Canal Saint Martin

Pop out at M: République. Back-to-back with the statue, cross and zip left to the end, then right up rue Beaurepaire. First stop, style salvation is nigh for the old grumbler at #8 Sauver Le Monde des Hommes / 09 83 84 60 88, while ladies go gaga for designer-chic vintage at Frivoli #26 / 42 38 21 20, next door to contemporary art gallery #28 Espace Beaurepaire. Take a quick cocktail on the terrace at #36 Chez Prune / 42 41 30 47, or turn left onto quai de Valmy. Art tomes abound at #83 Artazat / 40 40 24 00, then #95 Antoine & Lili / 04 37 41 55 / is a hippie haven with togs for tots too. Gallop across the bridge, turning right onto quai de Jemmapes to find more vintage at #104 Loulou Les Ames Arts / 42 00 91 39. Exit and left onto romantic rue de la Grange aux Belles, with plenty of shab-fab shopportunity, then right onto rue Bichart, right again for rue Richerand, and at the corner you're back on the canal. The industrial gate #80 on your right leads to a deserted looking yard, but don't be fooled – here hides the magical, mystical Le Comptoir Général / 44 88 24 48, caff/resto-cum-ghetto museum. End here, or for more cross another pictureperfect bridge to rue de Marseille, then veer right for mod menswear at #14 Balibaris / 42 41 52 44; boho-chic baubles at #10 Medicine Douce / 82 83 11 53; essential Parisianchic m/w wear at #5 A.P.C / 42 39 84 46, and multibrand lifestyle concept Centre Commercial at #2. Oh look! Tasty treats await at Du Pain et Des Idées on the corner, or skip back to Comptoir Général for after-dark debauchery...