Stylish cheerful studio in St. Germain des pres

Description from the owner

Rue de Grenelle is one of my favourite streets in Paris. It runs from the Champs de Mars (Eiffel Tower), through the Rue Cler area (the well-known street market), across the Invalides (Napoleon's tomb), then continues through St. Germain area where many beautiful sumptuous old townhouses are hidden behind unpretentious looking doors.

Our apartment on the Rue de Grenelle is between the Rue du Bac and the Boulevard Raspail. Within easy walking distance are the Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre, the Musee Rodin, the Jardin des Tuileries, and the Hotel Matignon (official residence of the French Prime Minister). For those who are more interested in... shopping than sightseeing, the immediate area is also full of famous designer shops (Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton...), as well as lesser known but equally chic Parisian boutiques. And because Saint Germain des Pres is home to so many of the city's most fashionable people, the streets themselves provide a glimpse of elegant Parisien style.

Our apartment is in a "Directoire" style building (19th century): simple, clean with old Parisien charm. There is the best cheese shop in the neighbourhood ("Barthelemy") and a beautiful rose-only flower shop on either side of the entrance door. A long courtyard separates the apartment building from the street noise, and a large and clean staircase will lead you to the apartment.

We put much thought into the space and design of the apartment when we renovated it a few years back, to make sure that every single square foot of the 220square feet is well used. The apartment feels spacious and is comfortable, cheerful,and cosy.

The big double glaze window looks out over Parisian roofs and a small garden next door. The Queen sized bed is a top brand one, and the dining table can be unfolded to suit 4 persons. There is plenty of storage places in the apartment, and the kitchen is equipped with a microwave, coffee maker, tea maker, electric cookers, and many utensils. The bathroom has a walk-in shower. Other modern conveniences includes a cable TV with English channels, a refrigerator with freezer, washer and dryer, telephone with an answering machine (free international phone calls), and internet access (free broadband).

As for more practical concerns, a two-minute walk from our front door takes you to the intersection of Boulevard Saint Germain and Boulevard Raspail. Here, there are bus-stops (leading to virtually everywhere in Paris), a taxi stand, and a Metro station (Rue du Bac). There are several banks, a post office, numerous cafes and restaurants, as well as a variety of other useful shops. These include bakeries, a butcher shop, a fish market, an excellent "traiteur" (selling superb take-away food), and a grocery shop open 24 hours a day.

If you plan to have a car with you during your stay in Paris, there is a public underground parking garage beneath the Rue du Bac. If you would like to rent a car for a day or two, there is a Renault Dealership nearby. They offer a complete range of vehicles to rent, from tiny compacts to minivans.

As for gourmets, Within a ten-minute walk of the apartment are two major attractions for food lovers: La Grande Epicerie de Paris, and the Organic Market. Gourmet magazine (March, 2001) referred to La Grande Epicerie as "The ultimate grocery store...the first place we stop when we arrive in town". The same issue of Gourmet describes the Organic Market (an open-air street market held every Sunday morning on Boulevard Raspail) as "by far the best-known and trendiest of Paris's outdoor markets".

Whether you are visiting Paris for the culture, for the shops, or for the food (or all three!), our apartment on the Rue du Bac is the perfect place for beginning and ending each day's adventures.

The apartment can normally accommodate two adults, but could possibly suit a couple with one small child(there would be an additional charge). Naturally, we supply towels, sheets, duvets, and other necessities. And for those staying for more than one week, weekly maid service is included at no extra cost.Read more

What Past Guests Are Saying

• cynbass
  Oregon

  Almost Perfect apartment in the 6th

  Left on 10/13/2011 for a stay in October 2011
  
  

  This is a difficult review to write because this quiet, off the street apartment has such potential. When I saw the photo I had hoped to sit at the table with a view of a charming courtyard. The reality is that one looks into other apartment windows. Also, be forewarned that there are 3 narrow winding sets of stairs to take your luggage up and no lift. When we arrived (after emailing and leaving a phone message with the owner as to when we were arriving) we went to pick up the key at a bar down the street as per written instructions. The key wasn't there. We called the owner, reached her, and was told it was under the mat. How would we have known? Once inside the studio was clean and neat but we soon found many things amiss. Three lit bulbs didn't work including the one over the vanity in the bath making it impossible to see to shave or put on makeup. The shower drain was blocked leaving us standing in several inches of water. The blinds were missing cords and didn't stay up. The worst was that on day 3 of our stay I started laundry only to learn later from the owner that the washer didn't work. I would have appreciated a note on arrival alerting me to that fact. I had to rinse everything by hand and hang it around the apartment for days to dry. The positive aspects are free wifi, a fairly well appointed kitchen (even though most of the cups were chipped), and a wonderfully central location within walking distance or a metro stop of most museums, parks and good restaurants. I think with more frequent and detailed attention from the owner, this little apartment could be a real gem. It's small enough that keeping it in mint condition shouldn't be hard or expensive and then I would recommend it without hesitation

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

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  Response from Alexandra - 10/26/2011

  

  Alexandra

  Owner

  This is also a difficult response to write: as I have been attentive to this tenant’s various demands and responded all their multiple emails right away during their stay.
  
  To begin with, it is clearly stated in my description that this apartment is on the 3rd floor, without elevator: therefore one should expect a staircase with at least three sets of stairs to take you up to the third floor. Staircase size wise, unfortunately Parisian standard may not be the same as in Oregon where tenants live, but it is definitely not qualified as narrow by most of my tenants.
  
  Secondly, the photo of the view from the apartment is taken exactly from the window where this person supposed to sit; therefore the view is exactly represented. Again, in any condominium buildings in Paris, especially on a courtyard there will always be neighbors and it will be difficult or almost impossible to have an unobstructed view of blue sky.
  
  For the "broken" bulbs and shower, I proposed right away to drop by and replace them, but this person declined. I proposed also for them to purchase new ones in the supermarket just downstairs, and I would reimburse them, but they didn't want to be bothered either which I understand. I went to the apartment right after their departure, only to find out all light bulbs worked. I emailed this tenant to give them a follow-up as they were so keen on maintenance, and explained to them that they probably didn't use properly the multiples switches, which is why some of them didn't lit up.
  
  Having said all that, in our email exchanges during their stay in Paris they wrote me comments such as as "We're having a great time in Paris and enjoying your apartment". I am happy they did since I tried my best to satisfy them, but at the same time, thanks to my years of renting experience I’m lucid enough to know that there are some people can never be completely satisfied.
  

• MaryEA
  Phoenix, Arizona

  Comfort and Great Location

  Left on 07/01/2010 for a stay in June 2010
  
  

  This is the second year that I have stayed at this apartment on Rue de Grenelle. From my first contact with alexandra Li, the process to rent was smooth and trouble free. The apartment is in a lovely part of Paris; the Seine and Musee d'Orsay are an easy walk, and there are beautiful shops within steps of the door. A metro stop is just a few feet away as is an aTM, a beautiful rose shop, a fromagerie, and a taxi stand.
  
  The apartment is comfortable for one or two people. The space is airy with a lovely window, internet, tv, and phone. There is a full kitchen with a washer/dryer also.
  
  I plan on staying here each summer, if possible. I highly recommend the apartment as it's a perfect way to begin and end one's day in Paris. Alexandra is a delight to work with, and the apartment provides all that I need when in Paris.

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  Detailed ratings for this rental

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

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  Was this review helpful? Yes