The 10th Arrondissement and Beyond with Matthias Geerts

First impressions:

“I’m originally from Antwerp, Belgium, so Paris was only a two-hour train ride away. It felt like an open-air museum here growing up because of the architecture, culture and atmosphere, which you commonly see portrayed in cinema. Living here, though, is very different; not everywhere in Paris looks like it does in films and I keep discovering new neighborhoods that I love, some of which are more underground than the parts most people visit.”

Choosing Paris:

“I wanted something more exciting, new and challenging. My background is in fashion, so it felt like the most logical move since all the houses and brands I work with or want to work with are here. Building my network and starting my DJ career here also felt easier since it’s a much bigger city than Antwerp.”

Favorite neighborhood:

“I’ve lived in the 7th [arrondissement], the 11th and now the 10th. Finding an apartment here is challenging, but I’ve lived in enough neighborhoods to figure out that I like the 10th the most. I also got to experience the Rive Gauche versus Rive Droite concept—the left side of the Seine river being touristy and traditional, while the right side is younger and more party-oriented. The 10th is my favorite, though. It’s so multicultural and there’s always a lot of action.”

Breakfast, lunch and dinner:

“I don’t go out for breakfast much, but when I do it’s usually Season. For lunch, the buns at PaperBoy are a must. If you’re going out for an aperitif, go to Bambino. It’s a tapas bar and has one of the prettiest DJ booths. For dinner I have a few favorites: Balagan, Bouche Paris, Carboni’s, Jaja and Bonhomie. If you're into burgers you have to try Dumbo. They have the best smash burgers I've ever had.”

Clubbing:

“Rex Club is fun, they have different nights like house or techno, so it’s quite broad musically. RORSHAR is an underground party that announces the location for its raves super last-minute, so it’s different each time. My all-time favorite concept would be POSSESSION. They host raves in a variety of clubs and this summer they’re doing an open-air edition. There you’ll hear harder, faster and more underground techno.”

Shopping: 

“THE NEXT DOOR at 10 Rue Beaurepaire. They have a very good buy from a great selection of brands.”

Parks and recreation:

“My favorite park is Parc des Buttes Chaumont. It’s really beautiful with hills, water and areas to lay in the grass and listen to some music or have a drink with friends. The Musée Picasso is a classic art museum worth visiting. Chapelle XIV is a cool gallery where you can also browse for new music!”

Fashion Week hangouts:

“A lot of fashion people go to La Belle Époque, Costes and Hotel Grand Amour. But it also depends on what events are happening—the venues for after-parties and cocktail hours are always different.”