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After almost 5 years, I made it back to Paris.
My fiancé and I had a great time exploring the city together. Since it was his first time seeing Paris, I had the pleasure of showing him around.
Staying in the 9ème arrondissement of Paris—specifically South Pigalle or “So-Pi“— was the right choice for us. It was centrally located to check out restaurants, museums, and shopping. The ninth arrondissement may not come to mind for first-time visitors, but I would highly recommend the area to travelers looking for a more local experience in Paris.
About Pigalle
It is true that Pigalle is considered the historic “red light district” of Paris.
Based on the nickname, some tourists are rightly concerned about whether Pigalle is safe or not—thankfully, Pigalle is safe and there is no reason to worry. Pigalle has a lively, artsy vibe that appeals to both locals and visitors. The neighborhood is also a residential area that balances most nightlife and entertainment along Boulevard de Clichy, then wine bars, bistros, and restaurants are spread throughout the side streets.
- About Pigalle
- What to Expect Visiting Paris in 2024
- How to Get to Pigalle
- Bar & Restaurant Recommendations in Pigalle
- What to Do in Pigalle, 9ème Arrondissement, and Nearby
- Where to Stay in Pigalle
What to Expect Visiting Paris in 2024
There are a lot of construction and restoration projects happening in preparation for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Hopefully, everything will be completed by the summer, but if you’re visiting Paris in Spring 2024, expect to see several monuments in scaffolding; roads being repaved; sidewalks being rebuilt; and temporary closures of métro stations.
How to Get to Pigalle
Public transportation is the most efficient way to navigate through Paris. Métro stations and their respective stops are clearly mapped out.
Métro Stations Close to Pigalle
- Pigalle – Line 2, Line 12
- Saint-Georges – Line 12
- View SNCF métro maps and schedules
If needed, Uber is also available and easy to use in Paris.
Check out this article on how to use the Paris métro.
Bar & Restaurant Recommendations in Pigalle
Pigalle has an exciting scene for food and drinks. The best tip that I can offer is to make reservations in advance!
Vermillon
- What to expect: Experience the current pulse of the natural wine bar scene in Paris, paired with a changing menu of classic French cuisine with a contemporary touch
- Cost: $$
- Address: 1 Rue de Calais, Paris, France, 75009
Bouillon Pigalle
- What to Expect: No-frills, feel-good French fare in a larger bistro format that feels approachable for tourists and locals looking for value without compromising on quality (shoutout to Everyday Parisian for the recommendation in her guide)
- Cost: $
- Address: 22 Boulevard de Clichy, Paris, France, 75009
Pink Mamma & No Entry
- What to Expect: More than a trendy, social media backdrop, enjoy pizza and pasta from one of the hottest Italian restaurant groups in Europe and UK; bonus points for the speakeasy in the basement (No Entry)
- Cost: $$
- Address: 20bis Rue de Douai, Paris, France, 75009
Additional Bar & Restaurant Recommendations in Pigalle
Important honorable mentions for a local fromagerie (cheese shop) and two boulangeries (bakeries). Frescolet, the fromagerie, was right across from the hotel we were staying at—the store had an amazing selection of cheese and the cheesemongers were very helpful in explaining the various characteristics. It’s worth noting that I did speak French, so I’m not sure if I would have had the same experience if I only spoke English.
Cyprien is a traditional boulangerie that offers an array of viennoiserie, bread, pastries, and sandwiches—this is a classic example of a neighborhood Parisian bakery. For a modern, Parisian gourmet bakery experience, check out French Bastards across the street. And yes, that is the name.
While we didn’t have time to go to these bars and restaurants, they were all packed with young professional Parisians, and the menus looked promising:
What to Do in Pigalle, 9ème Arrondissement, and Nearby
There are many attractions to explore in the 9ème and the surrounding area within a ten- to twenty-minute walk. Some places are more obvious and well-known than others, so I will elaborate on the attractions in the ninth arrondissement that may be overlooked.
Popular Destinations in Pigalle, 9ème Arrondissement, and Nearby
- Moulin Rouge
- Montmartre (includes Basilique du Sacré-Cœur / Sacred Heart Basilica; La Maison Rose; Le Lapin Agile; Dalida monument)
- Palais Garnier / Opéra
Overlooked Destinations in Pigalle, 9ème Arrondissement, and Nearby
Musée de la Vie Romantique
What to Expect: For the romantics, artists, and literature geeks, the former residence of painter Ary Scheffer is dedicated to the romantic movement in the 18th and 19th centuries—novelist George Sand is one of the many intellectuals from this period who spent time here. Enjoy tea and light bites in the garden on the property. I visited this museum years ago when I studied abroad in Paris.
Cost: Free to view permanent collections; price of admission to temporary exhibitions may vary
Address: 16 rue Chaptal, 75009 Paris
Rue des Martyrs
What to Expect: This picturesque, historic address is recognized as one of the best examples of a classic Parisian street. Take a stroll to view the storefronts, street vendors, and beautiful building facades. Read The Only Street in Paris by author Elaine Sciolino to get the full picture (Bonus: Travelers can book a private experience with Sciolino through Secret Journeys Paris to tour the Seine)
Cost: Free
Address:
- Start – Notre-Dame de Lorette – 8bis Rue Choron, 75009 Paris, France
- Finish – corner of Rue des Martyrs and Rue la Vieuville (reference: Paris-Porto café, 100 rue des Martyrs)
Department stores
What to Expect: Depending on who you ask, the French are rumored to have invented the department store concept as we know it today. Galeries Lafayettes and Printemps are two historic Parisian department stores within 5 minutes of each other—and each one has its own rooftop bar and restaurant with beautiful views of the city.
Cost: Depends on how much you want to spend while shopping!
Address:
- Galeries Lafayettes – 40 Bd Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France
- Printemps – 64 Bd Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France
Passage des Panorama and other covered passages
What to Expect: Like most sights in Paris, visiting the covered passages is part-history, part-architecture, part-cultural lesson. Highly recommend to explore all of these mini-urban retail mazes in the city through booking a guided walking tour.
Cost: Free
Address: For all of the covered passages, check out the article featured in Paris Region tourism website
Clos de Montmartre
What to Expect: Unless you book a guided tour (in French) with the Musée de Montmartre or an exclusive private tour with a third-party, the Clos de Montmartre is off-limits to the general public. The vineyard does host an annual festival to celebrate the harvest in the fall.
Cost: $- $$$
Address: 12, rue Cortot – 75018 Paris
Le Mur de Je t’aime / Wall of Love
What to Expect: Outside of the Abbesses métro station is a small, fenced-in park with a sweet mosaic that features “I love you” written in many world languages.
Cost: Free
Address: 14 Pl. des Abbesses, 75018 Paris, France
Where to Stay in Pigalle
Located in the heart of Pigalle in the 9ème arrondissement of Paris, France, Maison Pigalle is a 4-star boutique hotel that offers guests a chic, minimal Parisian aesthetic at an exceptional value. This is an ideal hotel for couples, friends, and smaller, young families.
Maison Pigalle is a different hotel than Le Pigalle, which is a Marriott/Design Hotels property. Formerly Trinité Haussman, Maison Pigalle has received positive reviews from guests since the hotel’s rebrand.
My fiancé stayed in the Élegance room type. We were surprised to have a beautiful balcony and a well-proportioned bathroom for the size of the room. While it was a tight configuration for two people with large suitcases, it was not a deal breaker considering the number of positives staying at Maison Pigalle.
The luxurious touch of being able to order a bottle of Taittinger champagne shows the hotel’s attention to detail and dedication to service. I would absolutely stay at this hotel again.
New England Parisienne 