As I write this article, I am still coming off the high of one of the best trips of my life, something I do not say lightly. By how mesmerized I was by the Ville Lumiere, you would assume it was my first time there. However, I had visited once before, 14 years ago, on a trip that ended with a negative perception. Said impression was caused by having visited in a tour where time was restricted, touristy spots were in order, and opportunities to experience the culture and food of the city were limited. Therefore, I was fortunate to visit again at 29 and see the city at my own pace. It led to a marvelous experience and plenty of recommendations I am bringing you today.
Stay at:
Place Vendôme: Place Vendôme is in Paris' 1st Arrondissement and is known for its luxury and jewelry shops. I stayed at Hotel Castille, which was small, cozy, and had the kindest staff. Not only was it beautiful, but the location was unmatched: it was located between Chanel's headquarters and flagship store, in front of the Ritz Hotel, and just minutes away from the Jardin des Tuileries, the Louvre, The Musee de L'Orangerie, the Opera Garnier, and many restaurants and shops.
Eat at:
Maison de la Truffe: We went here for our first meal in Paris. The restaurant is small but beautiful, and no detail is out of place. The menu, as the name of the restaurant shares, is truffle-based. I highly recommend the fried brie cheese, the fettuccine creme a la truffle with duck foie gras, and my favorite, the risotto a la truffle with scallops.
Café de La Rotonde: One of my friends recommended a local spot in the Montparnasse quarter. According to her, this is a quintessential Parisian brasserie where the likes of Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron can be spotted. In the past, it also served as a gathering place for now-famed intellectuals living in the city. Aside from its illustrious list of diners, the food was also exceptional. This is a great place to try staples like escargots, onion soup, and entrecôte.
Breizh Café: Recommended by locals and tourists alike, Breizh is a great option to eat crepes away from the crowds. They have several locations around the city, but I enjoyed the ones in Odeon and Batignolles. Try the raclette, chorizo, or pastrami crepes if you want something savory. And to satisfy a sweet craving, try the honey crepe and add a scoop of Madagascar Vanilla ice cream. It truly is a delicacy.
Les Chimères: If you are promenading around le Marais, you will probably be charmed by the beautiful facade of this brasserie. I went here with a friend, and I, again, had a delicious entrecôte. It is an excellent idea if you are in the area and other popular spots (like L'as du falafel) are packed. It has a lively ambiance in a busy street, good service, and good food. Beaupassage: A gastronomy-dedicated spot in the 7th arrondissement, mixing architecture, greenery, and art. At this place, you will find different restaurants (try the breadmakis of Thierry Marx, one of the city's renowned boulangers) and cafés (order the Kyoto latte at Arabica, you won't regret it).
Marcel: They have other locations in the city, but we loved the one in Montmartre. It is on a quiet street, far away from the crowds that visit the famous neighborhood. I recommend sitting outside, trying the truffled quesadillas, and people-watching (especially those visiting the Hotel Particulier!)
Drink at:
The Ritz Bar: I know I am probably abusing the word "favorite" in this blog. However, I am not lying when I say the cocktails at the Ritz are exquisite. The bar offers a menu of zodiac-inspired signature drinks, where each sign represents a flavor. In addition to the perfectly paired and blended flavors, the way they are presented is also flawless. A tip for this bar is to dress more on the elegant side + try to walk through the hotel after you are done.
Créatures: This is probably a more mainstream option, as it is located on the rooftop of the Galleries Lafayette. However, the views are unparalleled, and the cocktails are good. We tried their version of the mule and the Aperol spritz, which we sipped with a beautiful view of the roofs of Paris.
Have coffee or hot chocolate at:
Le Comptoir by the Ritz: I had a traditional petit-dèjeuner made of a croissant and a cup of coffee. Also, I enjoyed the sleek but feminine design of the place.
Joyeux Cafe: a place where coffee is actually good. I had a vanilla ice latte and a chocolate chip cookie, the perfect boost for an unexpected work request.
Carette: People say it has the best hot chocolate in Paris, and it was definitely delicious. Surprisingly, the Montmartre location does not get too packed during the weekends, so you can sip your chocolate with a side of macarons and street art.
Have dessert at:
At well-known Angelina I had a hot chocolate overshadowed by a spectacular caramel macaron. On the other hand, Pierre Hermè is a more touristy chain you will find around the city. Still, their crème bruleé macaron was also delicious. And at Yann Couvreur, you will discover tasty and visually striking viennoiseries. I loved the pistachio and Nutella croissant, but I would have loved to try everything they had on display.
Explore:
I will refrain from recommending the usual spots we all have at least heard about and focus on less popular ones. For instance, I could not recommend the Musee de L'Orangerie enough. Besides its main attraction, the giant water lilies from Monet hang from a unique oval room; this little museum has a collection that I think has a perfect size. I truly learned and enjoyed it without being overwhelmed by the amount of work that other museums display. You will find pieces from Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne, Marie Laurencin, and others here.
Another museum I genuinely loved was the Musée Rodin. Besides the hotel showcasing many of his works, my favorite part was its sculpture garden. This space combines wonderfully art and nature, filling the greenery with some of his most important works, like Le Penseur (The Thinker). Additionally, there is an outdoor gallery with some of his unfinished or discarded marble works.
The Musée Rodin is also close to other sites worth seeing, such as the Chapelle de la Medaille Miraculeuse (a beautiful little chapel dedicated to the Virgin of the Miraculous Medal), Les Invalides (Napoleon's resting place), and two of my recommended places for shopping: Sezane and Le Bon Marché. Besides, the streets around there are very charming.
Lastly, Place des Vosges was literally the last place I visited before leaving Paris, and it left me wanting more. I was there for only a few minutes because I needed to catch my flight, but this square's red brick structures, park, and inviting stores blew me away. Located in the Marais, between the 3rd and 4th arrondissements, it is known for its symmetry and for once being the home of Victor Hugo, author of one of my favorite books, Les Miserables.
That's just a little summary from a city that offers it all. Happy to expand and give more details.
In the meantime, here is the playlist. Enjoy!
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