Quartier de la Réunion sits in the eastern 20th arrondissement of Paris, bordered roughly by rue de Bagnolet and the streets surrounding Place de la Réunion. It is one of the city’s most authentically multicultural residential districts, where longtime Parisian families, North African, West African, and Asian communities coexist alongside a growing population of young creatives. The neighborhood offers a grounded, unhurried experience of everyday Paris far from the tourist corridors.
What is Quartier de la Réunion known for?
Quartier de la Réunion is best known for its lively open-air Marché de la Réunion, held on Place de la Réunion, which draws local shoppers with fresh produce, North African spices, halal butchers, and West African vegetables several days a week. The neighborhood’s multicultural character is visible in its bakeries, épiceries, and the steady rhythm of daily life on streets like rue de Bagnolet and rue des Orteaux. It represents the authentic working-class fabric of eastern Paris that has defined the 20th arrondissement for generations.
Best things to do in Quartier de la Réunion
- Browse the Marché de la Réunion on Place de la Réunion for local produce and international ingredients.
- Walk rue de Bagnolet to observe independent shops, cafés, and the diverse streetscape of eastern Paris.
- Visit the nearby Père Lachaise Cemetery, one of the world’s most famous burial grounds, reachable on foot or by metro.
- Explore Square Séverine, a quiet green space within the neighborhood popular with local families.
- Wander rue des Orteaux and adjacent streets for an unfiltered view of residential Parisian architecture.
Where to eat in Quartier de la Réunion
The streets around Place de la Réunion and rue de Bagnolet offer honest, affordable eating options rooted in the neighborhood’s multicultural identity, including North African couscous and tagine restaurants, West African snack counters, and traditional French brasseries frequented by locals rather than tourists. The market itself is a prime spot to assemble a picnic from charcuterie, cheese, olives, and fresh bread. Small Vietnamese and Chinese canteens are also present, reflecting the broader demographic of the 20th arrondissement.
How to get to Quartier de la Réunion
The most direct metro access to Quartier de la Réunion is Alexandre Dumas station on Metro Line 2, which places visitors at the western edge of the neighborhood, while Buzenval station on Metro Line 9 serves the southern approach via rue de Bagnolet. Bus lines running along rue de Bagnolet and rue des Pyrénées also connect the area to central Paris and to the broader 20th arrondissement. The neighborhood is walkable from Père Lachaise station on Lines 2 and 3.
Where to walk in Quartier de la Réunion
The most rewarding walk in the area begins at Place de la Réunion, continues south along rue des Orteaux past local bakeries and épiceries, then turns onto rue de Bagnolet heading toward the lively commercial stretch near the Mairie du 20e and the broader Belleville corridor. A secondary route heads north from Place de la Réunion through smaller residential streets toward Square Séverine, offering a quieter perspective on the neighborhood’s everyday architecture and community gardens.
Best time to visit Quartier de la Réunion
Weekend mornings are the best time to visit Quartier de la Réunion, when the Marché de la Réunion on Place de la Réunion is at its most vibrant and the streets fill with shoppers, giving visitors the fullest sense of the neighborhood’s community life. Weekday mornings also see the market in operation, while afternoons on any day are good for walking rue de Bagnolet. Spring and early autumn offer mild temperatures ideal for extended street exploration in this part of eastern Paris.
