GROW WITH SARAH GRACE

Paris has many neighborhoods to explore like the Latin Quarter, Le Marais and Les Halles to name a few but after visiting this city a couple of times and then moving here 7 months ago, I have found that one of my favorite neighborhoods is Montmartre. Sadly, it’s located in the northern part of the city of love and is quite far from my apartment so I don’t get to enjoy it as often as I would hope. A lot of items from my “Paris Bucket List” are located in this area so when I have a day off, I tend to spend the whole day in this neighborhood. 

This famous neighborhood sits on a hill making it the highest point of Paris which also results in many uphill cobblestone streets and stairs. Montmartre doubles as a tourist magnet with gorgeous churches and delicious restaurants while also being known as a nightclub district. Aside from the modern spots to see, this area of Paris is also known for its artistic side as many famous artists like Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Vincent Van Gogh lived, worked or had studios in or around Montmartre. 

Montmartre is located in parts of both the 18th and 9th Arrondissements and is home to many famous spots like (but not limited to) Maison Rose, Moulin Rouge, Dumbo and the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. When I made a list of my favorite spots, the list turned into a few to nearly 20 spots so for the sake of time and not boring you after a few paragraphs, I have turned this guide into two parts. So, having said that, here is part one of a guide to Montmartre. 

ATTRACTIONS: 

Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Also known as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, this church stands tall on the highest point of the city – Montmartre Hill – which allows for amazing views of the city. The construction of this structure started in 1875 and went on for 40 years under five different architects. The original plan was designed by Paul Abadie and it’s inspired by Byzantine and Romanesque architecture. The best part of it all is that entry into the church is free. There tends to be a line but it usually moves pretty fast and is worth the wait as the interior is gorgeous. 

If you want to enjoy the interior during a mass service, the full schedule can be found on their website but generally, they offer four masses every day from Monday to Thursday and five on Friday. As far as the weekend goes, there are three on Saturday and four on Sunday. 

Since Montmartre is located on a hill, to get to the church, you will most likely be directed to go up over 200 steps. If this doesn’t sound appealing to you like it doesn’t to me, there is a funicular to get you from the bottom of the hill to the top. You can use this with a normal metro ticket (don’t fall for the tourist trap of people selling you tickets outside of the station.) To locate on a map, the bottom stop is called “Gare Basse” while the top is “Gare Haute.” You should also be very aware of pickpockets in this area. 

Vintage Photo Booth

If there is one thing I will never pass up, it’s a photo booth, especially a vintage one. I have a knack for finding photobooths in almost every city I have had the chance to explore from Florence to Los Angeles and now, Paris. I will say, out of all the photobooths I have found and used, this is one of the more expensive ones as it gives you one strip of four photos for 6 euros. 

Even if it’s not my favorite price, I still think this is a unique souvenir to take home when visiting the city. You can find the booth at 53 Rue des Trois Frères, right across from Blackbird Coffee. There is usually a line and it takes around four minutes to print so if you want to try and beat the crowds, I recommend going around opening time or closing time. The hours of operation are 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. and the machine takes cash (only 1 and 2 euros coins) or card. The biggest tip I can give you is that as soon as you put the money in, the photos will start so be sure you are camera-ready!

Moulin Rouge

Now, technically, this attraction is located in Pigalle but in terms of location, it’s within walking distance of other Montmartre locations so I always combine them. Much to my surprise, many people only know of this iconic building and performance because of the movie and are shocked to see it’s real. The Moulin Rouge is much more than just a movie. It’s an electric cabaret show that is a must-see when you are in Paris. From the extravagant costumes to the beyond-talented dancers, the Moulin Rouge holds so much history. 

I have been fortunate enough to befriend a few of these brilliant dancers and through them, I’ve learned so much about the truly remarkable story of the iconic establishment like how the costumes are handmade and it was the first building in Paris to have electricity. 

Enjoying a show with dinner or even just some drinks is something I highly recommend but if you don’t get the chance to watch the performance, you should at least see the building. Located on Boulevard de Clichy, you can’t miss the recognizable red windmill, which is what Moulin Rouge translates from French! To be fully transparent, I will say that surrounding the building are some adult stores so be wary if you are traveling with children.

DRINKS: 

O’Sullivans By The Mill

As the name suggests, this Irish Pub is located right next to the Moulin Rouge (“The Mill”) and be sure you get the right one on your maps as there are multiple locations throughout Paris with “O’Sullivans” in their name. To help ease any confusion, this one is located at 92 Bd de Clichy. Like the Moulin Rouge, this pub is technically located in Pigalle but for the sake of this article, we are combining the two areas. 

We have a saying in my friend group, “Irish Pubs are always a good idea” which is why O’Sullivans By The Mill or our favorite place to go out. Okay, that sounds like an ad but truly, we haven’t had a bad time at this place. It offers a variety of experiences from the lively club in the back to the social smoke room to the interesting crowd of people to the fun photobooth. They have great music and tasty drinks and it’s just all around a great vibe. I will say, if you are looking for a sit-down and enjoy a drink kind of place, this might not be for you as there are a few tables but the selection is so minimal that most of them are taken at all times. However, it is a great place to meet some people and enjoy a good dance or two.

No Entry

This speakeasy is located below Pink Mamma (a restaurant to be mentioned below) and if you don’t know about it, it can be easily missed. Unlike the restaurant above, this bar is dark and mysterious. The ambience is brought to life with the colorful alcohol bottles lined up neatly behind the bartenders to the overall red mood lighting found throughout the underground bar. As far as reservations, I don’t think it is necessary but it is always a good idea.

As decoration, glass bulbs filled with what appear to be aquatic-like plants and the red suede-coated booths and stools invite you to enjoy a drink or two. Their menu is full of unique cocktails like a rum-based drink named after the famous “Mona Lisa” among others. While I have only enjoyed the cocktails, my friend has had the wine and while it’s alright, ordering a cocktail here is a must. All I can say about this place is that the vibe is unmatched and every detail from the music that sets the mood to the welcoming staff doesn’t go unnoticed. 

FOOD:

Dumbo

Of course, when you’re in Paris you want to try all the French cuisine from escargot to coq au vin but when you have that craving for a smash burger – Dumbo is the spot. Without a doubt, this is one of the most famous burger places in Paris as it has taken social media by storm. Surprisingly enough, this establishment only has two locations – Pigalle (Montmartre) and Petites-Écuries – and only offers a few items on its menu. Honestly, the simplicity of it all might be its most attractive quality. 

Offering just a cheeseburger, a vegetarian patty choice and fries with a few drink options, this burger place almost always has a line but trust me, it’s worth the wait. The location in Montmartre is to-go and/or delivery only but the Petites-Écuries location does offer a small counter to stand and enjoy your meal on-site. After getting my hands on a cheeseburger and fries, I can understand the hype behind the delicious smash burger. 

La Mère Catherine 

While I usually advise you to avoid eating at the restaurants located in the Place du Tertre (the main square of Montmartre), this is my only exception. The plaza is beautiful and offers a great ambiance for tourists but due to its popularity, the restaurants tend to only cater to the crowds of tourists. 

Despite this, I do recommend La Mère Catherine. This is the restaurant where I had my first taste of escargot and the atmosphere it brings is remarkable. When my friends and I enjoyed our meal here, we were seated outside, which I highly recommend if the weather permits as it’s a great place for people-watching, enjoying the square and taking lots of aesthetically pleasing photos. The menu offers a variety of food to satisfy everyone from traditional French cuisine to delicious pasta dishes.

Pink Mamma

Whether you’ve seen the picturesque stairwell or the mouth-watering truffle pasta on your social media, there’s no doubt that Pink Mamma is a favorite for many people visiting Paris. Because of this, I do recommend you make a reservation but it’s not required but be aware there could be a line. Some “famous” restaurants in Paris, I must admit don’t live up to the hype sometimes but this is not one of them. 

My only issue with the establishment is that they seem to almost rush your experience in a sense to ensure the line outside moves fast. The food got to us almost immediately after ordering but was still delicious. Even If you have a reservation, they will only let you at the table for around 1 ½ hours. Aside from this, the truffle pasta is 100% worth all the love and I can’t recommend it more but will say they also have tasty pizzas on their menu.

SHOPPING: 

Chinemachine

This corner thrift store on Rue des Martyrs is reasonably priced and offers a variety of vintage finds. I was able to find some of my favorite rings here. There are two locations, this one and one on Petites-Écuries (just down the road from the second location of Dumbo.) They have a good selection of clothing and while not all are designer, you can find some here. The establishment as a whole is organized well and has two different floors full of items to be searched through. 

Aside from the store itself, the staff is very helpful and most likely will be able to speak English which is nice. This store is labeled as a buy, sell and trade kind of establishment, and along with it, there are many vintage stores in the area that I am not as familiar with but have heard great things about like Flash Vintage.

Merde Galerie

Before I go into this store, I’m going to give you a second to Google Translate what “merde” means from French to English. Go ahead, I’ll wait here.

So yes, it means that but it also can mean “break a leg”, “crap” or “good luck”. Weird variety there, I know but in this case and at this store, I believe they are going for the Google Translate version which makes the whole experience even better. The Merde Galerie store offers unique souvenirs to take home that honestly, no one will understand but you can just say “It’s French” and look super cool. 

The artist behind it all is named Paul and while his story on the website seems simple, he has created quite the collection with a variety of items to purchase like mugs, tote bags, calendars and journals – to name only a few.

Montmartre is full of many more amazing sights and eats so don’t worry, part two will be coming soon. The neighborhood is home to so much history and amazing cobblestone streets to be explored and delicious food to be had. I truly hope you fall in love with the area just like I did during my first visit to Paris.