CITY GUIDE PARIS

©The Ritz

INTRODUCTION

Paris, the city of love. Whether you plan to come for a short weekend or a week-long getaway, Paris will not disappoint. Explore the different arrondissements, each with its own distinct personality; people-watch the café terraces and wander along the winding banks of the Seine. The French capital is filled with beauty and exciting things that await to be explored and inhaled.

HOTEL

Hotel Armour is a wonderful place to sleep and dream inspired by one of my favourite artists Mr. A. The hotel rightly bears its name, as love used to be sold in the former brothel on Montmartre Hill. In addition, you will find a lovely retro bistro and a green inner courtyard to leave the hustle and bustle of Paris behind. As suggested in other city guides, you will also find a 25hours Hotel, which brings together the different colours of our world in the midst of the 10th district, opposite the central Gare du Nord train station. Local heroes serve as the inspiration for the interior design, which also include a Neni restaurant serving its staple Israeli-Mediterranean cuisine and a nice bar for Negronis and Gin & Tonic named Sape. Alternatively, as you know, I am also a fan of Airbnb. I suggest to look out for a place to stay in Marais, from where you can perfectly set out to explore the city.

CAFÉ

Paris is known for its amazing café culture. Whether you are seeking a coffee to start the day, want to enjoy a glass of wine post-work or chocolat chaud in evening, there are countless spots around the city. Café De Flore and Les Deux Margots are two popular destinations in Saint German for typical bistro food. Alternatively, the Ralph Lauren Café Ralph’s is a hidden gem located within a courtyard serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Make sure to reserve well in advance to avoid waiting. In the hip and young Marais neighbourhood stop by at Café Pinson and Wild & The Moon. Both are trendy hotspots serving yummy vegan delights with sustainability in mind.

RESTAURANT

Alongside an outstanding selection of cafés, Paris does not fall short for amazing restaurants. Brasserie Lipp is a typical Parisian brassiere. Similarly, Chez L’Ami Jean in Saint Germain offers excellent French food and a classic Paris ambiance. Across the street, at Chez Huguette you will be able to enjoy brilliant seafood and dine in the style of a typical Deauville restaurant. Following the Mediterranean theme, Huguette is another beach-inspired restaurant serving good sea food. Furthermore, when it comes to seafood, Le Petit Marius, which is the little brother and more relaxed and budget-friendly version of Marius et Janette, are you best places to go. As the name suggests, at L'Entrecote, you will find your perfect entrecote including its world-famous sauce. Instead of steak, visit Fontaine De Mars if you are into chicken.

Away from the old-school wooden brasseries, visit Le Flandrin and Market, when you are after modern French cuisine. La Gare, which is located within an old train station, is a cool place to go for brunch or lunch. Verde and Jacopo are two Pan-Asian restaurants that are owned by Yeels and offer two ideal options before going out on the weekend. Continuing with Asian food, Taokan is probably the best Chinese in town and situated within a modern setting. Alternatively, Chez Ly and Lili, which is situated inside the Peninsula Hotel. In terms Japanese food, Orient Extreme and Takara are highly recommended.

Pastavino is a hidden Italian gem with only a handful of tables located on top of an Italian grocery. Le Grand Venise is an old-school Italian restaurant with brilliant food and atmosphere. Manko is known for its Peruvian food, while Rimal and Al Dar are top-notch Lebanese destinations. Speaking of Middle Eastern cuisine, L'As Du Fallafel apparently serves the “World’s best fallafel.” Given the long queues and wait at peak times on the weekend, this might be true. For all my vegan friends, Le Potager Du Marais is a lovely little vegan-only restaurant. In addition, Sol Semilla and Kitchen are serving delicious plant-based meals.

La Societe in Saint Germain, Le Murat in Auteuil and L’Avenue on Avenue Montaigne all belong to the Beaumarly Group owned by Costes family and welcome you in a chic atmosphere. Stop at L’Avenue to enjoy a plate of thin fries and a light salad to recharge you batteries before continuing your stroll down Avenue Montaigne.

NIGHTLIFE

There are number of places to dance and drink until the sun starts to rise again, no matter whether you are spending the night at one of the many cafes or visit a hidden speakeasy. Bar Hemmingway is an old-school spot inside The Ritz. Situated within the Costes Hotel, Café Costes is not only famous for its music mixtapes, but also for its cocktails and atmosphere. If you want to put on your dancing shoes stop by Club Matignon.

STORE

With Galeries Lafayette Haussmann and Le Bon Marché, Paris is home to two of the most beautiful department stores around the World. There are many stores and independent boutiques along Avenue Montaingue, Rue Sain-Honoré and scattered around the little streets of Marais. After the closure of the famous Colette, there will most probably never be a store of this kind again. However, Merci and The Conran Shop are two wonderful concept stores. In addition, The Broken Arm, Tom Greyhound and Yvonne Lambert Bookshop & Gallery are worth a visit. When it comes to finding your latest pair of sneakers and streetwear, there is NikeLab, Foot Patrol, Sneakersnstuff and Supreme, as well as local boutiques, such as Opium, Starcow, Shinzo, Club 75, Pigalle and Maison Kitsuné.

ACTIVITY

I believe the best way to explore a city is by foot. Whether you are going for a run in the morning along the Seine, or for a long stroll along the water, make sure to bring a pair of trainers to adventure around the streets of this majestic city. I am not necessarily the biggest fans of museums unless they host an exhibition that I find interesting. Of course, I admire the art they hold as well as the architecture of the buildings itself, yet visiting museums simply take up too much time and I find the groups of tourists annoying. While you are in Paris, you certainly cannot miss visiting the Louvre and its famous glass pyramid. It is certainly worthwhile viewing from the outside and strolling through its surrounding parks. In addition, Grand Palais, Petit Palais and the Pompidou are certainly worth to see. For the contemporary art lovers, Palais De Tokyo hosts a selection of modern and contemporary exhibitions, and is also home to Monsieur Bleu, which is lovely place for dinner and drinks. Make sure to hike up the stairs to Sacré-Coeur, take in the view across the city, as well as explore the surrounding Montemarte quartier. Furthermore, visiting the Sorbonne Observatory for stargazing is a wonderful experience, likewise watching a polo game at Polo de Paris in Bagatelle or a rugby game at Racing Club de France is a great way to spend an afternoon.