Click here for a map that includes all of our picks.

With their mix of grand boulevards, palace hotels, the Eiffel Tower, and narrow streets lined with chic boutiques, these two Left Bank arrondissements are perhaps the most quintessential Parisian neighborhoods. It's hard to go wrong, whether you're picnicking on the Champ de Mars, touring the Musée d'Orsay, or roaring back at stuffed lions in the Deyrolles.

Restaurants

It's worth making a reservation at this tiny restaurant—tucked between the Saint-Sulpice church and the Luxembourg Gardens—which locals trust for their own delicious dinners.
10 bis rue Servandoni, 01-43-54-9363

Since 1925, this famous brasserie has made classic offerings like sole meunière and profiteroles, as well as outstanding duck confit (prepared with potatoes beneath the meat to soak up some of the fat as it cooks).
151 boulevard Saint-Germain, 01-45-48-5391

With fantastic breads and really fresh sandwiches, salads, and soups, this super-high-quality bakery and deli is an easy stop near the Luxembourg Gardens.
7 rue de Fleurus, 01-42-22-0606

Stop by Chez Gramond for roasted squab or steak frites after playing in the Luxembourg Gardens. While there's no children's menu, the grandmotherly owner is accommodating to requests from kids, and the warm service makes it feel like home.
5 rue de Fleurus, 01-42-22-2889

Break up the shopping with a stylish lunch at this Japanese tea salon, which has great noodles and iced green tea.
3 rue des Quatres-Vents, 01-43-25-6564

This branch of the fanciful pastry shop has a full lunch menu, grand desserts, and a nice big bathroom.
21 rue Bonaparte, 01-44-07-6487

It's always packed, so make a reservation when you book your plane ticket or try your luck at lunch. The menu ranges from deliciously creative herring-scented bean soups to just plain delicious roast lamb and rich, satisfying pot de crème.
9 carrefour de l'Odeon, 01-44-27-0797

Just around the corner from the Luxembourg Gardens, this sweet little shop is a great place to pick up sandwiches, quiche, and Berthillon ice cream, sans the line.
62 rue de Vaugirard, 01-45-48-4045

Also close to the Saint-Sulpice church is this perfect wine bar. Stop in for a glass of Côtes du Rhône and some charcuterie, both most likely artisanal, organic, and carefully selected by Serge Mathieu and his wife, Hélène. It also sells bottles of wine to take away.
9 rue des Quatre-Vents, 01-43-54-9930

This quintessentially French cobblestoned pedestrian street has tons of options for gathering all the pieces of a picnic: rotisserie chicken from one side of the street, cheese from the other, tarts, luscious strawberries. It's all here, on the way to the Parc du Champ de Mars.

Shops

For those feeling a little dandyish, Sojfer has beautifully carved walking sticks and fancy umbrellas.
218 boulevard Saint-Germain, 1-42-22-1702

All three of these Parisian shops have groovy, hippy, chic clothes for moms and kids: beaded bags, floaty tops, and intricately woven scarves.
38 rue de Vaugirard, 01-43-25-3022

This classic men's shop with expert tailoring is the place to go when Dad needs that perfect corduroy blazer.
44 rue du Bac, 01-45-44-9040

The ultimate in classic French kids' fashion opened its superstore, with nine rooms and an amazing café, in 2006. There's also an outlet that has great deals, but it requires patience to sort through the abundance of clothing.
6 rue de Tournon, 6th, 01-40-51-9820, and 86 rue de l'Université, 01-45-51-4628 (the outlet)

This socks-and-tights shop has a great selection of good-quality foot- and leg-wear, including everything from durable tights to argyle socks for the whole family.
70 rue de Rennes, 01-45-48-8552

The incredible zoolike collection of taxidermy will fascinate kids, and the botanical notebooks make nice keepsakes.
46 rue du Bac, 01-42-22-3007

While there's not much room to maneuver in this tiny cheese shop, it has an outstanding selection of raw milk Camembert, seasonal Vacherins, and house-made herb-and-spice-encrusted goat cheese. It also has gorgeous little (collectible) glass pots of creamy yogurt.
51 rue de Grenelle, 01-42-22-8224

If you would like to channel your child's inner Madeline, Le Chatelâine has all the proper peacoats, prim dresses, and sturdy boys' clothes. The pieces are expensive (smocked dresses are $150), but they're built to last and will never go out of style.
170 avenue Victor Hugo, 01-47-27-4407

An East-meets-West crossroads, Liwan offers djellabas and caftans, sumptuous silk coverlets in jewel tones, and comfy, leather-lined Moroccan slippers.
8 rue Saint-Sulpice, 01-43-26-0740

Designers Emmanuelle Ruffié and Nicolas Sabra from A.P.C. Kids started this line of peacoats, classic sweaters, and jeans that embody French simplicity.
24 rue de Babylone, 01-45-48-8609

This designer has been creating chic, minimalist kids' clothing for 20 years. The shop is designed to look like a cozy children's bedroom.
72 rue Madame, 01-42-84-1194

This posh store is the best place to get an over-the-top baby gift, whether it's a sterling rattle or cashmere booties.
200 boulevard Saint-Germain, 01-53-63-3111

Check out the best collection of Russian matryoshka dolls outside of St. Petersburg. Some of the sets even have 100 different sizes!
25 rue Bonaparte, 01-40-51-7664

The beautiful, comfortable French bras are great for moms and come in a wide range of sizes. The company has more than 20 locations around the city.
55 rue Bonaparte, 01-43-29-0191; check the website for other locations

Because sometimes every mom needs to feel as sexy as Cindy Crawford or Heidi Klum, this chic lingerie boutique has endless styles of knickers and silky things trimmed in Calais lace. Keep your measurements on file for future phone orders.
73 rue des Saints-Pères, 01-45-48-8837

Look to this boutique for clever, whimsical furniture and accessories for children's rooms. It has especially great sconces, beds, and well-designed kid-size benches and chairs.
17 rue des Quatre-Vents, 01-40-46-0115

Activities

Built in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel for the Paris Exposition, the tower stretches 1,052 feet high. By day, pair a visit here with one to the Champ de Mars park; by night, pair it with a trip to the carousel across the street. Open from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. from September to June, 9:30 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. from June to September. From 2.30 to 12 euros, depending on the age of the visitor and the level you're visiting.
5 avenue Anatole France, 01-44-11-2323

Pony rides (offered daily in warmer months and on Wednesdays and Saturdays in winter), an over-the-top playground with a zip line, and classical, photo-op-ready grounds make the city's largest park a must-stop.

Next Page: Paris Guide: Activities Farther Out