Secret Paris

Is this the weirdest carousel in the world? Probably. You won’t find any wooden horses at this carousel, nestled away in the Jardin des Plantes (conveniently located near the Natural History Museum). Instead, you’ll only be able to ride extinct and endangered animals like giant pandas, dodos and Tasmanian tigers. A ride is, without a doubt, one of the more unusual things to do in Paris.

To find this hidden gem, head to colourful Rue Saint-Martin in the 3rd arrondissement and look out for the small green-fronted shop adorned with umbrellas. Tucked away on cosy Passage de l’Ancre is Pep’s - Paris’ oldest umbrella repair shop. As you might imagine, Thierry Millet’s store has been here for quite some time and is responsible for the repair of some 10,000 umbrellas a year. But if you don’t have an umbrella in need of repair and want to buy a brand-new, finely crafted umbrella instead, then worry not because Pep’s has you covered. 

The French know a thing or two about cinema. France is, after all, the birthplace of modern filmmaking and has given us some of the biggest names in the industry’s history. One of the last surviving relics from the golden age of French cinema is Le Louxor Palais du Cinema. This 1920 Egyptian revival cinema was saved from demolition, restored and reopened in 2013. 

None of Paris’ countless statues are quite like the one of Victor Noir. Buried in Paris’ famous Pere Lachaise cemetery following his death in a duel, the political journalist has become one of Pere Lachaise’s most popular residents. Rather than visit him out of respect for anything he did in life, Victor attracts (predominantly female) visitors to rub the shiny copper-coloured bump in his trousers. Rumour has it that a cheeky rub will prevent infertility!

Head to the 18th arrondissement for Le Recyclerie. This converted railway station on the Petite Ceinture houses a restaurant, café, farm, garden and farmers market all under one roof, with a focus on sustainability and – as the name suggests – recycling. The food here changes frequently, flitting between different cultures and cuisines depending on who’s occupying the kitchen.

A few years ago, in the years before Instagram dominated our lives, Rue Crémieux was just a pretty Parisian street. But now that Instagram does dominate our lives, the colourful, pastel-hued façades of Rue Crémieux have become besieged by visitors looking for that perfect pic for the ‘gram (much to the frustration of its residents.)

Named after the beloved adopted Parisian and jazz age star, Piscine Josephine Baker is a floating swimming pool on the River Seine. This impressive, stylish swimming pool is best visited during summer for late opening hours and the feeling of swimming on the Seine itself. Oh, and the roof slides open to reveal a huge sun deck.

Vineyards? In Paris? You bet. With the Sacre Coeur, the Moulin Rouge, an arty history and its status as a culinary hotspot, Montmartre is already a lure for tourists. But you can forget all that because this neighbourhood still has secrets to tell, and one such secret is a small vineyard, improbably tucked away amongst bourgeois houses in the side streets by the Sacre Coeur. If you’re visiting in October, stop by for the annual five-day harvest festival, when thousands of bottles of wine are auctioned off for charity.

We know what you’re thinking, so let’s just get this out of the way early – Le Marais is not a hidden gem. It’s one of the most intriguing, distinctive neighbourhoods in the city, and we’d be lying if we said it was an unpopular part of town... but it’s still full of hidden gems. Formerly the preserve of the aristocracy, Le Marais is now a hodgepodge of Middle Eastern restaurants (L’As du Falafel in particular), high-end fashion outlets, independent shops, LGBT hotspots, traditional French bistros and boulangeries, bars, nightclubs, parks, charming museums and more. You’ll find something new and unexpected around every corner.