Hidden Gems of Paris

Well, it's not exaaaactly off the beaten track but the Marmottan Museum is not one that people visit the first time around. It's got a basement full of Monet paintings if that is of interest to you all. From La Muette Metro stop you'll walk thru a park to get there altho in November it will be pretty bare, I'd imagine.

Where are you staying? Might make it easier for some recommendations in "your" neighborhood.

Take a look at Paris walks as well. There might be something during your visit that qualifies for off the beaten track.

www.paris-walks.com

This is not a French cultural experience per se, but if you visit Montmartre, around the corner from Place du Tertre is Espace Dali, a small museum at 11 rue Poulbot. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. You may have the place to yourself.

http://www.daliparis.com/en

I really like the Institut du Monde Arab, for it's architecture, exhibitions, and roof-top view. Exploring that neighborhood could lead you to the Grand Mosque and its restaurant/tea salon (in Rick's Paris guidebook) or here's another Moroccan restaurant with authentic-sounding menu.

Of course, you won't exhaust the museum options in Paris and so, for instance, the Louvre has its own excellent collection of Islamic arts, probably less crowded than other parts of the museum, with no "detour" to another part of the city.

The Palais de Tokyo has a late-night club scene that can check off all those boxes -- authentic cultural art food wine history:

https://www.palaisdetokyo.com/fr/page/le-yoyo-0

And there is a fashion exhibit across the street at the Palais Galliera

http://www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr

Also on the Woodrow Wilson boulevard is a tony farmer's market two mornings a week with great cheese, crepes, etc.
and there are other excellent specialty museums in the immediate vicinity, including the Guimet.

Musée Jacquemart-André is pretty cool, and the nearby Parc Monteau is a lovely little locals-only park.

As a group of 20 somethings, just buying some wine or beer and hanging out along Canal St. Martin on a nice evening is a thing. It’s the young urban hipster version of what they do in Luxembourg Gardens.

The Marais is a good bet for you to wander. Lots of little unique boutiques, cafes, etc.

another vote for the Marmottan!

We bought the deck of cards "City Walks: Paris, Revised Edition: 50 Adventures on Foot" that gives plenty of suggestions. Also if you want the city to come alive then take any of the Paris Walks tour http://www.paris-walks.com. They offer different tours every day and the guides are excellent.

The Basilica at St Denis is worth the Metro trip. Google for further info. The one time we were there Radio France was broadcasting a concert from the Basilica so it was an extra special experience for us.

Restaurant Polidor is a local, old-Paris restaurant. The food was delicious, and the experience was one of the best on our recent trip to Paris. We found the restaurant while wandering the Left Bank near the Odeon Theater, walked away, then found it in Rick Steves's France Book. Needless to say we turned around and went in for a wonderful lunch!

Another of Rick's suggestions that was a great lunch place: L'Ete en Pente Douce downhill from Sacre-Coeur.

I would suggest going to Sacre-Coeur early in the morning. We went to Sacre-Coeur around 8:30 one Sunday morning, before the crowds. We were able to stroll through the church at our leisure. We then waited in a line of 10 people to climb up to the dome.
(It opened at 9:30) It was definitely worth the climb up 300 steps for the panoramic view of the city. And no crowds!

When we emerged at the bottom, hundreds of people were waiting to go in the church and climb up to the dome.

So go early!

We were in town for a concert at La Cigale and stayed in the Pigalle area. We went to La Pierrade Restaurant on Rue des Martyrs on recommendation from a stranger we met at La Marmite. Small, family owned, and budget friendly. (and great music!) It was delicious! We took friends back two more times. It was that good!

I took the city bus to the Père Lachaise Cemetery (Cimetière du Père Lachaise) .
There are several very famous people buried there .
Here is a bit more info from the internet:
Père Lachaise is the resting place of renowned composers, writers, artists, actors, singers, dancers, and even the immortal 12th-century lovers Abélard and Héloïse. One of the most-visited grave sites is that of rock star Jim Morrison of the Doors, who died in an apartment on rue Beautreillis in the Marais in 1971. Others include Oscar Wilde, Maria Callas, Chopin, Marcel Proust, Modigliani, Edith Piaf, Gertrude Stein, and Georges Haussmann—the man who laid out Paris's magnificent 19th-century boulevards.
Address: 16 rue de Repos, Paris 75020, France

The Storming of the Bastille in 1789 sparked the French Revolution and is a turning point of history. However the Bastille was then razed to the ground and there is now nothing left of it to see...

... or is there?

In Bastille metro station, on one of the platforms, you can see some of the foundations of this infamous prison. They were discovered when the station was built in 1899. Also in the Square Henri Galli, above surface, some remnants of it can be seen in a tiny park.

It's not much to look at, but I didn't know that there was anything left of the Bastille until I stumbled upon them while sightseeing one day. With a bit of imagination, you can imagine the revolutionaries milling around those very stones (well, those above the surface anyway), kicking off a new chapter in world history.

Since you ask about gardens to explore, you might want to google Parc des Buttes-Chaumont to see if it interests you. Off the so called beaten track but worth visiting, in my never very humble opinion.

Here is another vote for the Marmottan museum. We also liked the Cluny, Picasso and Rodin museums. What area are you staying in?

Thank you all for these amazing recommendations! We are staying by Saint-Georges in the 9th Arr. We love quirky, local experiences, so these are must-adds to our itinerary!

"Restaurant Polidor is a local, old-Paris restaurant."

Oh this is good. You MUST watch Midnight in Paris before you go! Maybe twice! I'm not an Owen Wilson or a Woody Allen fan but I love this movie. And yes, I had to go find the steps he sat on at Saint-Etienne-du-Mont church near the Pantheon and it also is very cool inside - double spiral rood screen and the supposed remains of Saint-Gertrude. In the movie Owen Wilson's character goes back in time and meets Ernest Hemingway (or maybe some of the other characters) at Polidor.

If you are in the 9th, you are next to the Musée de la Vie Romantique and the Gustave Moreau museum, both very worthwhile.

"Restaurant Polidor is a local, old-Paris restaurant."

agree. And if you go, here's a tip. Look up at the mirrors on the wall and read them.

They have discounted bottles of wines listed on them among other things, written in white. We were there and ordered from the menu, not paying too much attention to the busy walls filled with prints and the like when we first sat down. Then a couple near us pointed to the mirror and asked if the bottle listed there was available. "Oui monsieur" was the reply. It was a better bottle at a lower price than the one we chose.

I think you would love this book: Don't be a Tourist in Paris: The Messy Nessy Chic Guide. She also has a wonderful blog. We have tried many of her suggestions and they were all a huge hit! Also, check out WithLocals dot com. It is like Uber for experiences/tours with locals. There are oodles of unique experiences with fascinating people offered at a much lower prices than a traditional tour guide company. We, too, will be in Paris over Thanksgiving week, hopefully enjoying some of the same off the beaten trail experiences! Have a great trip:)

You don't say when you are going. These suggestions are good for nice weather.

Stop at a bakery or grocery and pick up a sandwich and a drink. Then go to Arenes de Lutece, sit in the "stands", eat your lunch and watch the kids play football and men play boules on the Arena floor. Once this was the Roman arena in their city of Lutecia before about 275 AD. Now it's a park used by local workers as a place to relax for an hour or so and eat their lunch.

I also enjoyed buying a beer (because it had a flip open top) and snack from a grocery store then enjoying live music in Villemin Garden on a weekend afternoon. There were about a thousand, or more, people there, mostly younger, many dancing. It's along the Canal St. Martin. They end before dinner time.

On any night, but mostly weekend nights, go to a grocery store and buy wine and snacks (you shouldn't need to spend more than 6 euros for a decent wine) then go grab a spot along the river. I've spent most evenings on the right bank near my lodging in the Marais, usually arriving sometime before sunset and leaving when I'm ready to call it a night. There are always people sitting along the edge of the river and more people sitting in little bars that dot the pathway along the river. I like to sit in earshot of music from a bar.

The Petit Palais Gallery and Museum.
It's totally free, and is full of wonderful painting, artifacts, and amazing furniture from days gone by.
It has an internal garden, (small), and a café adjoining the garden.
The Cluny museum is amazing, as is The Pantheon nearby.
Walk through the Jardin des Luxembourg from that area.
Get a DK Eyewitness Guide to Paris book, and photocopy some of the walks in there.
Some are in relatively untouristed areas.

Parc Monceau is a real gem! Surrounded by spectacular, historical mansions and filled with Follies from around the world. It has a charming carousel that is definitely photo worthy. Musee Nissim de Camondo is just outside the gates, located in one of the lovely mansions. Very nice, small museum. Stroll up to Rue de Levis for a real Parisian market street experience. Musee Jacquemart - Andre is a pretty museum with a nice cafe suitable for tea.

I highly recommend Marche President Wilson (Wednesday-Saturday). One of the stalls there has the best potatoes gratin I've ever tasted. Get a savory crepe to go and stroll down the steps located right in the center of the Marche, walking towards the Seine. There is a hidden garden at the bottom of the steps. You'll come out very close to the Flame where tributes to Princess Diana still collect. Oh, and if you go to the Trocadero park, off to the corner, near Rue Fresnel, is a marvelous statue of Athena. Sit on the bench and just take it in, settled in under the Chestnut trees.

Two of my favorite hidden gardens are the Jardin de la Nouvelle (near the Grand Palais - Google it - then look for the almost hidden steps. It's adorable and an excellent place to rest.

The other is off the Rue de Sevres on a small alley called Rue Recamier. It will look almost blocked off by a cafe but cut right through the outside seating and you'll find a well-hidden park called Square Roger-Stephane.

Check out Deyrolle (google it), really interesting but you have to walk up to the second floor. The best Chocolate mousse in Paris is at one of the Chocolate Chapons. They have a mousse bar served in cone shaped cups. Words can't describe what a great treat this is. We went to two different ones, both have their own charms, but I liked the one by Saint Sulpice because it has a bench outside to sit and contemplate the beauty that is Paris.

Hope this helps.

We ate at the Polidor a few years ago (RS recommendation) and it was great-except the "bathroom" was the original Turkish style, basically a hole in the floor surrounded by a curtain. Maybe it's upgraded now, but if not, just beware and take precautions:)There was also a fun wine bar on the corner, the owner was awesome and the wine was delicious!

"We ate at the Polidor a few years ago (RS recommendation) and it was great-except the "bathroom" was the original Turkish style, basically a hole in the floor surrounded by a curtain."*

Unfortunately, there hasn't been much of an upgrade to the "bathroom" at the Polidor Restaruant, except for walls.
In the restaurant you walk through the door for WC into a small chamber with a sink and another door. Go through the other door to a small outdoor courtyard where you will find a tiny building with a door. Inside is just enough room for the thigh trembling 'squat toilet', as I call it.

That is the first time in many years I have seen one of these in Europe. Always an adventure, though!