You’ve done Paris once. Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Luxembourg Gardens—check. Now what? In this episode, we sit down in a café in the 11th arrondissement with Oliver Gee, host of The Earful Tower, to plan a “second visit” to Paris that steps off the tourist track: covered passages, neighborhood cafés, budget-friendly bouillons, cabarets that are actually fun, where to stay, and how to arrive without wrecking your first impression.
Guest
Oliver Gee, host of The Earful Tower and founder of Earful walking tours in Paris.
What you’ll learn
Why your second trip is when Paris really clicks
Which neighborhoods reward wandering (11th, 19th, 20th)
The covered passages worth seeking out and why they’re special
Lunch spots and coffee bars locals actually use
Bouillons: beautiful rooms, classic fare, tiny bills—what to expect
Solo-friendly nights out (including cabaret)
Smart lodging and airport choices that save time and sanity
Places, eats, and experiences mentioned
Covered passages: Galerie Vivienne; Passage Jouffroy (home to Hôtel Chopin)
Vintage shopping: Kilo Shop (pay-by-weight, multiple locations)
Budget dinner, big atmosphere: Bouillon Chartier; Bouillon Pigalle
Night out: Moulin Rouge and other cabarets around Pigalle/Montmartre
Where to stay: Aim central (arrondissements 1–11) to cut transit time
Getting into town: Consider a taxi from CDG/ORY for a smooth first impression; if you have a choice, many prefer Orly for speed and simplicity
Oliver’s walking tours
Earful Tower tours focus on discovery over dates and statues—courtyards, stories, and hidden details. Oliver personally leads a Monday-morning Marais tour most weeks.
