Place d'Italie
The Vibe
Where authentic Asian Paris meets university energy and riverside creative industries. The 13th's hub lacks glamour but compensates with exceptional food value and genuinely diverse neighborhood life. Weekend dim sum lines at Tang Frères stretch out the door; weekday Avenue de Choisy belongs to market shoppers and regulars who have eaten here for decades.
Description
The 13th arrondissement hub where major roads converge at one of Paris's largest traffic roundabouts—anchored by the Mairie du 13e and the MK2 Bibliothèque cinema complex on the riverfront. The neighborhood has reinvented itself twice: first as the center of Paris's Vietnamese and Chinese immigrant community (Avenue de Choisy and the Quartier Asiatique), then as a creative district with the Paris Rive Gauche redevelopment bringing the Bibliothèque nationale de France, universities, and studios. Avenue des Gobelins leads north through the historic tapestry manufactory district. The neighborhood offers Paris's best authentic Asian food at genuinely affordable prices.
Neighborhood Stats
Popular With
- Students
- Foodies
- Budget Travelers
- Expats
- Asian Diaspora
Key Attributes
- Chinatown
- Asian Food
- University
- Affordable
- Multicultural
Food Scene
Pho 14 (129 Avenue de Choisy) remains Paris's definitive Vietnamese restaurant. Tricotin (15 Avenue de Choisy) masters dim sum for weekend crowds. Bambou (21 Rue Baudricourt) delivers Cantonese seafood. Le Temps des Cerises (18 Rue de la Butte-aux-Cailles) nearby provides French bistro anchor. Café de la Mairie (1 Place Jeanne-d'Arc) anchors civic café culture.