At the intersection of the Rues de Sèvres and Babylone, there is a small park called Square Boucicaut, named after the founder of "Le Bon Marché", the very first department store ever built, whose structure was designed in 1869 by Gustave Eiffel.

Across the street, facing the Square Boucicaut, is the Lutétia, splendid Art Deco hotel, built in 1910. The hotel has welcomed Picasso, Matisse, André Gide and even Général de Gaulle on his wedding night. Joséphine Baker used to be a regular there with her many children during the “Années Folles” (the "Crazy Years" between the two World Wars). Today the hotel houses a permanent exhibition of sculptures by Chemiakin, Arman, Cesar, and Hiquily.

The western end of the Rue de Sèvres, with its numerous small stores, bakeries, and supermarkets, is by far the most commercial section, although the Bon Marché is located to the east. Along the Rue Mayet are nice assortment of arts-and-crafts shops, used book stores, and antique dealers.

The Rue du Cherche Midi has a number of good restaurants, and nice boutiques. Famous name brands are reserved to the Boulevard Raspail around the Lutetia.

Architecture in the area is a mixture of Art deco, probably influenced by the Lutetia, Haussmannian, and typical Parisian. Classical as well as whimsical towered buildings sprout up along the Boulevard Raspail, between dreary 70’s urban renewal glass and steel towers. Little gems from the 17 and 18th centuries hide along side streets like Rue de la Chaise, and the Rue Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle.

The area is worth a walk around, if not for the shopping then for the mix of buildings and atmospheres: Parts of Sèvres Babylone resemble a small village (for example, around the Rue Mayet is a street market, not far from the Bon Marché), and other parts an upper crust Rodeo Drive (around the Lutétia, for example) – not a bad blend for such a relatively small area.