Guide to the 7th arrondissement: Paris When it Glitters

The 7th arrondissement is Paris at its best. Ultra-famous landmarks, bordered by the Seine River, and full of delightful streets that are perfect for wandering.

We also happen to live in this district. Here’s how we spent a full day here, and how we’d recommend you to do the same.

The interactive map

First, here’s an interactive map of everything we are about to recommend, to help you find it all easily.

The Earful Tower podcast episode

This podcast episode on the 7th district of Paris includes an interview with Francine Campa from the Deyrolle taxidermy shop and our final ranking on the district out of 100. Hint: It performed very well.

Video guide to the 7th arrondissement

Here’s our visit in video format, via our YouTube channel. We’ll be making one of these travel vlogs every week, so be sure to subscribe (you can do it in one click via this link). 

The Earful Tower’s guide to the 7th arrondissement

Top things to find in the 7th arrondissement

Eiffel Tower: OK let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. If you’re visiting Paris for the first time, sure, go ahead and climb the tower. But if you want to spend the ideal day in the neighbourhood, admire it from nearby and then get on with the rest of the things on this list. Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Av. Anatole France, 75007

The famous market street

Walk along the famed market street Rue Cler. This is a stunning pedestrianized street, full of markets, food shops, sprawling cafe terraces, and some of the best people watching on earth.

Explore the shadow of the Eiffel Tower

Throughout the area known as the “Gros Caillou” you can find all kind of architectural delights and wonderful restaurants. It’s all just a stone’s throw to the east of the Eiffel Tower, and it’s incidentally where The Earful Tour of the seventh takes place (you can see us giving the tour in the picture above). More on what we recommend in this area in the coming days.

Three amazing museums in the seventh

Musée Rodin This is quite simply one of the loveliest museums in the whole of France. It’s the former workshop of sculptor Auguste Rodin and the stunning building houses an enormous collection of his work. The gardens are sheer perfection too, a mix of famous statues (like The Thinker) and beautiful plants, trees, and flowers. Do not miss this museum. @museerodinparis Address: 77 Rue de Varenne, 75007

Deyrolle If you’ve never visited Deyrolle taxidermy shop, then you have been missing out. It’s delightful collection of stuffed animals and pinned butterflies. It’s part museum and part shop, and if you think you recognize it, you’re probably right: It features in the movie Midnight in Paris. The head of the shop Francine Campa, pictured below, featured on this week’s podcast episode. @deyrolle.officiel Address: 46 Rue du Bac, 75007

Musée d’Orsay A world-class museum with an exquisite collection of impressionist art. Tip: It’s open late on Thursday night, avoid the crowds and get up close and personal with famed pieces of art (and don’t forget to go to the top level for the view over Paris through the clock face. @museeorsay Address: 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007

Jardin Catherine Labourée: There are two big parks in the seventh (the Invalides and the Champ de Mars) but both are quite boring. This particular jardin near Coutume Cafe has a lot more to offer, including the lovely walk through grape vines pictured below. Address: 29 Rue de Babylone, 75007

The best coffee in the 7th arrondissement

Coutume Cafe This place is the godfather of the Paris coffee scene. Exceptional breakfast menu, perfect coffee, and a lovely ambiance. @coutumecafe Address: ​​47 Rue de Babylone, 75007

Top restaurants in the 7th arrondissement

Thoumieux A classic French brasserie with a whole lot of class, check out Thoumieux for a romantic night out. At the weekends there’s live music thanks to the piano in the middle of the room. And watch this space, they’re about to knock a wall out and take over the Irish bar next door. Big things ahead for this restaurant. @thoumieuxparis Address: 79 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 

Les Ombres: Come here for the panoramic view of the Eiffel Tower, a fairly new restaurant on top of the Musée du Quai Branly. We didn’t eat here, just took a look, but the restaurant promises “contemporary cuisine that reinterprets French culinary heritage’s great classics”. @lesombres.quaibranly Address: 27 Quai Branly, 75007

That will do for now! Next week we’ll be taking you to the 6th arrondissement. A big thanks to Augusta Sagnelli for the photos and Charlotte Pleasants for the additional reporting.

Here’s the podcast episode again in case you missed it, new episodes every Monday.

Do you want to support this work? Buy one of our books below, or even better, become a Patreon member and unlock loads of Paris bonus content, including regular PDF itinerary guides to the city.