The Rue Du Nil: Local Lover’s Lane

On a shady side street in the 2nd arrondissement a gathering of new neighbors has subtly transformed the way Paris shoppers buy local. Chef Gregory Marchand was the first to install himself on the sleepy street when he opened Frenchie (5 rue du Nil, 2nd arrondissement), which quickly became one of the city’s most sought-after reservations. Two years later the chef opened Frenchie Wine Bar (6 rue du Nil, 2nd arrondissement) across the street, a no-reservations option that had devotees lined up outside the door up to an hour before opening time. The most recent addition to Marchand’s Frenchie empire, Frenchie To Go, is also on the rue du Nil and functions as a popular deli counter and lunch spot for locals and gourmands alike. Thanks partly to Marchand, in the span of a couple of years, the rue du Nil became a veritable destination for visitors from around the world.