Arabian spas, Little India, and Japanese restaurants are some of the most luxurious hidden gems Paris has to offer.
Yup, we’re just as enthralled by Paris’s other worlds as we are by Paris itself. Read our travel guide to discover the city’s gateways to Arabian spas, Little India and Japanese chic.
North Africa in Paris: For perfect couscous and detoxifying in Turkish baths
The Mosquée de Paris in the left bank – the city’s oldest – welcomes worshippers and non-worshippers alike to enjoy its 1920 Turkish baths and garden courtyard. On women-only days, mostly topless Parisians exfoliate in the steam rooms and dip in a cold pool before drying off for a massage. Surrounded by stained glass lanterns and mustard and turquoise tile designs, stout women chatter in Arabic while giving full body massages. (Don’t expect them to go easy on your traveller-weary muscles, but it’s worth it in the end.) For 42 euros for entry to the Turkish baths and a 20-minute massage, a visit to the Mosque is not just a great window into Paris’s North African culture, it’s also perfect for detoxifying after wine and pastries.
Want to bring your Arabian themed day into the evening? Couscous is a staple meal at most bistros in Paris, but for exceptional Algerian tagine and a painstakingly paired wine list, try Le Zerda Café.
Travel guide: Must-visits
The Mosque of Paris
39 rue Geoffrey Saint-Hilaire, 9th Arrondissement
Métro: Saint-Marcel or Censier-Daubenton
Le Zerda Café
15 rue René Boulanger, 10th Arrondissement
Métro: Strasbourg-Saint-Denis
Read on to discover where to find Japanese hangouts in Paris on the next page...
