Midnight in Paris Filming Locations

My husband took me to see Midnight in Paris last night.  I loved it, he hated it.  Maybe it’s only a movie for true lovers of Paris!

The locations throughout the movie are truly beautiful.  In case you are not familiar, below I have detailed a quick review of some of the settings in the film.  Warning: there may be spoilers below!

Monet’s Gardens at Giverny:  This is the opening scene where we first see Gil (Owen Wilson) and Inez (Rachel MacAdams).  It is here that Claude Monet lived and painted for many years of his life.

Musée de l'Orangerie:  This is where eight of Monet’s Water Lillies paintings are housed.  The Musée de l'Orangerie was probably my second favourite museum I visited on my last trip to Paris.  My mom loves Monet and I grew up seeing a lot more Monet than the average child would ever see.  In fact, we had Water Lillies wallpaper in our bathroom at one point.  Here are some of the photos I took while at this beautiful museum:

Hotel Bristol: This is the hotel where Gil and Inez are staying during their travels to Paris.  This Bristol officially opening in 1925 (perfect for the setting of the film!) and it is this hotel where legendaries like Chanel and Picasso once spent the night.

Le Meurice:  a gorgeous five-star luxury hotel in Paris.  Gil, Inez, Paul and Nina enjoy a wine-tasting on a terrace of this hotel.  If I am not mistaken, it is the terrace of the Belle Etoile Royal Suite that is pictured.  At more than 17,000€ a night, this suite is luxury at its finest.

Musée Rodin:  Many of Auguste Rodin’s many sculptures are exhibited here.  Some of Rodin’s more famous works are The Thinker (featured in the film), The Kiss and The Gates of Hell.  The Musée Rodin was by far my favourite museum in Paris.  The work of Rodin is amazing, and the location is impeccable...the gardens are beautiful beyond words.  If you only have a short stay in Paris, visit this museum, you won’t regret it!

Rue Montagne St. Genevieve:  This is where Gil goes every night at midnight.  It is located in the 5e arrondissement near the Panthéon.

Versailles:  Here lies Louis XIV’s (the “Sun King’s) magnificent palace.  The gardens are extraordinary.  You could literally spent a whole day in the garden’s and still not cover half of them.  Another must on a trip to Paris is a trip to Versailles – it is only a 30 minute subway ride away from Paris and well worth the trip.

Marché Paul Bert:  it is here that Gil purchases a record from Gabrielle. It is an open-air market best known for its decorative trends and fashions.

Quai de la Tournelle:  the location where Gil buys a journal written by Adriana.  Many book stalls are located along this quai.

Square Jean XXXIII:  located behind the Notre-Dame cathedral, you can view the rose windows, sculptures and flying buttresses of the cathedral from here.  In the film, the museum guide (from the Musée Rodin) translates Adriana’s journal for Gil.

Musée des Arts Forains:  contains a collection of merry-go-rounds, carousels, swings and bicycles.  Gil meets Adriana here after discovering that he courtship with Picasso has come to an end.

Maxim's:  a restaurant known for its art nouveau interior and museum.  Gil and Adriana go to Maxim’s in the film and get “lost” in the Belle Époque.

Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore:  perhaps one of the most famous bookstores in the world, many writers from the 1920’s, including Ernest Hemmingway, gathered here.  In Midnight in Paris, Gil is seen leaving the store.

Pont Alexandre III:  featured at the end of the film, it is here where Gil asks Gabrielle to walk her home in the rain.  One of the most extravagant bridges in Paris, it connects the Champs- Élysées and Eiffel Tower quarters.

Resturants features in the film include Le Grand Véfour, Aux Lyonnais, and Lapérouse.

There! Now you know all of the filming locations of Midnight in Paris!

xo Ceilidh