Boutique Beat in Paris: Shopping on the Rue de Charonne

“If it’s quantity you’re looking for, just follow the crowds to the boutique-jammed streets of the Marais. But for a real Paris quartier with everything you need for a fun shopping day in the city, Rue de Charonne fits the bill. As more Paris neighbourhoods succumb to retailers who seem to travel hot on the heels of the hip crowd, offbeat corners don’t stay undiscovered for long. The Rue de Charonne is an exception. Since the ’60s, the street has attracted a mash-up of artisans, leather bars and underground nightspots. More recently, artists, designers, chic boutiques and a sprinkling of Paris’s best gastro-bistros have moved in, but the street still retains its neighbourhood feel and scruffy charm.

The Rue de Charonne crosses the entire 11th arrondissement, from near the Bastille to Père Lachaise cemetery, but the best area for shopping starts at the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine end and extends to Avenue Ledru-Rollin. Heading east, across Ledru-Rollin, you’ll find antiques and a few choice dining spots for a quick bite or a splendid lunch.”