For the uninitiated, the apparent tourist activity in the area can hide the fact that at the heart of this hustle and bustle lives a real neighbourhood.
The lower part of the avenue, was invested into and remodelled for the 1900 Universal Exhibition and has retained the Grand and Petit Palais, which have transformed this area into a cultural bubble surrounded by gardens.
The surrounding gardens, divided into squares, are havens of Parisian life, with children's playgrounds and carousels but also an element of refinement. The Carré des Ambassadeurs is home to the Espace Cardin and the Pavillon Gabriel, where generations of Parisians have met up to dance, the Carré Ledoyen is home to the famous gastronomic restaurant bearing the same name, while the Carré Marigny houses the theatre of the same name.
From under Jeff Koons' flowers you can head to the Alsace, with its unchanged décor, or the Pichet de Paris, two timeless institutions that have withstood the district's many developments. In summer, you can cool off on the terrace of the Petit Palais or in the private swimming pool at the Automobile Club.
And in the evening, you can enjoy a delicious meal at Apicius, Kaspia or the recently refurbished Maxim's.
A pleasant, residential area packed with insider addresses.