Saint-Germain-des-Prés from the legend to the latest trends

If you follow rue des Saints-Pères to the North, you reach boulevard Saint-Germain. The flagship store of Sonia Rykiel is just at the corner and personifies the very fashion spirit of the area. In the immediate vicinity you'll find a Fragonard shop (at n°196) or the Armani shop and Caffé (at n°149). But the iconic spots are the mythical Café de Flore, Café des Deux Magots, and Brasserie Lipp: in the 50's and 60's they would welcome the very cream of Existentialists. Nowadays successful scribblers and some true writers are among the faithful patrons of Le Flore, while politicians enjoy the Lipp. The spirit of Saint-Germain-des-Prés lies in its Church square and adjoining garden, now dominated by a Louis Vuitton store.

If you follow rue Bonaparte up to the River, you'll meet a Dior boutique, then the Hôtel - a chic hotel with a celebrated restaurant. Rue Jacob is at the first corner, lined with atmospheric shops, like the Leblanc et fils oil makers, who sell the purest olive oils. The adjoining restaurant, Les Assassins, has a good reputation.If you follow rue des Saints-Pères to the North, you reach boulevard Saint-Germain. The flagship store of Sonia Rykiel is just at the corner and personifies the very fashion spirit of the area. In the immediate vicinity you'll find a Fragonard shop (at n°196) or the Armani shop and Caffé (at n°149). But the iconic spots are the mythical Café de Flore, Café des Deux Magots, and Brasserie Lipp: in the 50's and 60's they would welcome the very cream of Existentialists. Nowadays successful scribblers and some true writers are among the faithful patrons of Le Flore, while politicians enjoy the Lipp. The spirit of Saint-Germain-des-Prés lies in its Church square and adjoining garden, now dominated by a Louis Vuitton store.

If you follow rue Bonaparte up to the River, you'll meet a Dior boutique, then the Hôtel - a chic hotel with a celebrated restaurant. Rue Jacob is at the first corner, lined with atmospheric shops, like the Leblanc et fils oil makers, who sell the purest olive oils. The adjoining restaurant, Les Assassins, has a good reputation.

The narrow streets around rue Jacob are a delight. Get lost while walking through rue de l'Echaudé, passage de la Petite Boucherie, rue de l'Abbaye, rue du Château... Rue de l'Echaudé boasts a vintage heaven at n°23 (Ragtime). These streets are remnants of Paris before it was renovated by Haussmann at the middle of the Nineteenth Century.Rue de Seine is lined with beautiful art galleries. Check the well-known Downtown gallery for top-notch Twentieth century design, or the Vallois gallery for contemporary art. If you're a Brit and feel homesick, console yourself at the Alcazar, a Conran address mixing a Photo gallery and some good cooking on rue Mazarine. However you may prefer the Kusmi Tea room (at n°56, rue de Seine) or one of the numerous terraces of the Boho Buci Market (on the eponymous street): Les Etages is a very lively café, for example. The Taschen Store, at n°2, will remind you of the very literary nature of the area and is very good for art books - and yes, they have a strong English selection.

For more art, don't miss the Kamel Mennour gallery on rue Saint-André des Arts. If you're convinced by his eclectic choice, he manages another address at n°60, rue Mazarine.