Where was Emily in Paris filmed?
2020
City Locations
Paris, France
Location Types
Apartment, French, Buildings/Offices, Galleries
Location Styles
Art Deco, Castle/Chateau, French
About Emily in Paris
Meet Emily (Lily Collins). This young American go-getter loves living and working in Chicago, but her life is about to be turned upside-down by an unexpected job opportunity.
When her firm acquires a luxury French marketing agency, Emily’s boss Madeline (Kate Walsh) is expected to head to Paris to take charge of the new acquisition. But when Madeline gets the unexpected news that she’s pregnant, Emily is offered the job instead. She accepts it without hesitation, much to the dismay of her boyfriend, Doug (Roe Hartrampf).
Before she barely even has time to say “sacre bleu!”, Emily jets off to the French capital to begin her new role. Her brief is to bring an American point of view and work ethic to the French marketing agency, but it’s a task that’s going to be easier said than done.
First, there’s the language barrier. Emily doesn’t speak any French, which is instantly a cause of conflict with her boss and new colleagues. Second, there are myriad cultural differences to overcome, like the very different attitudes that French and American people adopt towards work. And no matter how friendly and outgoing Emily may be, making new friends in a foreign city is always a challenge.
Then there’s the matter of Doug. A long-distance relationship sounds plausible in theory, but making it work in reality is going to be difficult. Can Emily balance her love life with her career and make a home for herself in Paris, or is her European adventure going to end in disaster?
Regardless of what happens, the good news is that viewers get to enjoy plenty of gorgeous Parisian and French scenery along the way. And if you’d like to visit the locations where some of the best scenes in Emily in Paris were filmed, keep reading for a rundown of some of the show’s key settings and moments (including spoilers).
Emily in Paris Locations
Want to know where Emily in Paris is filmed? There’s a pretty big hint in the title.
That’s right, Emily in Paris is in fact filmed in Paris. Throughout season one, in particular, you’ll notice a host of instantly recognizable attractions found in and around the French capital. Emily’s apartment, for example, is found in Paris’ Place de l'Estrapade, a gorgeous square in the 5th arrondissement.
Even better, many other Emily in Paris locations are found close by, so it’s easy to plan out your own self-guided tour itinerary. These include Palais Garnier where Emily enjoys a night at the opera, the Pont Alexandre III bridge where Savoir films a commercial, and Jardin du Palais-Royal where Emily first meets Mindy (Ashley Park).
But some Emily in Paris locations are found a little further afield. The show has also filmed scenes at a chateau in the Loire Valley and on the super-glamorous French Riviera, so visiting these settings is a treat for any tourist.
Let’s take a closer look at how you can visit the sites where some of the best scenes in Emily in Paris were filmed.
Fun Fact:
Emily in Paris may have been a hit with American audiences, but the same can’t be said for the French. The Netflix series has been criticized for its stereotypical portrayals of Paris and its residents.
Emily tries to enter the wrong apartment scene in Emily in Paris
Place de l'Estrapade
The first episode of Emily in Paris is a story of cultural clashes. And while Emily struggles to wrap her head around the French language, she’s also got a few other surprises coming her way. Right near the top of the list is that her new apartment is on the fifth floor with no elevator. Even more confusingly, the French count floors differently, starting with the ground floor and then on to the first, second, and so on.
So when Emily returns home after a challenging first day at the office, she of course tries to unlock someone else’s apartment on the fourth floor, the level below her own. Happily, her downstairs neighbor is the hunky Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), and there’s chemistry between the two straight away.
“I’m Emily. Emily Cooper … your new neighbor,” Emily manages to get out as she tries to overcome her embarrassment.
Emily’s apartment, along with Gabriel’s restaurant and her favorite local bakery, are found in a pretty square known as Place de l'Estrapade. It’s just a short walk from the Panthéon on the southern side of the Seine.
Emily meets Mindy scene in Emily in Paris
Jardin du Palais Royal
At first, Emily’s new life in Paris is a complete disaster. She’s missing her boyfriend, she doesn’t speak the language, and her co-workers hate her. And when they all come up with excuses to avoid having lunch with her, Emily decides to eat her lunch all alone in a park.
But as she sits disconsolately on a bench, she’s thrilled to meet Mindy, who of course will soon become her BFF. Mindy is a nanny looking after French children, and she has had plenty of experience dealing with the culture shock of life in Paris. As the two bond about how mean Parisians can be, Mindy realizes that Emily doesn’t have any friends in Paris.
She takes Emily’s phone to enter her number. “If you're lonely, you text me, we have dinner. I'm Mindy.” And just like that, Emily’s new life in Paris starts to seem just a little bit better.
This scene was filmed in the Jardin du Palais Royal, or Palais-Royal Garden, which is found north of the Seine near the Louvre. The landscaped gardens here are ideal for a picnic or a relaxing stroll.
Emily meets Antoine scene in Emily in Paris
Trocadéro
Emily’s bitter and brutal boss, Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) makes no secret of the fact that she’s not a fan of Emily. Despite Emily’s best efforts to make a good impression, Sylvie remains unimpressed. But when Emily convinces her boss to let her come to a glamorous launch party for De L'Heure perfume.
The setting for the party is simply gorgeous, with breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower across the Seine. But it isn’t long until Emily puts her foot in it, as she tells Antoine (William Abadie) of her marketing plans for her perfume. Antoine seems impressed, but Sylvie and Paul (Arnaud Viard) look on disapprovingly. “Are you crazy? You don’t talk about work at a party,” they scold her.
The chic setting for this party is the Trocadéro, located in Paris’ 16th arrondissement. And yes, the Eiffel Tower views from here are truly spectacular.
Sexy or sexist bridge commercial scene in Emily in Paris
Pont Alexandre III
She’s had a rocky start in Paris, but Emily is slowly starting to make a positive impression on her boss and co-workers. And in episode three of season one, she gets to help out behind the scenes on a commercial shoot for De L'Heure.
But Emily is stunned to discover that the basic premise of the ad is for a nude female model to stroll across a bridge while men in suits stare at her with undisguised desire. Emily believes it is sexist and politically incorrect, but Antoine argues that it is in fact sexy.
“The men are objectifying her. They have the power,” Emily says, but Antoine dismisses her concerns. “No, she has the power. Because she's beautiful and she's naked, which gives her more power,” he responds.
The bridge featured in this scene is Pont Alexandre III, a 19th-century bridge across the Seine. Found quite close to the iconic Champs-Élysées, it’s a pretty spot to take a stroll and snap off a few pics.
A night at the ballet scene in Emily in Paris
Palais Garnier
In episode six of season one, it looks like romance could be in store for Emily. After meeting a philosophy professor named Thomas (Julien Floreancig) at the cafe, the two hit it off. Emily invites him back to her apartment and they spend the night together.
Emily thinks this could be the start of something special, despite the fact that Gabriel thinks Thomas is a snob (“an a**hole masquerading as an intellectual”), and she invites Thomas to go to watch Swan Lake with her. But when she meets Thomas at the ballet, Emily discovers Gabriel is right: Thomas is a snob. “Swan Lake is for tourists,” he says haughtily, and Emily soon realizes he’s not the right man for her.
This night at the ballet Emily in Paris filming location is the Palais Garnier, an opera house built in the 19th century. You can find it on Place de l'Opéra, less than a mile north of the Louvre.
Emily visits Camille’s chateau scene in Emily in Paris
Château de Sonnay
Want to check out a filming location of Emily in Paris that isn’t actually in Paris? Here’s what you’re looking for.
In episode eight of season one, Camille (Camille Razat) invites Emily to visit her family’s chateau in Champagne and convince her mother to hire Savoir to market their business. Emily is a little reluctant at first, but eventually agrees to take a road trip to the pretty chateau.
Emily tries her best to charm Camille’s mother, but the other woman is cold and dismissive. “We don’t give tours of the chateau,” she says in response to Emily’s request for a tour. But it’s Camille’s dad who really makes an impression when Emily encounters him by the pool — stark naked!
The site of this chateau is the Château de Sonnay, found roughly 165 miles southwest of Paris in the Loire Valley. The valley is famous for its vineyards and its castles, making it the perfect destination for a road trip from Paris.
Conclusion
The answer to the question “Is Emily in Paris actually filmed in Paris?” is a resounding oui. This Netflix series is in many ways a love letter to the French capital, showcasing its galleries, museums, parks, and cafes in all their glory. So even if you’re not entirely captivated by the plot, you’ll be treated to plenty of gorgeous scenery along the way.