1st time to Paris

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But you are tourists, and I could suggest you explore the north end of the 18th, along rue de la Convention in the 15th, or around Parc Belleville in the 20th, but the Marais (3rd arrondissement) or the Latin Quarter will be just as new and unexplored to you as are these other locations. Thus, I might suggest you consider either of these two areas, as well as the 9th arrondissements near rue des Martyrs. These areas will have more hotel and dinning options.

If you are attempting to avoid the tourist hordes, particularly American tourists, consider anywhere other than near rue Cler in the 7th or around St Germain des Prés in the 6th.

My suggesting a hotel requires a budget window in euros. Appropriate restaurant suggestions require more information about your dining objectives; budget, type of food, dietary requirements.

What do you mean by “feel like locals”? No museums, but what do you enjoy? Do you speak French?

I love Paris! How many days will you be able to be there?

I love the 7th although many here pooh-pooh it. I like the Rue Cler area as there are a lot of locals. Somehow many on this forum think it's populated only by Americans but I do not find that to be true. I returned home on Wednesday from a month in France with my last week in Paris. My hotel room opened onto an internal open space with apartments all around. I can assure you I only heard French from those apartments, lol!!

I particularly like Hotel Muguet as well as Hotel Relais Bosquet if either of those is in your price range. I also stayed at a less expensive hotel in the area to start with but it really needs a cosmetic reno so I'm holding back on recommending it to newer travelers. The Hotel Muguet has the nicest linens of any hotel I've stayed in. Lovely sheets and towels, lol and wonderful front desk staff. Hotel Relais Bosquet has the nicest breakfast if that is important to you. They generally have an egg dish as well as bacon or ham and hot mushrooms. Both have your regular croissants and baguette, cut fruit, juice, cereal, etc.

My go-to cafes in the area are La Terrasse which is right by the Ecole Militaire Metro stop, the Cafe Roussillon at the corner of Rue Cler and Rue de Grenelle and Di Felice, an Italian restaurant just west of Cafe Roussillon on Rue de Grenelle. I also enjoy Le Petit Cler on Rue Cler.

Bakery-wise, I enjoy the products from Sebastien Bretteau - excellent sandwiches, pastries and cookies. Their almond croissants also look wonderful but it never worked out right for me to get one.

https://www.petitpalais.paris.fr/en/expositions/bruno-liljefors

Are you interested in WWII? There is a cafe on Rue de la Motte Picquet that has a history with resistance workers during the occupation of Paris. I've not eaten here as it's a fairly meaty menu and I'm vegan at home although I eat fish when I travel.

https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/where-to-eat-in-paris/restaurant/articles/282172-chef-frederic-vardon-takes-over-cafe-max-high-place-of-the-french-resistance
https://www.cafemax.fr/en

Any interest in Art Nouveau architecture? There are some wonderful facades in the 7th if that is of interest to you.

https://www.parisperfect.com/blog/2011/03/art-nouveau-7th-arrondissement/

Thank you for all the suggestions & links - I'll check into all of them!