The Left Bank has always had something calmer, more understated about it than the rest of Paris. Its museums are no exception: behind their quiet façades and discreet gardens lie terraces and cafés where the city suddenly seems to slow down. And for most of them, no ticket required. Here are our must-visit addresses to explore from Hôtel Moderniste.
MUSÉE RODIN: The garden as destination
The gardens of the Musée Rodin rank among the finest green spaces in the 7th arrondissement, and l'Augustine, its café-restaurant, makes the most of every square metre. Set on a terrace facing the sculptures, it offers a carefully crafted menu in a setting few Parisian addresses can match. A second glass has a way of ordering itself, lulled by the unlikely quiet of the rue de Varenne.
77, rue de Varenne, Paris 7e
MUSÉE DU QUAI BRANLY: Eiffel Tower views, feet in the grass
Beneath the living green facade conceived by Jean Nouvel, Café Jacques opens onto the wild garden designed by Gilles Clément, a genuine urban forest in the heart of the 7th. The terrace, light and contemporary in feel, looks directly out onto the Eiffel Tower. A place where architecture, landscape and menu speak to each other with rare coherence.
37, quai Jacques-Chirac, Paris 7e
MUSÉE D'ORSAY: Paris from above, beside the Seine
Open during the summer season, the Musée d'Orsay terrace sits above the river with an unobstructed view across the Right Bank rooftops. Cold drinks, light bites, the low slant of late-afternoon light: a suspended moment, quite literally, somewhere between a cultural visit and a well-earned pause.
Esplanade Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, Paris 7e
MUSÉE DE CLUNY: Medieval setting, contemporary spirit
Nestled within the Musée national du Moyen Âge, the Café des Amis terrace moves nimbly between architectural heritage and a resolutely modern sensibility. Surprisingly calm for such a well-visited museum, it serves a straightforward, well-executed menu that has a habit of keeping you longer than you'd planned.
24, rue du Sommerard, Paris 5e
Just a short distance from Hôtel Moderniste, these four addresses trace a Left Bank itinerary worthy of the neighbourhood: cultural without being austere, elegant but never intimidating. One terrace at a time, Paris reveals itself at its best.
Our front desk team is always happy to help you plan your visit. And don't forget to tell us all about it afterwards!
Photo ©harry_nl - flickr