhibitions and talks on ecology, with open-air DJ sets in the evening. Closed for part of the winter.
Bois de Boulogne · Foundation · Great for families
Atelier des Lumières
Immersive digital exhibitions on artists such as Van Gogh and Klimt, projected across a former foundry. Step into the painting.
11th arr. · Digital art centre · Perfect for families
Musée des Arts Forains
Antique fairground rides and carousels in the old Bercy wine warehouses. Some still spin.
12th arr. · Museum · Great for families
Opéra Bastille
Carlos Ott's 1989 opera house, with nearly 2,700 seats for opera and ballet.
Bastille · Opera house · Ideal for a night out
PigeonCoq
A leather workshop where you make your own handbag from recycled leather.
Workshop · Made for crafts
Food & drink
Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac
Refined pastries, éclairs and viennoiseries by the famous chef.
Pastry shop · Perfect for a sweet treat
Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse
Alain Ducasse's bean-to-bar chocolate manufacture. Breathe in.
Chocolate maker · Great for gifts
Chez Gabrielle
A family bistro since 1908, serving homemade traditional French dishes.
Bistro · Ideal for classic French food
L'Atelier du Marché
A typical Parisian restaurant where everything is homemade, from the fries to the chocolate mousse.
Restaurant · Perfect for lunch
Popotes Mac Mahon
A little café-canteen serving fresh, seasonal products.
17th arr. · Café · Great for a quick lunch
FAQ
The Marais for atmosphere and walkability, Opéra for shopping and transport links, Montmartre for a quieter, hillside pace. All are workable bases — our Mercure hotels on the Right Bank sit across several of these districts.
The metro is the fastest option, with multiple lines crossing the area, but the Marais, Opéra district and Canal Saint-Martin are all walkable from each other if you've got the time.
Yes. The Butte Bergeyre in the 19th arrondissement has cobbled streets and colourful houses without the crowds.
The Marché d'Aligre in the 12th, with fresh produce, cafés and antiques.
Every October, with cultural, musical and gourmet events across the 18th arrondissement.
Where to Sleep in Paris Right Bank
See our Mercure hotels across Paris Right Bank, ideally placed to explore these picks.