What an unexpected and delightful surprise! 59 Rivoli is an artist paradise where artwork is…read moredisplayed ceiling to floor up the spiraling staircase. Each staircase to the next floor has a different theme and artist. Each floor features the studio of an aspiring French artist at work which you can stop, discuss, and see their work. It is a cool place and should be added to your list of places to visit when in Paris. Located a few blocks from Notre Dame, admission is free!

Very unique experience consisting of multiple stories of floor to ceiling artwork. I don't believe…read morethere is an elevator/lift for those who need it, but the spiraling staircase is incredible and fully painted with different themes on each floor. There are many different resident artists there that have small sections of each floor where they work and sell their art. There is such a wide ranging variety of mediums, styles, and art around every corner, there is sure to be something you'll like! Also, its free to enter and walk around! You can buy art from artists if you'd like but there is no pressure to buy anything. Overall great experience!

Atelier 7 is a private gallery in the home of two passionate art collectors. Every couple of months…read morethey invite an artist to take over the wall of their homes and then invite the public to come and take a look. It's a fabulous concept and an intimate, privileged way of experiencing artwork in a domestic situation, as opposed to the stark, cold white walls of the traditional gallery. Oh, and if that weren't enough, the gallery/apartment also has unbelievable art history - none other than Pablo Picasso lived there for a couple of years in the early 1910s! To find out when the gallery is open, sign up for email updates by contacting louise@atelier-7.com or visit the gallery website at http://www.atelier-7.com

Centre Pompidou was due to close its doors for a years-long renovation when I went. Thought not…read morecompletely shut down (Wolfgang Tillmans was showing his photographs), the lack of exhibits make this arts center a shell of its former self; even the long escalator, a prominent feature, wasn't in operation. Also, there was no access to the rooftop viewing platform. The building is very cool with its "inside out" design as giant pipes decorate the exterior. I remember Centre Pompidou as full of life, I hope when it returns to be able to experience its full art programming once again. Two stars because it's depressing to see the building half done & half alive.

The best museum in Paris for the views and vibes! Even on a winter weekend at sunset, it wasn't…read moreovercrowded--a refreshing change from the city's more packed museums. The main collection is on the 5th floor, with special exhibits on the 6th, and the panoramic views from the balcony are stunning--you can see both the Eiffel Tower and Sacré-Cœur. Entry is affordable at €15 per person, and the museum has several shops, dining options, and restrooms inside. It's also easily accessible by public transportation, with plenty of great spots to eat and drink nearby. A must-visit for art lovers and architecture enthusiasts alike!

This is a wonderful gallery where you can buy a lovely 20th-century print from artists such as…read moreSonia Delaunay or Serge Poliakoff. The people who work there are really nice.

From the owner: Vente d' estampes modernes originalesread more

This cute small theater a few steps away from the Luxembourg gardens has everything you need to…read morefeel truly "Rive Gauche": a café/restaurant, a bookshop, a cinema, an art gallery and of course the theater! The place is small and intimate, in a low-key manner, the mood is not uptight, you can feel it's a place that's alive and where people like to gather and enjoy thinking instead of renting their available brain time to television. I liked the play a lot ("Zazie dans le métro" by Raymond Queneau in a slightly kinky adaptation) but that's secondary here: just check if there's something playing that you'll like, go and enjoy a great Parisian cultural experience!

Came here to see I Love Piaf. Excellent production! The theater complex was quite amazing. It had a…read morerestaurant, bar, a bookshop along with cinema and live shows. Very impressive.

From the owner: Créée selon la volonté d'Henri Cartier-Bresson et de son épouse Martine Franck, la Fondation Henri…read moreCartier-Bresson a ouvert ses portes en mai 2003. Fondation privée reconnue d'utilité publique, elle est aujourd'hui l'un des hauts lieux de la photographie. Ni musée, ni mausolée, cette institution a pour but avant tout de faire rayonner l'esprit d'Henri Cartier-Bresson. La grande particularité de la Fondation HCB est d'être ouverte aux autres artistes, sculpteurs, peintres, dessinateurs ou cinéastes, photographes anciens, modernes et contemporains dont le travail s'inscrit dans l'esprit défendu par Cartier-Bresson. Installée dans un élégant atelier d'artistes de Montparnasse construit en 1912, la Fondation HCB présente tour à tour des œuvres de Cartier-Bresson ou d'autres artistes, au rythme de trois expositions par an. Tous les deux ans, la Fondation HCB décerne le prix Henri Cartier-Bresson, une bourse de 35 000 euros destinée à soutenir le projet d'un photographe.

From the owner: L'art version nature La Galerie Jardin (association Communic'art) organise des expositions d'art…read morecontemporain sur le thème art et nature. Cet espace pluridisciplinaire propose aussi des spectacles de poésie, de théâtre ou encore de danse.