What to Do on Rue Étienne Marcel in Paris

Living in Paris is simply a dream. I couldn’t be happier to see the iconic Eiffel Tower as I type away on my laptop every day. I’m staying in an apartment on the 6th floor (or 7th, depending on your country) of a beautiful Parisian building on the shopping street Rue Étienne Marcel, centrally located in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris.

While the street isn’t one of the most famous in Paris, it’s certainly well known for its variety of shopping.

Who was Etienne Marcel?

Étienne Marcel (circa 1302 – 1358) was a prominent French political figure during the 14th century, best known for his role in attempting to reform the French monarchy during the crisis of the Hundred Years’ War. He was the provost of the merchants of Paris, a position roughly equivalent to a modern-day mayor or leader of the city’s merchants and tradespeople.

Check out Roof, a rooftop bar in Paris

ROOF is a chic cocktail bar with light bites and a rooftop bar on Rue Etienne Marcel.
43 Rue Étienne Marcel, 75001 Paris, France

Rue Montorgueil Nearby

Around the corner from my apartment is a restaurant straight out of a modern-day fairy tale… Au Rocher de Cancale boasts beautiful pastel blue façades and royal gold detailing. It could easily serve as the backdrop for a scene in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette film!

Au Rocher de Cancale
78 Rue Montorgueil
75002 Paris, France

Hotel Bachaumont

A few blocks up from my apartment, the Hotel Bachaumont caught my eye with the bright blue awnings resting above each window. Admittedly, the building does stand out among a neighborhood of casual sidewalk restaurants and flashy fashion boutiques, but that’s precisely what its guests like. Perched on each window of this chic luxury hotel are boxes of flowers, in typical Parisian fashion. This hotel is the latest in a string of exciting hospitality endeavors from the creators of the Experimental Cocktail Club…