Paris- Staying on Ile Saint Louis Island. Drawbacks?

I have stayed on the island twice..each time in an apartment. A great location..across the Seine one way is the Marais..over the walking bridge is Notre Dame..the Jewish memorial behind Notre Dame..St. Chappelle..the vintage flower market..go over to the Latin Quarter across the Seine towardsBlvd. st Germain..the list goes on. It gets lively on
St. Louis..but u are in a great spot. Lots of small restaurants .shops. I have been to Paris every year for 20 years..I like to stay in different neighborhoods..and there are experts on this forum regarding opinions on where to stay..see what they say as well..but I enjoy that area. Have fun!

We stayed on the the island in a wonderful apartment nine years ago. To walk from left bank across the island to right bank takes about 4 minutes. It's not like being stranded on a remote island. Enjoy!

Drawbacks - - I'm not there. Enjoyed my stay there in an apartment. Enjoyed walking past Notre Dame when heading to & from Saint-Michel Metro/RER station.

Enjoy your trip.

Best location in the city IMHO!

Yep, as diveloonie said, best location in the city. My favorite. I’ve stayed in apts for a month, and two of the 4 hotels for weeks. Love it. It’s like a charming little village, in the very heart of Paris, surrounded by the river with amazing views all around you.
Another big plus, it’s dead quiet all through the night, unlike most of Paris. No 6am garbage trucks, no police sirens going by all through the night, no cars honking throughout the night. So quiet you can hear a pin drop. Heaven.
My favorite café in Paris, La Flore en l’Ile, is there by the pedestrian bridge (which often has great street performers or musicians). And ISL is the home of Berthillon ice cream, best in the world.
If you like raspberries, get their raspberry sorbet… to die for.

Ile St Louis? That would the best place to stay in Paris! It is so close to so many sights. It is close to many places to eat, either on or off island. We stayed across the river in the Latin Quarter and while walking around on the island we commented on how cool it would be to stay in that part of the city. In fact I think we tried to get a room in that area but were not able to. I recall that Ile St Louis was supposed to have the best place for ice cream in Paris? Can't recall if that was a RS tip or not.

Stayed there in 2010, and it was wonderful! Both right and left bank just steps away. Metro close by on the right bank. There were plenty of food options, too.

“Can't recall if that was a RS tip or not”.

Well known long before RS. I read somewhere long ago that wealthy New Yorkers have it flown over for them.

It would be an American tip. Traditionally Parisians have cassis sorbet. Anything else is a pale imitation.

The Islands are ok if you're if you're not looking to live like a real Parisian. It's all tourists, and these days new Russian and Chinese money. I've stayed there, but only for convenience because that's where my clients were. Otherwise I prefer grittier places with more food choices.

But Simon, the vast majority of people on this forum are American tourists, not living like local Parisians. I grew up in Paris and lived there as an adult, and i love staying on ISL when i visit. It’s charming, to die for views, as central as you can get, and wonderful for walking all along the river to so many places tourists want to see.
If i move back to Paris (considering it) i would not live on ISL, but when i visit, it’s a perfect spot.

Thank you for the reassuring replies!

Simon, what neighborhoods do you prefer that feel more local?

The “more locals” areas are the 2 digit arrondissements… 10-20.
1-9 have far more tourists, the river and tourist sites… except Montmartre, which is in the 18th.

Susan - my comment was a bit tongue in cheek...

I have seen people recommended the Islands, the 1st and "the Marais" as places to stay if you want to feel like a "real Parisian". Inverted commas deliberately used because I think people who sling those terms around don't know what they mean.

I prefer the 19th between Jean Jaurès and the park, the 11th around Lenoir, the right hand side of the 9th, bits of the 14th, and bits of the 15th. In short: anywhere working class in the 1960s that's now mainly gentrified. I'd never recommend an arrondissement (as in "I prefer the 19th") because in something as random as a convenient political line drawing exercise there are always going to be bits that are either dull as ditchwater or too gritty for a well bought up young man.

Having said all that... If your idea of Paris is 1950s American musicals the islands are fine - just don't believe it has anything to do with real life :)

“Susan - my comment was a bit tongue in cheek...”

Ah, ok. But i wouldn’t characterize ISL as 1950’s American musicals, lol.

Maurice Chevalier and Leslie Caron anyone?

I was thinking American in Paris rather than Funny Face, but some people expect to see a Paris that's set in aspic.

Did I miss something? I read the OP as wondering if ISL had good access to other parts of the centre, as well as having food options. I don't see where they said they wanted to "live like a local" (whatever the heck that is supposed to mean).

WOW - fantastic location. And yes, Berthillon ice cream! https://berthillon.fr/
Had a wonderful dinner at Aux Anysetiers du Ray - wonderful woman took care of us in a small and lovely restaurant.
Metro easy at St. Michel/Notre Dame AND Hotel d'Ville. Great location!

And the view of the Hotel de Ville (Paris City Hall) from the ISL pedestrian bridge is stunning at night. A real treat.

Pont Marie and Cité métro stops are also convenient to ISL and closer than the two Marna mentions.

Thank for the replies and encouragement! As for the heat, it was the only time we could make the trip work. We reserved a place with AC and will hope for the best...