--- title: "The 9th arrondissement: life in Paris’ growing social center" description: Why is the 9th arrondissement one of Paris’ most popular social hubs? This guide explains all, and gives the best reasons to live here. image: https://blog.parisattitude.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Galerie-Lafayette-Credit-Paris-Tourist-Office-Photographe-David-Lefranc.jpg --- [![Paris Attitude](https://blog.parisattitude.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ParisAttitude_inline_black_rgb_fond%20png-2.png?width=384&height=30&name=ParisAttitude_inline_black_rgb_fond%20png-2.png "Paris Attitude")](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en) [![ASK FOR A QUOTE](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4491099/21143d39-20db-4b73-b56a-532e9081446a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4491099/21143d39-20db-4b73-b56a-532e9081446a) # The 9th arrondissement: life in Paris’ growing social center ![Paris Attitude](https://blog.parisattitude.com/hubfs/blog-setup/Puce.jpg) By [Paris Attitude ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/author/paris-attitude) | Jan 29, 2025 11:00:00 AM | Read : 6 min [Discover Paris](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/tag/discover-paris) [Tenant](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/tag/tenant) [Expats Paris](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/tag/expats-paris) The 9th arrondissement is gaining a reputation as one of the most attractive neighborhoods in Paris. Among the most popular areas for young professionals with active social lives, this neighborhood **perfectly balances Parisian charm, convenience, and a vibrant cultural scene**.  Many people know the 9th for sites like *Opera* and the *Galeries Lafayette* department store. Others prefer the South Pigalle neighborhood, with its ever-expanding range of excellent cafés, bars, and restaurants. Throughout, the 9th is full of trendy people having fun with friends and family. If you’re looking for a lively and interesting area that still maintains a local feel—and relatively limited tourist traffic—the 9th could be just what you’re after. | Summary | | --- | | - [About the 9th arrondissement of Paris ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/9th-arrondissement#about-9th-arrondissement-of-Paris) - [Where is the 9th arrondissement? ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/9th-arrondissement#what-are-the-key-attractions-9th-arrondissement) - [What are the key attractions in the 9th arrondissement? ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dUcXa6Qi5BrUhv6hVGPOr5L3rS3eTZbMiPYsjiDw1c8/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.gnxle5jiaptu) - [The best reasons to live in the 9th arrondissement ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/9th-arrondissement#the-best-reasons-to-live-in-the-9th-arrondissement) - [The SoPi neighborhood ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/9th-arrondissement#the-sopi-neighborhood) - [The food and drink ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/9th-arrondissement#the-food-drink) - [The right amount of activity ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/9th-arrondissement#the-right-amount-activity) - [The diversity ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/9th-arrondissement#the-diversity) - [Why not live in the 9th arrondissement? ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/9th-arrondissement#why-not-live-in-the-9th-arrondissement) - [You really value peace and quiet ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/9th-arrondissement#you-really-value-peace-and-quiet) - [You love the outdoors ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/9th-arrondissement#you-love-outdoors) - [You need more space ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/9th-arrondissement#you-need-more-space) - [One of Paris’ fastest-growing social hubs ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/9th-arrondissement#one-of-paris-fastest-growing-social-hubs) | ## About the 9th arrondissement of Paris The 9th is at once a humming, bustling working area during the week, a social hotspot in the evenings and on weekends, and also a residential and somewhat peaceful place to live. By comparison, the [8th arrondissement](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/8th-arrondissement) is much more the former—a commercial area with little social activity. [*Le Marais*](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/3rd-arrondissement) is almost entirely known for its social activity, and not as a residential area. The 9th is the best of all these worlds.  ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcQA2nZ0oNbchQCKhRnUzqKLspp1-8pPlHHzikgVWmEaXGzH9eyHDJRQvYyfqZec3vQhWhjqwYu84L2zY-Gzb5m9hLQO-xn90BfegU5DAdakW_2ssGiNTT1IfteRrLkivT02MjG?key=bGpBGq6bAwy5gbIRL-Y_eoqG) *Palais Garnier* It’s also neatly** positioned between or close to many of the city’s favorite attractions, without being overly touristy itself**. Aside from a few restless streets, much of the 9th is not overwhelmed with tourists. It’s a favorite social location for Parisians living or working on the [right bank](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/left-right-bank-paris), particularly in the 8th, [10th](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/10th-arrondissement), [17th](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/17th-arrondissement), [18th](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/18th-arrondissement), and [19th](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/19th-arrondissement). But people come from all over the city to enjoy evening sun on lower Montmartre, and the extraordinary café and bar scene.  In terms of [cost of living](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/paris-cost-of-living), the 9th sits squarely in the middle of the pack. It’s the [10th-most expensive](https://aisainternational.fr/investments/the-most-expensive-areas-in-france-in-2024/) arrondissement to buy property (out of 20), and you can expect food, drinks, and amenities to be neither exorbitant or particularly cheap.  ### Where is the 9th arrondissement?  The formal borders of the 9th arrondissement are:  - Rue du Havre and Rue Vignon to the west - Place de Clichy, Boulevard de Clichy, and Boulevard de la Chapelle to the north - Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière to the east - Boulevard Poissonnière and Boulevard des Capucines to the south ### What are the key attractions in the 9th arrondissement? The 9th may not have the household-name attractions of some other arrondissements, but there’s plenty to explore here.  - *Palais Garnier*, the gorgeous venue typically known simply as “Opera.” - *Galeries Lafayette* and *Printemps*, two of the most popular department stores in the city. - Niche fascinations including *Musée Grevin* (wax museum), *Musée du Parfum* (fragrances), *Musée de la Vie romantique* (romantic art and literature), *Musée de la Franc-Maçonnerie* (Freemasonry). - The immensely popular *SoPi* (South Pigalle) neighborhood, including Rue des Martyrs. ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdMCv8SJaomXDhI8AqAvAU4LLXC300QBBpQxxEEFqUsN-Bcq68JLwYbrQkgkCKiAi7M8o4S1TMSe19g4K1CWhQIC4Umhl1jj6LkPwuSOAjh3sMa7Y41-2GFtVovi6CYBuqaHlajWA?key=bGpBGq6bAwy5gbIRL-Y_eoqG) *Passage Jouffroy Credit Paris Tourist Office-Marc-Bertrand* The northern border of the 9th also puts it face to face with a handful of other key attractions. The *Moulin Rouge* is literally on the other side of Boulevard de Clichy, technically placing it in the 18th. The same is true for music venues *La Cigale*, *Le Trianon*, and *L’Élysée Montmartre*. But these borders are arbitrary—they just as easily could be in the 9th.  ## The best reasons to live in the 9th arrondissement As always, how you choose your place of residence will depend on your priorities. But here are some of the most common reasons to choose this neighborhood.  ### The SoPi neighborhood As explained in our guide to the [best Paris neighborhoods](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/paris-best-neighborhoods-to-live), South Pigalle is one of the true “up and coming” parts of the city, particularly for young professionals. And that ship has probably sailed—SoPi is already a highly sought-after place to live. This area has what many consider the perfect combination of classic Parisian charm and residential feel, with an active after-work and nightlife.  There are **award-winning bakeries, hipster cafés, great bars and nightclubs, but also quiet squares and side streets to wander**. It certainly is a busy area, but it doesn’t always *feel* that way. If you’re a social creature and like to spend several evenings a week out at dinner or drinks, it’s very hard to beat SoPi. ### The food and drink The 9th arrondissement is **perhaps best known for its incredible bar and restaurant scene**. There are excellent brunch, lunch, and dinner spots all over, and a range of intriguing cocktail and wine bars to while away the evenings.  Parisians come here every day of the week to enjoy modern French cuisine and food from around the world. In the evenings, the terraces are full of people enjoying a glass of wine, a cocktail, or (increasingly) a local craft beer.  ### The right amount of activity Certainly, some parts of the 9th can be hectic. Galeries Lafayette is always busy on the weekends—and especially near Christmas—and you’ll see countless tourists taking photos at *Opera* or climbing Rue des Martyrs. But **there are also large sections of the neighborhood that are relatively free from tourists**. And for a central Paris arrondissement, that’s pretty rare.  ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeZxmNKLE_5Xw60vjUlNr6o3X6lCRE2PyMmnsRdts_5-JlNHkLMSAOCi6zpCN7GUTD9kne22udm1qJageYX1ZLCZOtUa_oQmWnteW44tyLQsHthB5p4WPZqOUx4NxJgy4jjd9naVg?key=bGpBGq6bAwy5gbIRL-Y_eoqG) *Galeries Lafayette* Areas like Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, Saint-George, Cadet, and Poissonnière are all frequented by the local lunch crowd. Here, you feel more surrounded by working young professionals than you would in any of the first six arrondissements.  ### The diversity Some parts of Paris are **rich with cultural diversity and people of different backgrounds**, while others feel more singularly *French*. The 9th is certainly in the former category.  There is a concentration of Asian restaurants and stores near Galeries Lafayette. In SoPi, you’ll find food from North Africa, Ethiopia, the Middle East, and Asia, plus vegan and gluten free hotspots. But the same goes for shops, entertainment, and the people you meet on the street. Compared with more *classical* French arrondissements like the [6th](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/6th-arrondissement), [7th](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/7th-arrondissement), and [16th](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/16th-arrondissement), there’s a noticeable cultural vibrancy and range of perspectives on offer here. ## Why not live in the 9th arrondissement? Despite its fast-growing popularity, not everyone wants to live in the 9th. Here are some of the reasons why you might choose not to live here.  ### You really value peace and quiet As we saw above, there are relatively peaceful and calm areas of the 9th. But if you’re comparing it to the [14th](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/addresses-14th-district), [15th](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/15th-arrondissement), 16th, or [the Paris suburbs](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/paris-suburbs), there’s really no contest. The 9th is a lived-in mix of working area during the week, and social center in the evenings and on weekends.  Even if you live on a quiet street, or in an apartment tucked away from the road, **you’ll always know that you’re in a bustling area of a big city**.  ### You love the outdoors There’s no getting around it: **the 9th features virtually *****no***** green or open air spaces**. The one exception is *Square Montholon*, a small square with trees and some grass. You can also picnic in the small parks outside the *Saint Trinité *church or *Square Alex Biscarre*. But these are nothing compared with the two large woods (*Bois de Vincennes* and *Bois de Boulogne*), *Parc de la Villette*, the *Jardin de Luxembourg*, or *Parc des Buttes-Chaumont*. If you’re an avid runner or cyclist, or simply enjoy long walks in the park, you’re best to go elsewhere.  ### You need more space While the 9th is a mid-priced arrondissement,** it’s certainly not *****cheap***. Many people can successfully [find an apartment](https://www.parisattitude.com/rent-apartment-paris-9.aspx) within their budget, but it may not be as large or as well-equipped as they would like.  If you want more bang for your rental buck, the neighboring 18th or nearby 19th are probably better options. The [18th](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/18th-arrondissement) in particular is still close to many of the same attractions and nightlife—and is up and coming in its own right. But for many people—and particularly for large families—**the 9th may not quite offer the options and price points they need**. ## One of Paris’ fastest-growing social hubs The 9th arrondissement offers a compelling mix of classic Parisian charm, cultural vibrancy, and modern conveniences that make it a very attractive option to live in. Its neighborhoods, like South Pigalle, provide the perfect balance of lively nightlife and residential calm, while its diverse culinary and entertainment scenes cater to a range of tastes and lifestyles.  It may not be for everyone—those who prioritize peace, green spaces, or larger living accommodations may prefer to look elsewhere. But for a growing number of Parisians, it represents the **ideal blend of history, energy, and accessibility in the heart of Paris**.  [A brief neighborhood guide to Paris’ 8th arrondissement **Previous Post ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/8th-arrondissement) [Why visit and live in Paris’ popular 10th arrondissement Following Post** ](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/10th-arrondissement) ### More articles like this one [The 20th arrondissement in all its diversity](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/20th-arrondissement) [Paris’ 19th arrondissement: Great parks, diverse people, & low prices](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/19th-arrondissement) ### Add a comment ### Most-read Articles - [Suburbs of Paris: Where to Live Just Outside the City Center](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/paris-suburbs) - [What Is the Average Rent in Paris? A Guide to Rental Prices](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/average-rent-paris) - [Left Bank vs Right Bank of Paris: How to Tell Your Rive Gauche from Droite](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/left-right-bank-paris) - [Everything You Need to Know When Renting in France](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/renting-france-rights-responsibilities-tenant) - [Studio vs 1-bedroom apartment: Key differences & how to choose](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/studio-vs-1-bedroom) [![Presentation of Paris Attitude](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4491099/9be94ed9-7013-4d05-8e84-74e3edc3fa68.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4491099/9be94ed9-7013-4d05-8e84-74e3edc3fa68) ### Our topics - [Tenant](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/tag/tenant) - [Expats Paris](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/tag/expats-paris) - [Discover Paris](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/tag/discover-paris) - [Corporate](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/tag/corporate) - [Student](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/tag/student) - [Our services](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/tag/our-services) - [Owners](https://blog.parisattitude.com/en/tag/owners) ### Follow us on Social Media [**](https://www.facebook.com/ParisAttitudeFrance/) [**](https://twitter.com/paris_attitude) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/paris-attitude) [**](https://www.instagram.com/paris_attitude/) ### Subscribe to our Newsletter Download the presentation of Paris Attitude [![DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATION ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4491099/161ca3e1-1399-4a53-b56d-a60772cb1d61.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4491099/161ca3e1-1399-4a53-b56d-a60772cb1d61) [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4491099/61841366-be48-464c-aa50-0b96384547ef.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4491099/61841366-be48-464c-aa50-0b96384547ef) [**](https://www.facebook.com/ParisAttitudeFrance/) [**](https://twitter.com/paris_attitude) [**](https://www.instagram.com/paris_attitude/) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/paris-attitude)