Studio Jazz

Owned by Daniel, a friend of Sylvie of Couleurs Soleil, who struck a great impression on me in his kitchen full of profiteroles he'd baked and was about to inject with cream for a party that night. He owns two studios (Studio Jazz being one of them and Studio Blues being the other). I don't know what he does for a living, if he does anything at all - in fact when I asked some of Sylvie's other friends what they did for a living, they all made it clear that they don't do anything - just hang out, go to movies and theatres, concerts and such. Drink and eat profiteroles at parties, I guess. But he is handy as he had his entire apartment topsy turvy, doing some serious renovations extending his flat into the one above it to make room for the guestrooms. The finished result, as seen in Studio Malte, was pretty impressive. It's large for a studio, enough to accommodate 4 people (2 in the French double bed of 140 cm, and two others on single fold out armchairs). There is a small kitchenette that opens with a bar counter into the room and a dining room table. There is a computer with high speed internet, a flat screen TV, and a private balcony. For the incredibly low price, this is one of the better values on the site, and if you're on a tight budget you'll definitely feel like you're getting much more than your money.

About the area:

The 11th Arrondissement is one of the most densely populated quarters of Paris. Located on the right bank (North side) of the Siene, it borders the 3rd and 4th Arrondissement to the West and the 20th to the North East. Comprised of various sub-neighborhoods that are often described as up and coming, trendy, and "bobo" a mix of bourgeois and bohème. Although common for guides to comment on the variety of bars and restaurants in any particular Arrondissement, this is especially true for the 11th. The various neighborhoods create a mix of calm, residential streets and large, lively boulevards, as well as parks and a strong feeling of "local" community. It does not feel populated mostly by tourists as the areas closer to the Louvre and the Marais can, nor does it feel away from the action or that you're sacrificing being in the "center" of the city. There are also many notable sites in the 11th, such as the Place de la République, and the Opera Bastille. There's also an Edith Piaf museum and the long outdoor market at Blvd. Richard-Lenoir. The area around Oberkampf is trendier, more on the bohemian side, and a good bet for small cafés and restaurants. Just outside the 11th you have the Marais to the West and the Père-Lachaise cemetery to the East. There are many major Metro station and buses so the rest of Paris is very accessible.