The 11th arrondissement is the perfect district if you want to get a real insight of a proper Parisian lifestyle.
This arrondissement in itself could be divided into several districts: from one street to another, you find yourself in a wealthy area or in a very modest zone with a strong ethnic minority presence (such as Ménilmontant and Belleville, where Chinese, Arabic and African communities coexists). Some corners of the 11th have a bad reputation in terms of safety, but the district is being taken over by hipsters and wealthier social classes at a high pace, which makes it one of the most dynamic and innovative areas of Paris.