Two Art Galleries on Île Saint-Louis: A Conversation
Two Art Galleries on Île Saint-Louis: A Conversation
Île Saint-Louis fits in a few streets. You enter through Pont Marie, leave by accident, and always come back. Between 17th-century mansions and terraces that watch the Seine, two contemporary art galleries have set up shop two minutes apart. We sat down with both gallerists for a conversation about Paris, accessible art, and the gallerist’s craft.
Two galleries, 200 meters apart
At 21 rue Le Regrattier, Le 33 mai has been showing exhibitions since 2021 that pair painters with sculptors, in an intimate space that changes every month. At 64 rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, La Chocolaterie Art Gallery brings together a family of five artists around original works starting at $40.
Two galleries, two stories, two ways of inhabiting the same neighborhood.
Le 33 mai: the gallery that changes every month
Le 33 mai has made rotation its signature. Every four to six weeks a new show takes over, almost always a duo with one painter and one sculptor. The gallery also champions corporate art programs, supports artists with their communication, and hosts literary evenings.
“What I love about the duo format is the resonance that builds between two sensibilities. A painting and a sculpture in dialogue tell a story a solo show never could.”
Agnès JANIN — Le 33 maiLa Chocolaterie Art Gallery: a family of artists under one roof
Opened in 2025, La Chocolaterie brings together a family of five artists: Arnaud Picaud, Dinorah de León, Marcelo de León, Andrea Piñeiro, and Mauricio de León. The gallery sells only original artworks in different techniques, styles, and formats. Open every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“When you walk in, you always meet one of the artists. It’s not a gallery where you flip through a catalog. It’s an open studio where we talk and share the story behind each canvas, because we believe that one of the aims of art is to connect people.”
Arnaud Picaud — La Chocolaterie Art GalleryWhy Île Saint-Louis?
“Île Saint-Louis still has a soul that few Paris neighborhoods have kept. The shops are independent, the people walking by take their time. It’s the opposite of a high street. For a gallery built around encounters, it’s the perfect ground.”
Agnès JANIN — Le 33 mai“I was looking for a place that didn’t look like anywhere else. Île Saint-Louis is a village in the middle of Paris. Tourists come for Berthillon or Notre-Dame, but they discover something different when they step through a gallery door. For original art that has to meet its owner, that happy accident matters.”
Arnaud — La Chocolaterie Art GalleryYour vision of contemporary art in 2026
“Contemporary art doesn’t have to be intimidating. When a visitor tells me ‘I don’t know anything about art,’ I tell them they don’t need to. They just have to look. If a piece stops them, a dialogue has already started.”
Agnès JANIN — Le 33 mai“Too many galleries have become spaces you don’t dare to enter. We picked the opposite. No hidden prices, no salespeople in suits, no barriers. Just a warm and welcoming place where art can be discovered naturally, without pressure:”
Arnaud — La Chocolaterie Art GalleryThe experience you want to offer visitors
“An experience that changes every visit. A show never stays longer than six weeks. Regulars come back precisely for that. Add the perfume workshops, the reading nights, the openings, and you have a real living space, not just a gallery.”
Agnès JANIN — Le 33 mai“A human experience. Meeting an artist, understanding the work, sometimes seeing a piece being born in the studio next door. And leaving with something authentic that you’ll see on your wall for years.”
Arnaud — La Chocolaterie Art GalleryThe advice you’d give a first-time art buyer
“Don’t buy art to decorate, buy it because a piece stopped you. If you’re still thinking about a painting three days later, that’s the one. Budget comes second.”
Agnès JANIN — Le 33 mai“Visit several galleries, compare, ask questions. Ask if the work is an original, who the artist is, what the story behind it is. A gallery that answers honestly is a gallery where you can buy with confidence.”
Arnaud — La Chocolaterie Art GalleryHow to visit both galleries in one afternoon
Île Saint-Louis takes fifteen minutes to cross on foot. Here’s a simple loop to discover both galleries in under two hours.
| Stop | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Le 33 mai | 21 rue Le Regrattier, 75004 Paris | Mon–Tue & Thu–Sat: 11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Wed/Sun by appointment. |
| Seine pause | Quai de Bourbon or Quai d’Orléans | Views of the Seine and Notre-Dame |
| La Chocolaterie Art Gallery | 64 rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, 75004 Paris | Every day, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Free entry. |
Metro: Pont Marie (line 7) or Cité (line 4), then a five-minute walk.
Tip: start at Le 33 mai early afternoon to catch the current show, walk across the island along the quays, then end the day at La Chocolaterie where you’ll usually find one of the artists in the gallery.
FAQ — Art galleries on Île Saint-Louis
How many art galleries are there on Île Saint-Louis?
For original contemporary art, two addresses stand out: Le 33 mai (rotating exhibitions) and La Chocolaterie Art Gallery (a family of artists, originals from $40).
Do I need an appointment to visit an art gallery in Paris?
Not here. Le 33 mai is open Monday to Saturday (except Wednesday by appointment) from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. La Chocolaterie Art Gallery is open every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., free entry, no booking required.
Can I buy an original artwork in Paris for under $100?
Yes. La Chocolaterie Art Gallery offers original works starting at $40. Le 33 mai shows pieces in a wider range, depending on the current exhibition.
What’s the difference between a tourist gallery and a contemporary art gallery?
A tourist gallery mainly sells reproductions, prints, or mass-produced decorative pieces. A contemporary art gallery sells original works, signed, with a certificate of authenticity. On Île Saint-Louis, Le 33 mai and La Chocolaterie Art Gallery belong to the second group.
Do Paris art galleries accept foreign credit cards?
Yes. Both galleries accept international cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex). La Chocolaterie Art Gallery prices its works in USD for its US clientele and ships internationally.
Is there VAT on art purchases at La Chocolaterie Art Gallery?
No. Because of the gallery’s tax status (franchise en base de TVA), no VAT is charged. The full payment goes directly to the artists.
Two galleries, one island, a thousand encounters
Île Saint-Louis hasn’t changed since the 17th century, or barely. What changes is the stories written here. Le 33 mai and La Chocolaterie Art Gallery are writing theirs, each in its own way, 200 meters apart.
If you’re planning a Paris visit, give yourself an afternoon on the island. Walk past Notre-Dame, cross Pont Saint-Louis, take in the Seine, and step inside both galleries. You’ll meet the people behind the work, and you’ll see what contemporary Paris really looks like when nobody’s putting on a show.
Plan your visit to La Chocolaterie
Open every day, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Meet the artists, browse originals from $40, ask anything. Free entry, no appointment needed.
Conversation recorded May 12, 2026 between (Le 33 mai gallery) and (La Chocolaterie Art Gallery), Île Saint-Louis, Paris.