( CNN ) -- So New York thinks it 's the most stylish city on the planet ? Sure , the Big Apple was named top dog in the latest rankings of fashion capitals around the world , pushing Paris into second place , and London into third . But can you party in an abandoned Rothschild mansion in New York ? Can you watch indie films in an antique Japanese pagoda ? Can you chillax on the beach in the heart of the city ? Nope ? Well , mes amis , you can in Paris . Whatever the world 's fashion dignitaries might say , the City of Light is much more than stripy t-shirts and the Eiffel Tower . In fact , you 'd be hard pressed to find a single Parisian jostling with the tourists atop that particular feat of architecture , says culture blogger Vanessa Grall . `` Paris does n't have to be the crowded tourist city everybody thinks of , '' said the 29-year-old editor of messynessy.com , a website delving into the city 's hidden artisan gems . `` The great thing about Paris is you can walk around quiet , very traditional neighborhoods that are like movie sets , and find these secret little pockets -- like a hilltop vineyard overlooking the city . '' And when the sun goes down , you can continue exploring the city 's sumptuous club scene -- if you know where to look . `` People who complain about Paris nightlife are people who do n't get out much , '' said 28-year-old Arthur Mestrot who , along with 26-year-old Ruben Nataf , founded online city guide `` Ten Days in Paris . '' `` I feel as though there 's a real link between night clubs and art , the buildings are some of the most beautiful in the world . We have a much different clubbing culture than other European cities like London and Berlin -- it 's smaller , more intimate . '' Grall 's top tip for discovering some of these tourist-free treasures ? `` Rent an old 1960s scooter , you do n't need a license , and it 's the best way to take the side streets and get lost . '' And when you 've worked out how to find your way back again , here are a few more reasons why Paris is cooler -- if not always more fashionable -- than you think : . You can party in an abandoned Rothschild mansion . Or a World War Two bunker . Or a closed inner-city railway . In fact , if it 's grand , vintage , and out-of-bounds , then event organizers `` We are the Oracle '' ( WATO ) will probably be holding an extravagant soirée somewhere inside . Expect `` Eyes Wide Shut '' style secrecy , decadent dining , and thumping tunes -- all inside the city 's most magnificent derelict buildings . Thousands of baguette-toting , beret-wearing cyclists take over . As any hipster will tell you , retro is cool . Bikes are also cool . Artisan deli goods are definitely up there . So the `` Beret and Baguette '' cycle ride through the city , involving 1,000 people dressed in 1930s costumes , and culminating in a picnic in the park , ticks all the right boxes . Watch indie films in an antique Japanese pagoda . People who do n't know , watch films in multiplex cinemas . People who do , watch them in a lavish 118-year-old Japanese pagoda . The extravagant La Pagode was built as a present from Le Bon Marché department store owner Monsieur Morin as a gift to his wife . Today , movie-goers can sip tea in the surrounding bamboo gardens before marveling at the elegant theater adorned with golden murals and chandeliers . French Riviera ? Paris brings the beach to you . Let 's be realistic , not everyone has pockets deep enough for a vacation in the south of France . Never fear , Paris has it covered , bringing 5,000 tons of sand and nearly 100 palm trees to the banks of the Seine each summer . Ok , so it 's not quite the Mediterranean . But there 's still volleyball , giant sprinklers , and live jazz -- and all within the heart of one of Europe 's biggest cities . Go hunting for a secret underground river . But the Seine is n't Paris ' only river . There 's another secret stream flowing deep under the streets -- if you know where to look . Centuries ago the Bièvre river wound its way through the city , becoming a polluted dumping ground for businesses , eventually sealed-up in 1912 . Today , walking tours follow plaques marking the hidden river route . You do n't need to go to the Louvre to see amazing art . You could line up for three hours to get into the world 's most visited museum . Or you could wander the city at leisure , taking in some of the most skilful street art in Europe . If you want to see more than just the usual Banksys or pixelated mosaic `` space invaders , '' then there are plenty of walking or cycling tours to give you an in-depth tour of Paris ' more obscure murals . See : Ghost stations to get stunning second life ? Watch : Keeping it in the Longchamp family .
Paris is n't the most fashionable city in the world . But here 's why it 's the coolest . It has a lot of old buildings, and they're all pretty cool. Top tips : Partying in derelict mansions , or watching indie films in antique pagodas .