Paris/15th arrondissement

The 15th arrondissement is further broken up administratively into four quartiers: Grenelle, Necker, Saint-Lambert and Javel.
Grenelle is the quarter closest to the 7th arrondissement and thus directly neighbouring the Champ de Mars and the Eiffel Tower. Therefore, it houses many hotels advertising the proximity of the Tower. The waterfront part of Grenelle is home to the 1970s high-rise residential development of Beaugrenelle, and the eponymous shopping mall. The more inland parts of the quarter are filled with 19th-century Haussmannian buildings, interspersed with some more modern ones.
The quarter of Necker, situated between Grenelle and the quarter of Montparnasse of the 14th arrondissement, is home to some of the locations named after Montparnasse, most notably the Tour Montparnasse and Gare Montparnasse. It also houses more large public service and commercial buildings, such as the expansive Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades. Otherwise, it is full of late 20th-century residential buildings, with many fewer Haussmannian structures than Grenelle.
The southeast quarter of Saint-Lambert is most known for the Parc des expositions de la porte de Versailles, which is one of the largest and most important exhibition centres in France and Europe.
The southwestern quartier Javel had long been an industrial area of Paris, but has been reclaimed as office, residential, and recreational over the decades. It contains the Parc André Citroën, created over the former Citroën factory grounds, and the Heliport of Paris in its southern extremity.

By train

The Gare Montparnasse is at the northeastern extremity of the arrondissement and offers many good connections within the district and all of Paris. Also a direct train to Chartres. The Transilien N ends its run here.
RER C runs along the left bank of the Seine across the 15th arrondissement and beyond with stops including Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel, Musée d'Orsay, Saint-Michel-Notre Dame and Gare d'Austerlitz. In the other direction it is a direct line to Versailles-Château.
Also to Orly airport through Pont de Rungis stop.

By metro

The following lines go through the 15th arrondissement:

• crosses the northern part of the 15th from east to west over an elevated estacade. It forms a southern ring through Paris, running between Étoile and Nation and also stopping at Gare Montparnasse.
• runs from the south of the 15th arrondissement northwards, continuing through the 7th onto the right bank of the Seine, including stops at Opéra, République and Bastille.
• takes an southwest/northeast tangent through the 15th, connecting it to the 5th, 6th and Gare d'Austerlitz from one end, and the 16th as well as Boulogne-Billancourt from the other.
• runs north-south through the eastern 15th, entering it at the north at Gare Montparnasse. It also stops further north at Saint-Lazare.

Major changeover stations:

• (at the foot of Gare Montparnasse).
• - also trams T2 and T3a pass here.

By tram

• T2 from La Défense ends its run at Porte de Versailles, where it connects to T3a and M12
• T3a runs across the south of the 15th arrondissement, starting from the Seine and continuing into the 14th, 13th and 12th

By bus

• Lines: 39, 62, 42 (from Gare du Nord), 88, 80, 70, 39

By Batobus

Station Beaugrenelle, Port de Javel Haut

Landmarks

• Tour MontparnasseIf the queues at the Eiffel Tower are just too much for you and your time is limited, consider a trip up the Montparnasse Tower. This is an office building with an observation and shopping area on the 56th floor, where the elevators stop, and an open viewing area on the roof. Arguably the view is better than from the Eiffel Tower: you are not so high up so things are more visible, and you can see the Eiffel Tower!

• Île aux CygnesOne of the three islands on the river Seine

• Square Béla Bartók

  address: Front de Seine
  A small park between two highrises on the Front de Seine featuring two interesting sculptures dedicated to the musician

• Statue de la LibertéReplica on the site where Bartholdi had his workshop

• St Christophe de Javel

  phone: +33 1 45 78 33 70
  address: 28 Rue de la Convention
  The first concrete church

• Pont de Bir-HakeimTwo-level bridge.

• Pont Mirabeau19th-century bridge.

Museums and galleries

• Galerie Michèle Broutta

  phone: +33 1 45 77 93 71
  address: 31 Rue des Bergers
  Quality etchings, prints and collectors' books.

• Musée Bourdelle

  phone: +331 49 54 73 73
  address: 18, Rue Antoine Bourdelle
  Sculptures by Antoine Bourdelle.

• Musée Mendjisky

  phone: +33 1 45 32 37 70
  address: 15 Square de Vergennes
  Écoles de Paris housed in a Mallet Stevens Building.

• Musée du Général Leclerc de Hautecloque et de la Libération de Paris

  address: Jardin Atlantique

• Musée Pasteur

  address: Institut Pasteur, 25, rue du Dr-Roux
  The Pasteur Museum is housed in the apartment where the great scientist spent the last 7 years of his life. Hardly touched since that time, the museum is full of personal memorabilia and scientific instruments. Pasteur is buried on the grounds in a flamboyant mosaic-decorated mausoleum.

Parks

There are several parks, the biggest of which is the Parc André Citroën.

• Jardin atlantique

  address: 1, place des Cinq Martyrs du Lycée Buffon
  Suspended above the train tracks this garden is surprisingly calm and chilled-out.

• Parc André Citroën

  address: 2, rue Cauchy
  The large park occupies the 14 ha formerly occupied by a Citroën factory. Several gardens have specific themes, including water games. On sunny weekends or vacation days many people chill out or jog there.

• Parc Georges-Brassens

  address: rue des Morillons

Other

• Parc des ExpositionsParis's international exhibition centre (the 4th largest in Europe) has millions of visitors annually.

• Aquaboulevard

  address: 4 rue louis Armand
  Biggest swimming pool and recreational center inside Paris.

• Ballon de Paris

  phone: +33 1 44 26 20 00
  address: Parc André Citroôen
  Get a unique bird's eye view of Paris on board an air-balloon, from an altitude of 150 m.

• Front de SeineTake a walk along the Front de Seine to appreciate the modern mixed use architecture between Bir-Hakeim bridge and Garigliano bridge, some of the buidings were designed by world renowned architects; The view is probably best from bridge Pont Mirabeau.

• Maison de la culture du Japon

  phone: +33 1 44 37 95 01
  address: 101Bis Quai Branly
  The location hosts several expositions, a library and a concert hall.

• Tapovan Paris

  phone: +33 1 45 77 90 59
  address: 9 rue Gutenberg
  This Ayurvedic centre offers treatment and professional training in various Ayurvedic healing arts: hatha & nada yoga, reiki, Ayurvedic massage, reflexology, oil treatments (e.g. Shirodhara).

• Tour Montparnasse, Top deck

  phone: +33 1 45 38 52 56
  address: 33, Avenue du Maine
  Panoramic view of Paris from the 56th floor.

• le Cordon Bleu

  phone: +33 1 85 65 15 00
  address: 13-15 Quai Andre Citroen
  Le Cordon Bleu is the world's largest hospitality education institution, with over 50 schools on five continents serving 20,000 students annually. Its education focus is on Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, and Gastronomy. Offering Diplomas in Cuisine, Pastry and Bakery for the aspiring chef as well as short courses, workshops, and guest chefs demonstrations for gourmet enthusiasts. Julia Child, who famously popularized the art of French cuisine in America, graduated from this school in the 1940s, as portrayed in the movie Julie & Julia by Merryl Streep.

• Beaugrenelle Shopping Center

  phone: +33 153952400
  address: 12 rue Linois
  The mall has 10 movie theaters, shops and restaurants.

• Fromagerie aux produits d'Auvergne

  phone: +33 1 45 78 70 58
  address: 244 Rue de la Convention
  The small shop sells delicious cheese from all over France plus excellent organic eggs. The owners give hints according to ones taste.

• Laurent Dubois

  address: 2 Rue de Lourmel
  The cheese shop has a number of choices and let you taste their newest. Plus usually one gets interesting personalized guidance.

• Marché du livre ancien et d'occasion

  address: 104 Rue Brancion, Parc Georges Brassens
  Antique and second-hand books are sold.

• Aux Merveilleux de Fred

  phone: +33 145797247
  address: 129 bis rue Saint Charles
  Meringues and meringues, all colors, all sizes.

• Roulez Champions

  phone: +33 1 40 58 12 22
  address: 5 Rue Humblot
  The bike shop repairs any kinds of bikes. They are specialized in selling folding bikes.

• Rue du CommerceA shopping street.

• Village Suisse

  address: 78, avenue de Suffren
  Quality antique dealers and galleries.

The quarter of Saint-Lambert contains many cafés and small restaurants, some of them in nice and quiet pedestrian streets or squares. You get out on the Metro station Convention and explore the myriads of small streets. Ideally not wandering too far off Vaugirard street, which fully traverses the 15th arrondissement. If you choose to go up to Montparnasse, there are several good places with fair prices before getting to the train station. On the other hand if you go in direction of Porte de Versailles you will have more choice, but with very fluctuating quality.

Budget

• Café Zinc-Zen

  phone: +33 1 45 58 08 40
  address: 114, rue de la Convention
  Small café with 2 seating areas - seats in the windows and a darker back room. Elegant but not expensive, great lunches/dinners, and superb crème brûlée for a night cap with coffee.

• Choux d'enfer

  phone: +33 1 47 83 26 67
  address: Intersection rue Jean Rey and quai Branly
  Street food + haute pâtisserie française = sweet food in a designer "kiosk".

• Café Beaugrenelle

  phone: +33 1 45 77 72 21
  address: 89 rue St Charles
  Brasserie on lively Place Charles Michels

Mid-range

• Le Café du Commerce

  phone: +33 1 45 75 03 27
  address: 51, rue du Commerce
  Authentic French food and ambience. (Be sure to go to number 51 rue du Commerce, as there is another place nearby with a similar name.)

• La Plage Parisienne

  phone: +33 1 40 59 41 00
  address: Port de Javel ht
  Along the River, rather pleasant. They also offer cocktails at their bar.

• Le Volant

  phone: +33 1 45 75 27 67
  address: 13 rue Beatrix Dussane
  The Basque restaurant excels in meat. If you are lucky the soup of the day is the "soupe au marron". There is a possibility to get a 3-course evening menu including entrée, plat and dessert. The home-made "mousse au chocolat" is really big. Also the bistro is generous on the sides: Usually one gets "purée", rice and polenta. Inside the restaurant, the former tricot of the famous French football player Zinedine Zidane is on display. As the small place fills rapidly, reservation is recommended.

• Au Roi du café

  phone: +33 1 47 43 48 50
  address: 59 rue Lecourbe
  Belle-Epoque decor, true bisto spirit

• Bermuda Onion

  phone: +33 1 45 78 83 62
  address: Centre commercial Beaugrenelle, Ilôt Verseau - 3rd floor, 7 rue Linois, 75015
  Eat or drink. View of the river even better in the evening.

• Eclectic

  phone: +33 1 77 36 70 00
  address: 2 Rue Linois, 75015 Paris
  Brasserie fashion. Decor Tom Dixon

• Le Baribal

  phone: +33 1 47 34 15 32
  address: 186, rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris
  40-year-old neighborhood bistro run by Louisette and her partner George. Traditional simple fare.

• Frame Brasserie

  phone: +33 1 44 38 57 77
  address: 28, rue Jean Rey, 75015 Paris
  Californian-style restaurant : a new take on the traditional Parisian brasserie.

• Le Cappiello

  phone: +33 9 83 31 80 86
  address: 59 Rue Letellier

Splurge

• Afaria

  phone: +33 1 48 42 95 90
  address: 15, rue Desnouettes
  This Basque restaurant mainly serves meat or some fancy tapas on the bar.

• Le Beurre Noisette

  phone: +33 1 48 56 82 49
  address: 68 Rue Vasco de Gama
  The restaurant of Thierry Bianqui offers interesting food all year long. Remember to reserve in advance for this cosy place. The menu are written on chalk boards and they can arrange custom demands for vegetarians. The desserts are recommended.

• Le Ciel de Paris

  phone: +33 1 40 64 77 64
  address: Top of Tour Montparnasse
  360° view.

• Restaurant Benkay

  phone: +33 140582126
  address: Hotel Novotel Front de Seine Grenelle, 61 quai de Grenelle
  Japanese cuisine. Great views.

• le Quinzième

  phone: +33 1 45 54 43 43
  address: 14, rue Cauchy – 75015 Paris
  The restaurant, lies alongside Parc André Citroën. By 2005, wide audiences were following Cyril Lignac on TV as he opened his own restaurant, Le Quinzième, on the popular French series “Oui Chef!” Here he brilliantly demonstrated his know-how and good taste, producing refined and slightly off-beat cooking, always made with his trademark top quality ingredients.

• Celtic Corner Pub

  phone: +33 1 42 50 74 11
  address: 21 Rue Lakanal
  A nice little irish pub with charming service and fair price. Sports men from the nearby Gymnase "Croix Nivert" like to hang out here for a beer or two.

• Crocodile Vert

  phone: +33 1 56 08 15 4
  address: 6 Rue du Hameau
  The small hidden Cuban bar is a bit away from rue de Vaugirard. It is quite popular for the salsa music on the weekends. At later times you'll recognise it by the number of people standing outside.

• Le square café

  phone: +33 1 43 06 80 84
  address: 139 Boulevard de Grenelle
  In spring time sun is shining on the outdoor terrace. It is a nice spot for a tea with soft background music.

• Le César Palace Paris

  phone: +33 1 45 44 46 20
  address: 23 Avenue du Maine
  Diner and show - Parisian cabaret show and dancing.

Budget

• Aloha Youth Hostel

  phone: +33 1 42 73 03 03
  address: 1, Rue Borromée
  No membership card required.

• 3 Ducks Hostel

  phone: +33 1 48 42 04 05
  address: 6 pl. Etienne Pernet

Mid-range

• Campanile Paris XV - Tour Eiffel

  phone: +33 1 45 78 61 33
  address: 30, rue Saint Charles / 21 Rue Sextius-Michel
  English & Spanish spoken at reception.

• Eiffel Seine

  phone: +33 1 45 78 14 81
  address: 140, boul de Grenelle

• Hotel Mirabeau Eiffel

  phone: +33 1 40 58 14 81
  address: 35 rue Sebastien Mercier
  Though it is off centered, It is new, clean and somewhat affordable

• Hôtel Oceania Paris Porte de Versailles

  phone: +33 2 98 44 38 38
  address: 52, rue d'Oradour-sur-Glane

• Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel

  phone: +33 825 80 17 17
  address: 20, rue Jean Rey
  A relatively large mid-range hotel very close to the Eiffel Tower, in a nice, quiet and green area of Grenelle. Despite the closeness, only about a quarter of the rooms, designated as such and commanding higher rates, feature a view of the tower itself. All of the rooms and common spaces have been renovated and feature modern decor inspired by the tower and the metro. The rooms are very functional and feature operable windows, but the amounts of plastic and the violet theme may not provide for a romantic Parisian experience.

• Mercure Paris Tour Eiffel Grenelle

  phone: +33 1 45 78 90 90
  address: 64, boul de Grenelle
  Not to be confused with the other Mercure, this one is not far away but in quite a different setting, facing the busy Boulevard Grenelle and the overground Metro 6 line. Neither as quiet nor as modern or comfortable as the other Mercure. On balance it is one of the cheaper hotels in its class close to the core tourist centre of Paris.

• Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel

  address: 61 Quai De Grenelle
  The largest Novotel in the world was built as a Japanese hotel Nikko, and retains many interesting design elements of the former, like the capsule-style windows, and the Japanese restaurant Benkay. It is by now not ageing that well though and awaits the long-overdue renovation.

• Novotel Paris Gare Montparnasse

  address: 17 Rue Du Cotentin
  Located in a quiet corner of Montparnasse, and if you don't mind a 10-min walk to the Metro, this is a nice and relatively new hotel. Easy access from the Montparnasse-Bienvenüe Metro: just take the stairs all the way up to the train platforms, exit on Boulevard de Vaugirard, take a left and follow the street up to the hotel. There is a Velib' City Bike Rental park just outside the hotel.

Splurge

• Hotel Sublim Eiffel

  phone: +33 1 40659595
  address: 94 Boulevard Garibaldi
  Funky decorated rooms located within 15min walk from the Tour Eiffel.

• Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel

  phone: +33 1-44385600
  address: 18 avenue de Suffren
  The former Hilton was taken over by Accor's upscale business hotel brand Pullman and underwent extensive renovation to its rooms and public spaces. It continues to offer close-up views of the Eiffel Tower from the balconies of its relatively spacious for Paris Deluxe (32 m²) and Superior (26 m²) rooms, while the Classic rooms (26 m²) face the courtyard.

Paris Wi-Fi is free of charge and accessible in a number of parks (Parc Georges Brassens, Parc André Citroën, Jardin Atlantique, Jardin Nicole de Hautecloque) or squares (Saint Lambert, Violet, Clos Feuquières, rue Blomet, Alleray Labrouste), and in the Starbucks and rather fancy McDonald's on Place Charles Michels.

• 6th arrondissement discover the western parts of the quartier latin.
• 7th arrondissement has the Tour Eiffel on the Champ de Mars.
• 14th arrondissement
• 16th arrondissement is situated on the other side of the Seine, hosting the Paris Saint-Germain football club.