I like to stay in the Montmartre neighborhood. It's a gorgeous, inviting neighborhood where the French Impressionists and other painters like Picasso and Van Gough once lived and worked. You can still go to some of the cafes where they were once regulars! (see: The Consulat). You can also see painters and artists still painting "en plein air" in Place du Tetre, a lovely little square that has several cafes to sit at and soak it all in. We like to stay close to this square so we have a fun nightlife before we head in for the night. The famous Sacré-Cœur church is also in this neighborhood. However, this area is a 20 minute cab or metro ride from the main attractions like the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower.