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.
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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 is much more the former—a commercial area with little social activity. Le Marais is almost entirely known for its social activity, and not as a residential area. The 9th is the best of all these worlds.
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, particularly in the 8th, 10th, 17th, 18th, and 19th. 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, the 9th sits squarely in the middle of the pack. It’s the 10th-most expensive arrondissement to buy property (out of 20), and you can expect food, drinks, and amenities to be neither exorbitant or particularly cheap.
The formal borders of the 9th arrondissement are:
The 9th may not have the household-name attractions of some other arrondissements, but there’s plenty to explore here.
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.
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.
As explained in our guide to the best Paris neighborhoods, 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 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.
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.
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.
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, 7th, and 16th, there’s a noticeable cultural vibrancy and range of perspectives on offer here.
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.
As we saw above, there are relatively peaceful and calm areas of the 9th. But if you’re comparing it to the 14th, 15th, 16th, or the 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.
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.
While the 9th is a mid-priced arrondissement, it’s certainly not cheap. Many people can successfully find an apartment 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 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.
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.