When it comes to the 7e arrondissement of Paris, the important thing to keep in mind is that it’s mainly quiet streets between big attractions. You’ve got the Eiffel Tower, the Champs de Mars, Les Invalides, the Rodin Museum, the Orsay Museum, river views, and more. If you’re looking for a day filled with these things, this blog will help you to maximize your time in a neighborhood that has limited offerings for food, coffee, drinks, and instead fill it with general laid back vibes.
What to See
As mentioned above, you have plenty to see and do in this neighborhood. In our 20 in 20 instagram reel, we mention the Eiffel tower, but we’re not going to bother to write that here - you know where to find her when you want to visit. Instead, here are two places that are easily skipped, even though they’re well known, that we think are always worth a visit.
Musee de l’Armée & Napoleon’s Tomb
The Musée de L’armée is the museum attached to Les Invalides, which is known for being the final resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte. His tomb can be found directly under the glistening gold dome of the building, set down into the floor - it’s said this is the case because he wanted people to bow to him for eternity. Is this a myth? Probably. Do you have to lower your head to see his tomb? Yes. But it’s quite impactful, and you’ll see other important historical figures’ tombs as well while in there.
Just to the side of the Dome, is the Musée de L’armée. This museum isn’t for everyone, but it’s a great option for anyone interested in the military history of France. You’ll find maps, weapons, shields… it’s an impressive display of a very niche but important part of French history. Grab your tickets here.
The Rodin Museum
The Rodin Museum will always make our list for being moving, impressive, and unique. It’s a great choice if you want to avoid the massive Louvre or just prefer sculpture work to paintings. That said, they have a nice collection of those too. The interior is relatively small but gives you a sense of what living in a French mansion would be like. The gardens are our main attraction. Grab a photo of The Thinker and then wander through the trees and admire the other works sprinkled throughout the grounds like the Gates of Hell and Rodin’s doctor’s head. The Rodin museum often hosts special events and exhibits, so be sure to check out their website for the full agenda.
Where to Eat and Drink
Coffee
Coutume Babylone
One of the original specialty coffee shops & roasters in Paris, members of our team can fondly recall when they used to cross down specifically to come here. Thankfully, the coffee scene has exploded. Now there are not only more Coutumes in action, but more specialty coffee in general. Still, this location will welcome you with its bright and warm interior and its friendly team.
Terres de Café - Champs de Mars
A classic in the Paris coffee scene, you can find Terres de Café locations all over Paris now. They’re consistently good and located near some bigger attractions.
Want to know all the best places for specialty coffee in Paris? We have literally hundreds of well-vetted recommendations in our Guide! Grab it now for access to articles, recommendations, tips and tricks to Paris. It’s access for life, and we update it all the time.
Food
Milagro
Milagro is our #1 go-to for an incredible meal right next to the Eiffel Tower, an area overflowing with overpriced and underwhelming options. You can get a lunch menu for €30 (starter-main-dessert) and the food’s always fresh and local. You might want to go more than once when you’ve tasted the ceviche and experienced some of the warmest service Paris has to offer. You’ll need to reserve!
Zia
Perhaps this is cheating a little, but the owners of Milagro also own Zia, a fantastic brunch and coffee spot in the 7e. They serve brunch daily and don’t take reservations, so just swing in when you need a good, hearty start to a day of exploring the 7e. Get their breakfast burrito or Dutch pancake - there’s nothing else like them in Paris.
Best Places to Hang Out
Les Invalides Lawns
Looking to spend a little time outside, soaking up some sun and taking in the beautiful architecture around you? Paris has tons of green space to offer, in the spring and summer especially, and locals take full advantage of this. The huge lawn of Les Invalides is a great place to watch the world go by and, if you’re sitting near the actual building, you might see rabbits scampering from tree to tree. If you’re out closer to the river, actually, you might see women with their pet rabbits on leashes because, well, who knows. But we spot them quite regularly.
Champs de Mars
The ultimate place to sit and watch the sun go down, assuming you want to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle while sipping a lukewarm beer that someone sold to you for 5e out of a dirty bucket. No, we’re not really kidding. It’s part of the experience! Once the sparkles have ceased to amuse, if that’s possible, head to the river for a long and twinkly walk back into town.
So while we might say there’s not a ton going on in the 7e in terms of local places to hang, with the kind of fun vibey energy you might get across town, the 7e is a must-visit during your trip to Paris. There’s so much culture to take in and the architecture is quintessentially Parisian. At a minimum, we’ve provided you with the best options for food and coffee - what else do you need? Aside from a great place for a cocktail? Okay, we’ll give you one more place: Gatsby. Think 1920s, amber wood, classy bartenders.
Not into the 20’s energy? We’ve got tons of other cocktails recommendations all across Paris - from divey to flowery to best-rated - all in our guide to Paris. Grab it here!
Check back tomorrow for the 8e arrondissement… if you even bother going!