Paris
I've spent a month in Paris virtually every year since 2005 and over the years have come to know her bumps and blemishes and I still love this city. I've stayed in the 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th arrondissements. My favorite is the 7th (Eiffel Tower area) but we wanted a new experience and to save some money so we stayed in the 10th near Canals St Martin which resembles a tiny Greenwich Village if you squint and you've had a pint or two. It's not that clean and to some not that French either. Two blocks west was little Africa (Boulevard de Strasbourg), one block further is little Pakistan (Rue du faubourg Saint Denis) and a short walk to the east and you're in little China (Belleville) so there was plenty of ethnic food available.
The 10th however, is not that clean and smells more than I'd like. The canals are chock full of trash thrown in by the local partiers and the local park is always inhabited - and not in a good way. My rule is not to stay near train stations as they attract a certain element and the 10th arrondisement has not one but TWO!
Still there's something about it that's homey and real. I wouldn't stay here over the 7th but I'm glad I did just so I know.