Montorgueil is an area in Paris located in the 1st and 2nd arrondissements, centered around Rue Montorgueil. Much of Rue Montorgueil is pedestrian-only. It’s lined with all manner of cafes, shops, and vendors. None of the big tourist sights are nearby, so even though it’s not far from the Louvre Museum, it’s off the beaten tourist track. It’s also clean, safe, nicely developed, but not too high-end — just a nice Parisian neighborhood.
There aren’t many hotels in the immediate area, which is a good thing if you’re in search of the “real” Paris. An excellent way to embed oneself in the neighborhood is to rent an apartment. There seems to be no shortage of them in the area. That’s what we did, and we loved it.
I had visions of returning from an open-air market and actually cooking something instead of just bringing my prize back to an old hotel room. Sautéed champignons, anyone? French omelet with farm-fresh eggs? It never happened. Oh well. The spaciousness and charm of the apartment won us over anyway. (See Renting an Apartment in Paris for more Info).
Our favorite time of day in Montorgueil is late afternoon. Around that time, the outdoor café tables start filling up. It’s the place to be for some top-rate people-watching. You might even meet some other nice people doing the same thing. We certainly did.
For another take on Montorgueil, see this article on the Bonjour Paris website: Adopt a Paris Neighborhood — Montorgueil.
Restaurant Notes
There’s no shortage of restaurants near Rue Montorgueil. Here are a few that we tried.
Aux Crus de Bourgogne
We had an excellent dinner here. Be informed, entertained, and read an in-depth review of this restaurant at http://parismissives.blogspot.com/2016_05_01_archive.html
Frenchie
Reserve waaay in advance, i.e, months. Our dinner here — the whole experience, actually — was wonderful. Other than the amazing food, and perhaps just as amazing, is the thoroughly relaxed, comfortable ambience. For an in-depth review and some excellent food photography, see http://www.hotels-paris-rive-gauche.com/blog/2009/10/01/frenchie-restaurant-paris-rue-nil/
Caldo Freddo
Go here for lunch — the truffle pizza was amazing.
http://caldo-freddo.zenchef.com/
Osteria Ruggera
Dinner at this Italian restaurant was excellent. Friendly servers. Fun.
http://www.osteriaruggera.fr/
See additional restaurant notes on the Paris Travel Notes page.
