“There are times when I still feel like an outsider or a perpetual tourist—like I’ve only just scratched the surface of the city”

Since settling in Paris in 2013, Seb Emina has brushed off his French and adapted to the character of the City of Light. When he and his wife first arrived, they settled in the Fifth Arrondissement south of the Seine River, which is home to iconic Latin Quarter landmarks such as the Panthéon and the Sorbonne. “It’s beautiful and traditional to the point of there being actual accordion players on street corners,” Seb says. Now living in the Belleville district, which he loves for its creative vibe and multicultural atmosphere, he enjoys exploring the areas around the Belleville, Jourdain and Ménilmontant metro stations. “They’re old working-class neighborhoods with vibrant Jewish, Chinese and North African communities,” he says. “It’s living proof that Paris is not just...