Douces Paroles

Douces Paroles: Île-de-France

In the arty and creative quarter of the Canal Saint-Martin, you’d expect to be living in an equally trendy abode. A five-minute walk from the water’s edge, where you’ll pass bakeries, wine bars, and diverse restaurants en route, this home is well placed for exploring Paris’ food scene. With this in mind, it makes sense that your renovated loft used to be part of a cheesemonger.

Located in a quaint, paved courtyard just six minutes from the Gare de l'Est, this home looks somewhat unassuming from the outside. While you might sip a café au lait out here in the morning sunshine, you might also fancy serving up brunch on the terrazzo breakfast bar in a beautifully modern kitchen.

As the location is a foodie's dream, this kitchen isn’t shy of highlights either. How about freshly ground coffee for your espresso martinis, or banquet-worthy dinners using the raclette grill? Kick back afterwards and loosen your belt on the sofa by an edgy, exposed brickwork wall. Or if you really need a lie down after your cheese feast, ascend the ladders to the secluded mezzanine bedroom of this wonderfully quirky apartment.

Home truths:
*There's no TV in this home
*You'll need to be able to climb ladders, as the bed is on a mezzanine level
*At full capacity, two guests will be sleeping on a double sofa bed in the living room
*This home has convenient USB-C and USB-A sockets
*As this home allows for self check-in with a lockbox, you won't meet your host
*A cot, travel cot, baby bath, children's toys, and high chairs are provided (as well as safety features for kids)
*There's no air conditioning, but your host provides fans instead
*Paid parking is available on the street only, but the Château Landon metro stop is less than a one-minute walk
*The entrance is private to your home
*There's no dedicated workspace, but plenty of laptop-friendly spots