The tavern where Nobility of Paris congregate in the evenings should be placed just outside the city walls, on one of the roads.  There is one road that runs along the Seine to the south east and is Ideal.  As the ship will come in from the west it won't be able to cross the bridges to sail to that side of Paris.  This means the characters will have to walk to the tavern.  This provides the GM with more opportunities for encounters.