A Leopard Never Changes Its Spots

A Leopard Never Changes Its Spots: Île-de-France

A minute's walk from Paris' much-loved Luxembourg Gardens, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more desirable address anywhere in the city. These formal gardens are the largest in the city and attract locals with the promise of chess, tennis, basketball, pony rides, pétanque courts, and even the city's largest puppet theatre – a true haven for families.

In addition to the gardens, there are plenty of quaint cafes and iconic eateries within a short walk. Standout options include Bread & Roses for the best quiche in Paris (just across the road), long-running coffeehouse and celebrity haunt Café de Flore, and iconic brasserie Les Deux Magots – both a ten-minute walk away.

Step inside the apartment and you'll find the second bedroom and a bathroom on the entrance level, with the majority of the apartment up a flight of stairs. While the downstairs bedroom is fairly classic in design, the first floor is full of little hints about your hosts at every turn, from the leopard print dining chairs to the tiger-striped sofa and the cheetah-spotted throw pillows in the main bedroom, their love of the African savannah is immediately obvious. The rest we'll just leave you to piece together, though we think we spied a ceramic Elvis somewhere on the shelves.

Home truths:
*This home is located across the ground and first floors of the building, so it may not be suitable for those with limited mobility.
*The main bedroom overlooks the road, so you may experience some street noise, especially with the windows open in the summer.
*Children over 12 years of age are welcome.
*The decor here might not be to everyone's taste. It feels a little dated in parts.
*The kitchen is lacking some basic crockery and cooking utensils.