Set in Paris, the Netflix’s show Emily in Paris has received top marks from fans but has been blasted at the same time by (French) critics for its unrealistic and overly stereotypical portrayal of France. Whether you like it or not, the show is a great way to (re)discover some of the most enchanting places in Paris. In this filming location guide article, we introduce where the heart of Emily in Paris takes place, in the 5th arrondissement: la place de l’Estrapade, La Boulangerie Moderne, le café de la Nouvelle Marie, and last but not least Terra Nera Restaurant (Les deux compères, Gabriel’s restaurant in the show).
Many iconic landmarks of Paris make it into the shots, such as Montmartre, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Jardin du Luxembourg, Pont Alexandre III, Opera Garnier… But most of Emily in Paris takes place in Paris's 5th arrondissement. It is also known as “Quartier Latin” (Latin Quarter) as it is home to the first French University (Sorbonne) founded during the 12th century (Latin language was widely spoken at that time in and around the University). You can see several time the Pantheon, mausoleum for the remains of distinguished French citizens such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Pierre and Marie Curie…
Closest metro stations to visit it (and the other places introduced in this article):
Place de l’Estrapade in a picturesque square, hundred meters only from the famous Pantheon. This glamorous Parisian square was actually a place for public executions and tortures during the 17th century (Estrapade is a form of torture wherein the victim's hands are tied behind their back and suspended by a rope attached to the wrists)!
We don’t know if the director Darren Star particularly love this area, or if it was just super convenient to shoot many scenes at the same place, but three of Emily’s favorite places are around the square: her boulangerie, the café/restaurant where she eats with Mindy, and Gabriel’s restaurant.
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La boulangerie Moderne is a cute bakery as you can find many in France, selling bread, “viennoiseries”, sandwiches and cakes. We went there and checked: the Pain au chocolat is not as delicious as the one Emily tried, but the baker was as welcoming as In Emily in Paris…
Funny anecdote: as you can see in the photo, a part of the board is broken: the word “Patisserie” (Bakery) became “Serie” (“show” in French), an homage to Emily?
Address : 16 Rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris
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This café is where Emily meets several time with Mindy. It’s a typical French café / brasserie, very similar to how it is depicted in the show.
Address : 19 Rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris
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We were very curious about the restaurant where Gabriel works in the movie so we decided to have lunch there. Well, don’t expect the handsome Gabriel to come out of the kitchen if you complain because your steak is too bloody… If the restaurant in the series is a typical French one, the real one is in fact an Italian restaurant!
Frankly speaking, it’s not the best Italian restaurant in town but the food is pretty ok for the price (most of the dishes range between 18 and 25€, which is common for restaurants in this area).
We tried the Veal Milanese (20€), which is served with pasta. This traditional northern Italian dish can be too dry sometimes, but here the meat was perfectly cooked and well prepared.
We also tried the Paccheri Alla Siciliana (18€). Paccheri is a type of pasta in the shape of a very large tube. It was served with a delicious tomato sauce with eggplants and cheese.
They have plenty of Italian desserts such as Tiramisu, Profiterole, Gelati… The Panna Cotta was good but overpriced (8€).
The owner of the restaurant surfed on the Emily “Wave” and created a special “Emily in Paris” menu (39€). Since the show is broadcasted, more and more people are coming in the area (Foreigners and French as well).
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The overall atmosphere of the restaurant is pretty good (even though Chef Gabriel is not working there!), cozy and elegant.
Address: 18 Rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12:00-14:30, 19:00-22:30
One of the most unrealistic moments of the show was Emily entering her “Chambre de bonne” (maid’s room). Chambres de bonnes are generally found on the top floor of Haussmann buildings and are most of the time quite small (9 to 20m2), not like Emily’s flat! In the 19th century, the spaces created under the roof usually had sloping ceilings and were considered appropriate only for servants, whereas the richer people were living on the first floors. Nowadays the chambres de bonnes are the cheapest rooms to rent in Paris, but can still be expensive knowing the fact that Real estate prices in Paris break records.
Address: 1 Rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris
If you visit the area, don’t miss a chance to stop at one of the most famous Parisian beauty and skincare destinations, Parapharmacie Monge, located right next to the metro Place Monge (5 minutes’ walk from Place de l’Estrapade). Check our special offer here.
Author and Photograph - V. Sacau
Images - Netflix