Where is the true centre of the Latin Quarter?

We are staying on rue Saint André des Arts and then later changing hotels to rue St-Julien-le-Pauvre, during our first trip to Paris. (So excited!)

I was wondering where is the true centre of the Latin Quarter? Where are the best streets to wander around, mostly lively places at night, or nice wine bars?. I came across posters refering to rue de la Huchette as a tourist trap. Any other places to avoid for meals?

Also recommendations for breakfast close by to our hotels, would also be appreciated.

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I too am staying on rue Sainte Andre des Arts ( Hotel Eugenie) and I am quite excited. It is an excellant area, I have stayed in both the 5th and 6th before ( as well as a few others) and I think this is the best of both worlds , in the 6th ( st Germain ) but bordering the 5th, ( Latin Quarter),

I like that I am closer to the Seine then I have been on previous trips,, and I love the area. There really is absolute center,, but rather many pleasant areas, little cafes , shops, and of course the park is wonderful( Luxembourg).

Regarding Rue Huchette, I actually did not like the area, too crowded and I didn%26#39;t like the fellows that would stand outside the various bistros trying to convince you come in,, but,, many posters love the area, and I would definately say it is worth walking through at least once, I mean , I do like the narrow streets,, seems nice and old, just the way I like it. LOL

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The true center of the Latin Quarter is Place de la Sorbonne and that%26#39;s what I think of as the center but it%26#39;s not really that rich in attractions a tourist would be interested in outside of Lux-gardens or the Pantheon. I completely hate the rue de la Huchette area but it%26#39;s probably the area most often associated with the Latin Quarter for tourists. I share joan%26#39;s view on the interesting areas. There really isn%26#39;t a true center of the LQ as far as tourists are concerned.

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The center of Latin Quarter is la Sorbonne - the old university where classes were taught in latin (hence the name).

Younger tourists like the latin quarter. Older tourists prefer Saint Germain des Pres IMO.

Rue de la Huchette, Saint Severin, rue de la Harpe are full of ethnic eateries and cafes that ressemble what you can find in a lot of large cities. Posted menu is often cheap and you are offered an apperitif when you walk in but total bill ends up being higher than you think and quality of food is anything but memorable. Rue Saint Jacques, rue Abbe de l%26#39;Epee and the streets leading to Val de Grace have better food than this part of Latin Quarter.

Rue des Ecoles also has a few good restaurants and the whole are near Maubert-Mutualite and rue Mouffetard is very lively too and one notch above Huchette etc.

My son loves that area. I never go there for food.

Like I said earlier it has a lot to do with age and opportunities to meet people etc.

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Rue de Buci (the other end of Andre des Arts) is lively. Rue de la Huchette and surrounding streets are a tangle of narrow streets but only eat if you want greasy hangover cure food. Like la photographie, get towards Val du Grace to get some better eats. Gay Lussac has several wine bars and cafes. Rue Moeffetard has lots of options for drink and food but be choosy. Don%26#39;t go by the crowd either. I have waited for poor food and enjoyed an excellent meal alone.

Breakfast options find yourself a boulangerie or a cafe with a petite dejeuner for less than 6 euro.

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To me, it is rue du Fouarre and rue de la Huchette, very old streets already there in the early Middle Ages, long before the Sorbonne was created. Rue du Fouarre is where the students used to sit on straw, hay (= foin=fouarre) to study

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Isn%26#39;t Rue de la Huchette called %26quot;Bacteria Alley?%26quot; Or is that another area of the 5th? So we know what to avoid!

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Don%26#39;t avoid going to these streets - they are very historic. Just be selective about where you eat:

high traffic turnover = lower quality food (often).

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I was in Paris for a month last summer and will be going again for a month this summer - both trips centralized in the 5th.

I%26#39;m surprised to read so many complaints about Huchette, as I always found it to be an entertaining walk in the evening and a good place to get drinks with a lively crowd. If that%26#39;s not your thing then I%26#39;d avoid the area because there are certainly better areas to eat in the 5th.

As far as the center of the 5th, I%26#39;d say stand in the Maubert market area and head in any direction. Rue Monge and Rue des Escoles have several areas of interest and are little more than a 15 minute walk to Pantheon, add another 5 to Lux Gardens.

I%26#39;m not sure where your hotel is located exactly, but I%26#39;d definitely be sure to get a baguette or some other baked goods from Eric Kayser%26#39;s Maison-Kayser Boulangerie located on Rue Monge just (south?) of Blvd. St. Germain. I%26#39;m sure someone on here will proclaim Maison-Kayser crap (since it is however, a chain boulangerie) but believe me when I tell you that they produce an outstanding product. We would sit in the cafe seats at Best Monge (pub/cafe) just down the street, and watch the restaurant workers pull up with huge bags to purchase bread for the evenings service. 1.25 Euro per baguette.

Biere Academie (near the intersection of Rue des Escoles and Cardinal Lemoine, is a pub with a relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. They pour only about 7-8 different draught beers at any given time but also have several different varities in bottles. It%26#39;s a nice place to have a beer or two before going out. Pints are typically 6 euro after happy hour.

Finally, if you%26#39;re looking for a lively scene in the evening there is a pub called SHYWAWA that is a lot of fun and serves several beers along with a full liquor bar. Near there is another place which I believe is called George%26#39;s that is also pretty lively in the evening. These are located near, but not on Huchette.

Have a great trip!

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%26lt;%26lt;Don%26#39;t avoid going to these streets - they are very historic. Just be selective about where you eat:

high traffic turnover = lower quality food (often).%26gt;%26gt;

D%26#39;accord travelnutty. I can%26#39;t get over the hawking or the barkers that hound anyone walking down these streets at mealtime. They are annoying and sometimes almost abusive. They prey on the menu readers and brow-beat them into their snack shops (can%26#39;t bring myself to dignify them with the status of restaurants) and then treat them like cattle. There%26#39;s nothing French or Parisian about this and I can%26#39;t recommend anyone eating in this district. I%26#39;d recommend walking this area in the morning before noon and after 2PM till 6PM if you%26#39;re interested in the history, architecture and beauty of the pre-Haussmanian Latin Quarter. otherwise, the hawkers will wear you down.

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The traditional centre of the Quartier Latin is the Place de la Sorbonne.

For a nice wander after dark I suggest a walk past the Pantheon to Place de la Contrescarpe and the rue Mouffetard. There you will find good places to enjoy an evening drink away from the tourist trap of the rue de la Huchette.

Some of my favourite restaurants in the Quartier Latin are L%26#39;Époque on rue du Cardinal-Lemoine, Au Bon Coin on rue de al Collégiale and Le Jardin d%26#39;Ivy on rue Mouffetard.

Bonnes vacances!