My Favourite Places in Visit in Paris
Along with my favourite places to visit in Paris, I want to give you guys the background. I’ve visited Paris lots of times and I’ve been fortunate enough to visit with friends who are either real Parisians or who have lived/worked/studied in Paris to give me the inside scoop. I usually visit France every year – I’m a bit of a Francophile actually!
I wanted to write this post for you all to share my experience of Paris and so that you can have a bit of an authentic experience of the city. Hopefully you can take some of what’s included in this post, along with visiting the usual tourist attractions when you next visit.
When to visit Paris?
Paris is an amazing getaway for a weekend, there is always something to see. I think it’s great for when you don’t have much annual leave left but want to get away.
Season-wise, I prefer city breaks in the colder months, but I’d say that April/May is probably my favourite time, Paris is nice and sunny and not too hot.
This time around, I visited in January (my birthday is on the 19th – remember that). Unfortunately for me it decided to rain for 3 days straight when I arrived this year. We managed to get a 1 hour window on Sunday to shoot rain-free which was a Godsend!
Three words to describe Paris?
Urban, Effortless, Chic.
Whilst I consider London to be the fashion capital of the world (I have to say that as a Londoner) Paris really has the effortless chic style down. Nobody does this better than Parisians.
What do you love most about Paris?
I absolutely love the pavement cafés and the fact that Parisians will sit and eat outside even when it’s pouring down with rain and take it all in totally nonchalantly. I’m quite sure that the only people sitting inside are tourists.
I love French womens’ style and their laissez-faire attitude to make-up and beauty. It’s refreshing.
If my French was better (God knows it should be having had lessons since I was 4, sorry Mum) I’d have totally loved to spend some time working in Paris. Who knows, I still might!
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Most memorable Paris moments?
- Travelling to Paris by myself and staying at St Christopher’s Inn when I was a student was so fun and my first solo travel experience – everyone should try it when they can;
- One sunny day spent on the rooftop of my friend’s restaurant eating Thai food whilst the Parisians among us smoked lots of cigarettes;
- Seeing my friend’s husband in a play that was entirely in French, surprisingly I managed to follow the storyline;
- Zipping around the city on the back of a Vespa for a whistle-stop tour of the Parisian sights – it doesn’t get more French than that, does it?
Paris is a remarkable city of memories for me.
My Favourite Places to Visit in Paris to Eat
The important stuff. Food. In no particular order my favourite places in Paris to visit to eat:
A casual, no reservations restaurant, serving traditional bistro fare. Constant is an understated but authentic French place to eat. Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Try the grilled sea bream with pesto and button mushroom risotto, absolutely divine!
This is a speciality coffee shop in Montemarte serves amazing coffee and is also totally Instagrammable with its huge greenery wall. It totally helps that their coffee is also amazing. There’s lots of space to get ‘that shot’ before you sip your coffee. If the weather is warm, they open the floor to ceiling shop front too.
Kosyuen – 258 Rue Saint Honoré
When rich French cuisine gets too much, this Japanese tea house on Rue Saint-Honoré is an oasis – calm and soothing. Try the miso soup and onigiri combo or if you’re just stopping for something to drink, they make authentic matcha lattes and I can highly recommend the matcha madeleines that come with!
A French “institution” there is only one thing to tell the waitress, how you want your steak cooked. Nothing over medium well be accepted, I tried to order medium-well and was totally dismissed! Expect to queue for at least half an hour (even in the rain!) and don’t ask what is in the sauce that comes with the steak and pomme frites because it’s a secret.
There are lots of places where you can get a plain entrecôte and fries but this place isn’t it! Oh, and your food is served in ‘two halves’, so finish one plate and the next half will automatically served afterwards.
Where to take those Instagrammable Street Style shots:
The Eiffel Tower
You can take shots from the viewing platform, on the crossing near the carousel at the top or you can head down to Allée des Refuzniks at the foot of the tower way like I did in these shots.
Get a different angle by going to Avenue Silvestre de Say and getting a shot of the Eiffel Tower between buildings. If you want to get pics of the carousel and the Eiffel Tower, head to Promenade Quai Branly.
Insider tip: To our surprise, going early in the morning (“early” being 10am on a Sunday morning) there really weren’t many crowds and we got some great shots. Beware of the cars, we nearly got run over so many times! So worth it though #DoingItForTheGram haha
This much-instagrammed pink restaurant restaurant in Montemarte is so pretty and is another #DoingItForTheGram location. This is one of my favourite places in to visit in Paris.
Insider tip: Again, visit early if you can or even better early evening when the sun is setting at the end of the street.
Rue Cremieux, Quinze-Vingts quartier
Fast becoming the most instagrammed street it Paris, this street is so colourful and pretty its a great shot, even prettier in Paris.
Cafe Le Dome, Rue Saint-Dominique
This is a great place near the Eiffel Tower to great a spot of lunch and to get the classic French cafe shot. As with all Parisian cafés their are heaters outside so great for any weather. This is where I took my café shots:
My Favourite Places to Visit in Paris to Shop
Champs Elysees – Come on, this street obviously tops the list. It helps that you can stop for Lauderee Macaron on your way down the street too. there is also a huge Sephore, Louis Vuitton on the corner and every shop you could wish for
Rue Étienne Marcel – I love this area, such cute stores around here. Shinzo Paris for all the cool trainers in the world, around the corner at 64 Rue Tiquetonne, visit Killiwatch for the best vintage ever. On Rue Montemarte you should pay a visit to Comptoir des Cotonniers.
Nose is one of Paris’ prettiest boutiques and is such a cool concept on Rue Montorgueil. Home to perfume houses like Creed, fragrant Diptyque candles, handmade Swedish soaps and shelves filled with gorgeous glass bottles.
My Favourite Places in Paris to Stay
I love a hotel. I spend a lot of time researching hotels. Sometimes I like researching hotels more than I do the country! Well not quite, but I can check out the country when I get there, but I need to make a decision about my hotel before I arrive. Here are some of my favourite places in Paris to stay:
I love a hotel that caters to families with all the trimmings without expecting us to accept a lower standard just because we’re travelling with children. We stayed at this hotel in Bordeaux and the Paris equivalent is just as gorgeous and has a great location. Even if you’re not staying, go for brunch.
The Hoxton, 30-32 Rue De Sentier
Is recently opened in Paris. My friend Yod who runs brand agency and concept store, Yod and Co absolutely loves this place and I love the styling. Similar to the Hoxton and Shoreditch equivalents in London, it really works in Paris. Its such a stylish Hotel and they have great space to work in as well.
Is another family-friendly hotel and apartment location which caters to children. The apartments are sleek and have kitchenettes which is great for when you need a break from the bistro-life. They have a great concierge and a great location. I love the minimalist decor too.
I love Paris, and it’s such a great city to travel to with lots of culture – highly recommended and totally Instagrammable!
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