Things To Do In Clignancourt Paris - The Ultimate Neighborhood Guide

When visiting France, you have to indulge in authentic cuisine, which you will find in abundance in Paris and Clignancourt.

There is no better place to taste the myriad of flavours that make up France's diverse food scene than at Café Pimpin. Well, at least I believe so. This is my favorite place to grab breakfast. The eatery's outpost in the 18th has a menu that leans more towards avocados and bagels than buttery pastries and heavy bistro fare and is a popular spot with the young local crowd.

If you are staying near the Porte de Clignancourt, you could also stop by Boulangerie Lecamus. Pick up breakfast while it’s still warm from the oven of a local boulangerie, or getting started with the makings of a picnic - you can pick up other French delicacies for your feast from the market!

The motto around here is to shop local and fresh, so to get you started here are my three favourite bakeries in the Clignancourt: Boulangerie Lecamus (closed on Sundays), Panifica (closed Saturdays and Sundays) and Boulangerie Bel Ange (145 Rue Marcadet). I won’t blame you if you spend the entire trip eating croissants.

Part of the reason I love Clignancourt so much is down to the variety of eateries! Since there are hardly any tourists here, the cafes, restaurants and bistros are all run by locals and serve up authentic dishes at affordable prices.

So whether you fancy globally influenced cuisine (Clignancourt is Paris’s most multi-cultural areas) or to eat in traditional bistros, Porte de Clignancourt is the place to be.

If you’re looking for a classic style French bistro, head to Café de la Butte or Jolis Mômes (1 Rue Letort) where the food is authentic, traditional and absolutely delicious!

Le Chant des Oliviers will whisk you away to the Côte d’Azure for a few hours with its authentic southern flavours and light desserts whilst O Q de Poule is the neighbourhood go-to spot for home style cooking. You’ll always find something delicious to eat around here, but I recommend reserving a table if you want to try these spots just in case.

No visit to Paris, and Clignancourt, would be complete without experiencing the famous Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen. There is a reason why this flea market features in Paris neighborhood guides. It is a treasure chest of vintage finds, bric a brac and antique jewels waiting to be unearthed - just as long as you can navigate through the maze of tiny streets which the market is held in.

These tiny stores spill their contents out into the lanes, and you’ll find antique dealers and locals sharing coffee at rickety old tables - if you’re lucky they might ask you to join them! If the second-hand goods at Paris’s beloved flea market weren’t enough, head to Tombées du Camion, which translates as ‘fallen off a truck’. It’s a little out there, but this unusual shop is packed full of vintage gems, and amongst the weird is the wonderful - I won’t spoil it for you, go and see for yourself!

Be warned- while exploring this Paris neighborhood it’ll be hard to resist buying fresh fruit and other delicacies from the open markets which line the streets around Jules Joffrin, but if you want to take a little slice (or many slices) of Paris home with you, head to the Fromagerie de Montmartre. Stepping in to this shop feels a lot like stepping in to some sort of cheese heaven (if there was such a thing) and even better, they’ll vacuum pack your purchases for the trip home.

Not to be outdone by the Basilica du Sacré-Cœur in Paris, Clignancourt has its own cathedral, the beautiful neo-gothic Notre Dame de Clignancourt, which is just opposite the equally stunning Marie du 18e Arrondissement.

Stroll through Rue de Poteau and stock up on the rest of your picnic supplies (you know, the one we mentioned earlier?) from the little pâtisseries and stores selling pâté, sausages, cheese, bread and head to the Square de Clignancourt to enjoy!

If you want to immerse yourself in the cultural and creative spirit of this Paris neighborhood there are also a variety of galleries and museums nearby that you can explore. Stroll through the streets and simply wander into one of their many venues, chat to the owners and get to know the faces and stories of porte de Clignancourt.