Walk around the block at Opéra Garnier

The neighborhood surrounding the famous Opéra Garnier in central Paris is undisputably one of the most well-known and frequented in the city. For those of us lucky enough to work nearby, however, it has much more to offer than les « Grands Magasins » and a stunning opera house.

A quick history

Once a mecca for the banking industry (most major French banks have main offices or headquarters close by), more diversified companies have been investing the neighborhood in recent years. This combined with the transformation from a very luxe shopping hub to a more affordable yet still chic area has sealed the deal. Spaces clearly understood the strategic advantage of this popular quartier when creating one of their 4 Parisian office spaces on rue Meyerbeer, quite literally in the center of it all.

Your one-stop shopping headquarters

Perfectly situated just steps from one of the densest shopping districts in Paris, you can find literally anything you might need during your lunch break or after office hours at one of the many versions of the Printemps or Galeries Lafayette department stores (specialised stores for men, women, homeware, children and my personal favorite, food! Check out Lafayette gourmet for groceries, eating in or taking away, and other gourmet pleasures that you would expect from le Bon Marché, for example). This district is also home to many flagship stores including Apple, Orange, Zara and the soon-to-be newly remodeled H&M, set to open in Spring 2018 with six floors to shop.

Endless lunch options

Lunch options are endless and diverse. You will find a mix of high end spots, perfect for business lunches, traditional French fare and incredible Thai, Hawaiian and Japanese food. La rue Sainte Anne is certainly the most famous in all of Paris for traditional Japanese food (out with the salmon sushi overload and in with the bentos and bowls of ramen or udon noodles).

A good dose of culture

Culturally speaking, it’s good to point out that a small part of the Opéra can be visited free of charge. Of course, you can always book a tour or tickets to a performance if you’d like to go the extra mile. However, don’t overlook other less famous neighboring attractions such as the olfactory experience of the Musée du parfum, just on the other side of the Opéra, or even a quick stroll through the Trinité church or lunch in the surrounding gardens (if you can find a free bench).

Vibrant weekday nightlife

Finally, if you’re looking to unwind after a hard day’s work, this is a great neighborhood for it. From a glass of wine on the Opéra’s terrace in nice weather to a ‘guess that song’ style pub quiz at Dock bar (every Thursday!) or an exotic happy hour cocktail at Vietnam-inspired Hanoi Ca Phé, you’ll find something for everyone.

Neighborhoods in Paris tend to follow a specific theme, which is why Parisians have taken up the habit of going to certain spots for certain things. Shopping in the Marais or les Halles, culture in the central 1st arrondissement, drinks near Bastille or Oberkampf, and good food, well, pretty much everywhere. If you happen to work at Spaces Opéra Garnier, just know that you’ve landed in one of those rare areas that has it all.