Paris

Written By Elizabeth & Porter

Paris is the city of love, food, fashion, rich history and culture. P and I have had the luxury of visiting Paris on several occasions. There is so much to see, do and eat in Paris, so it is nearly impossible to achieve everything on your first visit. Here is a list of our bougie (on a budget) recommendations to ensure an absolument parfait time.

Eat

  • Cafe De Flore- This is a great “I just arrived in Paris” cafe, to make you feel the best vibes

  • Chez Julien- We recommend this spot for lunch or dinner. Come here for absolutely divine (and authentically French) eats. 

  • Le Petit Celestin- Looking for the local experience? Check out this bistro. Entertaining wait staff and authentic faire make this place one of my absolute favs.  

  • Le Clown Bar- For adventurous foodies and intricate concoctions, visit this thrilling spot. Menu highlights include the veal brain, pigeon and duck foiegras. Yep, this place is not your average bistro.

  • Pour le dessert parfait (that means perfect….!)

    • Ladurée - You must get Ladurée macaroons while in Paris. We recommend the location on Champs Elysse. This is their flagship store, truly gorgeous and impressive. 

    • Pierre Herme - Be bougie, head to Pierre Herme for intricate macaroons with vibrant colors and flavors. Check out this Pierre Herme store next to the Ritz Paris.

    • La Tarte Tropezienne- P and I stumbled upon this patisserie, serving a Southern France delicacy the tarte tropezienne. This French Riviera dessert is a brioche pastry filled with vanilla and lemon cream. The cake was designed for the actress Bridgett Bardout for her birthday when she visited the south of France to film the movie And God Created Woman in 1955. 

Drink

  • To digest your fabulous dinner, head to 38Riv Jazz Bar - Marais, great jazz and underground, feels like the film midnight in Paris!

  • For a quick cocktail hidden from plain sight, check out the speakeasy Moonshiner 

  • For a celebrity spotting, grab a drink at hotel costes  (literally, we saw Ryan Seacrest here!)

Stay

Paris is a big city, so it is very important you stay in the right location to have access to Paris’s best and finest attractions. We recommend our visitors stay in either Le Marais or Saint Germain des Pres. A few of the cutest Parisian hotels are below!

Equally, there are loads of wonderful Air BnB accommodations in Paris. If you have a group of three or more, an apartment is likely the best value for money. Here is a great article from TimeOut which selects some of the best Air BnB’s in Paris.

Do & See

Paris is known as the fashion capital of the world. Why may you ask? The history of fashion in Paris is too long and complex for me to fully capture, but here is what you need to know….Textiles and clothing have always been viewed as a valuable economic stream for the country and a mechanism for exercising power. Political leaders dating back to Louis XIV used fashion to exercise political control over aristocrats. Since the 18th century it was common for wealthy Europeans to travel to Paris for dress tailoring and unique designs. And in the 19th century, Paris was considered the epicentre for the rise of haute couture. It is for these reasons we recommend that our followers visit Paris and spend time shopping!

Shop

    • Boutiques- You can’t walk around Paris without seeing the sweetest small shops. After all our visits to Paris, there are really three areas we recommend you visit to shop small, local and perfectly chic. These areas are:

      • Le Marais 

      • Saint Germain des Pres

      • Montmarte

Here is a list of some of our favorite boutiques

      •   Allison - Where you can find the perfect wardrobe addition and forever say “oh this?! I got it in Paris!” 

      • Chattelles- for the most perfect little Parisian flats

    • Department stores

      • Le Bon Marche- Make sure to stop by the Bon Marche food market for French gourmet items that make great gifts or treats

      • Galeries Lafayette- This stunning art nouveau building is more art gallery than department store! Come check out the glass dome and make sure to venture up to the 7th floor for panoramic views of Paris.

      • Le BHV Marais  - Pre or post dinner check out the rooftop bar Le Perchoirfor for cocktails and the most spectacular view of the city 

There is so much beauty to see in Paris. Here are the monuments and museums you MUST see, in no apparent order.

  • The Louvre Museum- When visiting Paris, you must stop at the Louvre. It is impossible to see everything in Paris’s largest art museum, but stopping through even a few of the Louvre’s impressive exhibits will lift your spirits. My favorite parts of the Louvre include the Egyptian antiquities section with mummies from c. 100 AD, the portrait gallery and of course the Salle des États where you can find the iconic Mona Lisa. While some may think viewing the Mona Lisa is overrated, I can tell you she is truly magnificent and well worth visiting.  

    The Louvre has a variety of cafes for you to grab a quick coffee or croissant while you continue venturing through the galleries. There is a free locker rental in the basement of the Louvre where you can easily leave your bags before entering the museum. Once I stopped by the Louvre before my Eurostar back to London. Leaving my bags here allowed me to explore with ease. I highly recommend!

  • Tour Eiffel - Of course, you must visit the Eiffel Tower! This rot iron lattice structure is probably why you wanted to visit Paris in the first place. I have seen the Eiffel Tower several times and once even climbed up to the top. Having done this, I can say with confidence I don’t recommend it. For those that are afraid of heights, definitely don’t go up the tower. For those that are a bit more bold, I still don’t think it is worth your time or money. I prefer a Parisian view that includes the Eiffel Tower. When you are up in the tower, you can’t see it (duh, but I still think this is worth mentioning). 

    • When to visit? Afternoon or evening, the tower is spectacular. I recommend visiting it at least twice during your stay in Paris. 

      • Afternoon- Make a picnic with wine and cheese or grab a fresh crepe from a parisian creperie stand while sitting on the beautiful gardens in front of the tower.

      • Evening- Before a night out, pop over to the tower and try to catch the light show. In the evening, the Eiffel Tower sparkles and shines with gilded splendor every hour on the hour. This is magical. 

  • Sacre-Coeur- This iconic Roman Catholic Basilica sits high above the city of Paris in the artist neighborhood of Montmartre. The outside and inside of the church are equally impressive. When visiting, we recommend you take the Funicular up to Montmartre, explore the vintage shops and restaurants and then make your way to Sacre-Coeur. In front of the basilica there is a set of stairs that are the perfect place to sit for beautiful views of the city. On your way down, make sure to stop by and take a quick picture of Moulin Rouge the famous cabaret house and inspiration behind the broadway musical and film. 

  • Arc de Triumph- Visit the arc de triumph for the best views of Paris. After or before a day of shopping on the Champs Elysee, visit the arc for must have shots of Paris, from all angles. Trust me, it’s worth it. 

  • See the city by boat! The Batobus offers daily unlimited tickets that take you from one destination to the next with ease and comfort. I love the batobus, because I am able to continue seeing the sites while I travel across the city. You can hop on and off as much as you like with a day pass of c. 17 euros. 

“We’ll always have Paris”

says Humphrey Bogart in the classic film Casablanca. And it’s true. No matter what age you visit and with whom, your time in Paris is sure to leave you blissfully content, with memories that are sure to last a lifetime.

All our recommendations can be saved to your google maps with our shared list available here.

Elizabeth & Porter