The hilltop suburb where Port-au-Prince's middle and upper classes live, and the most functional part of the metropolitan area for travelers. At 900 metres above sea level it is noticeably cooler than the lower city, and its tree-lined streets, galleries, restaurants, and supermarkets feel like a different world. Many of the country's best restaurants are here, and the art scene — galleries selling Haitian paintings, metalwork, and sculpture — is concentrated in Pétion-Ville more than anywhere else in the city.
Place Boyer is the central square, with cafes and restaurants on its edges and a small market. The gallery scene is strong: La Galerie Monnin on Rue Magny is one of the oldest and most respected, representing established Haitian painters. For travelers, Pétion-Ville is the safest and most comfortable base in the metropolitan area.