Paris Retreat
Tranquility and chilled rosé — Place du Marchè Sainte-Catherine offers cool respite from summer’s hot city crush.
Leafy, cobble-stoned courtyards speak of hot summer days and endless twilight. Of Place du Marchè Sainte-Catherine, to be specific — a post-card pretty courtyard tucked away from the maddening crowds that routinely descend upon nearby Place des Vosges. Neither a tourist trap nor an insider secret, the place brings together an amiable congregation of Marais locals and star-struck visitors attracted by the mellow vibe and smattering of restaurants lining the courtyard’s outer edges. Perhaps the best of these is Pitchi Pöi, a Russian Jewish “blinisserie” famous for its assiettes of smoked salmon, pastrami and herring, best washed down with an icy vodka. And while film buffs may identify the locale from The Bourne Identity (look up to see Treadstone’s safe house), Paris lovin’ romantics will recognise the square for what it is – a lovely little space offering a temporary respite from reality.
Details:
Place du Marchè Sainte-Catherine, 3eme.
www.pitchipoi.com