It’s hard to do Paris wrong. Despite being the most romanticised city in the world, the City of Light rarely disappoints, with Paris home to world class museums and galleries, Hausmann and Belle Epoque architecture, and stretches of luxury boutiques, not to mention a plethora of gustatory delights. However, it’s not just the well-documented tranche of heritage institutions worth visiting; there is a rising scene of contemporary icons lending cultural clout to the mecca of culture.
Take, for example, the collaboration between Hôtel de Crillon and The Skateroom. The hallowed halls of the heritage hotel are bedecked in, well…decks, with an exhibition that pays homage to the indisputable role skateboarding has played on youth and street culture. And while steak frites is often cited as a Parisian staple, those in the know are gravitating towards restaurants that take a more global approach to their palates; Carla Rebeiz’s Eats Thyme, Mory Sacko’s MoSuke, and Mayfrid and Ingrid Chehlaoui’s Kubri among them. Our Paris destination guide covers everything you need to know about where to stay, eat, and shop, as well as what to do and see in the French capital.
Where to stay in Paris
Saint James Paris
A stately property nestled in a quiet enclave of the 16th, Saint James Paris feels more like staying in a chic friend’s country estate than a luxury hotel. Yet, the majestic residence doesn’t lose any of its grandeur in the cultivation of intimacy, with stunning architecture, curated interiors, and a beguiling library bar, and the in-house Guerlain Spa offering splendour and charm in spades.
Price: from $1100AUD/night
Address: 5 Pl. du Chancelier Adenauer, Paris, France
Explore and book Saint James Paris here.
La Fantaisie
One of our favourite boutique hotels, La Fantaisie is a masterclass in whimsical and fanciful design. Something of a visual feast, its colourful, heavily patterned interiors make for an optical experience at every turn, while the underground spa is the ideal place to take respite after a long day of pounding the pavement.
Price: from $600AUD/night
Address: 24 Rue Cadet, Paris, France
Explore and book La Fantaisie here.
Hôtel Madame Rêve
While a relatively new addition to the 1st arrondissement, Hôtel Madame Rêve already feels like something of an institution. Holding court within the Louvre Post Office, it offers unparalleled views of the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre (internal rooms face the garden) while acting as a quiet escape from the hoards of tourists thronging the city.
Price: from $830AUD/night
Address: 48 Rue du Louvre, Paris, France
Explore and book Hôtel Madame Rêve here.
What to do and see in Paris
Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature
Also known as the museum of hunting and nature, the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature displays the impressive private collection of French entrepreneur François Sommer within the resplendent surrounds of a particularly impressive hotel particulier in Le Marais. Amongst the paintings and tapestries of nature and slightly eerie taxidermied animals, there are often also ephemeral artworks produced by contemporary artists which preclude the museum from ever getting too staid.
Address: 62 Rue des Archives, Paris, France
Musée des Arts Décoratifs
Home to an impressive array of French furniture, tableware, and objets d’art, from antique to modern, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs is a haven for design lovers.
Address: 107 Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France
Ballet at the Palais Garnier
Classic is classic for a reason. For those who enjoy surrounding themselves with beauty in every form, attending a ballet at the Palais Garnier is an essential experience; not only for the on-stage display but for the opulent Napoleonic architecture of the structure it’s performed in.
Address: Pl. de l’Opéra, Paris, France
Farmers markets
While there’s no shortage of exalted restaurants to visit in Paris, a visit to the local farmers markets is the fastest ticket to feeling like a local. Pick and choose an array of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and chocolates to create a picnic spread. We’d recommend Marché Raspail — located in the 6th arrondissement, it’s a short walk away from the Jardin du Luxembourg. Alternatively, try the Marché Couvert des Enfants Rouges in Le Marais, with the market named so for its close proximity to the Hospice des Enfants Rouges, an orphanage where children were separated into ‘red’ or ‘blue’ children — the former term for those whose mothers died during childhood and the latter for those found abandoned.
Address: Bd Raspail, Paris, France; 39 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris, France
Where to shop in Paris
Home to the likes of Jaeger-LeCoultre, Rolex, Piaget, Cartier, and Hublot, Place Vendôme is the undeniable centre of watches and high jewellery. However, for something different, we’d recommend bypassing the well-shopped path in favour of outposts offering some vintage flavour. Charly La Passion Des Montres has a solid selection of lesser seen vintage wristwatches, while Joseph Bonnie is home to both vintage and new microbrand pieces (as well as a solid lineup of watch straps and accessories).
For menswear, pay a visit to Octobre Éditions, the brother brand to cult-favourite women’s label Sézane. Those in favour of minimalist styles would do well to check out Drapeau Noir, which focuses on staples crafted from fabrics sourced in Japan.
Catering to men and women alike, a curated, multi-brand experience can be found at Dover Street Market Paris.
Sézane remains a quintessential stop for those in search of sartorial je ne sais quoi, while vintage store Nuovo is curated based on vibes, not brands — think y2k hot girl summer, done Parisian style. The Instagram-initiated already know that Jeanne Damas’ Rouje is one to hit up, while handbag lovers should check out the Polene flagship.
For ceramics, homeware, collectibles, and other objets d’art, pay a visit to Carron Paris, Alix D. Reynis, Astier de Villatte, and Merci. Even if you’re more into coffee than tea, Mariage Frères is well worth a visit; in addition to walls lined with beautifully packaged tea, there’s also a museum and salon where one can sample the wares.
Where to dine in Paris
Le passage à niveau
One of a series of restaurants that have cropped up along disused sections of Parisian railway lines, Le passage à niveau is the antithesis to storied bistros staffed by haughty waiters. Decidedly unpretentious, Le passage à niveau serves up seasonal fare (and yes, steak frites is often on the menu) utilising produce from the on-site vegetable patch, alongside a curated wine list.
Address: 2A Rue de l’Ourcq, Paris, France
Mosuke
Michelin-starred MoSuke by Mory Sacko pays tribute to the chef’s Malian and Senegalese roots, with Japanese flair and Gallic techniques mixed in. The result is an inspired cacophony of flavour where every bite is unexpected — for context, the Madagascan chocolate pie is accompanied by a sinus-clearing hit of wasabi ice cream.
Address: 11 Rue Raymond Losserand, Paris, France
Eats Thyme
Lebanese classics reimagined for the contemporary era make for a casual lunch or dinner spot at Eats Thyme, located in the heart of the 1st arrondissement.
Address: 44 Rue Coquillière, Paris, France
Loulou
Done, but not overdone. A meal at Loulou never disappoints, thanks to both its well-executed takes on French and Italian classics as well as its housing within the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
Address: 107 Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France
Raviolis Nord Est Les Halles
Meat- and cream-heavy Gallic cuisine can wear on the waistline, so once you tire of that, head to Raviolis Nord-Est. Serving up ‘Chinese ravioli’ (i.e. dumplings), Raviolis Nord-Est delivers simple fare at unbeatable prices (€5 for ten dumplings).
Address: 115 Rue Saint-Denis, Paris, France
Where to caffeinate in Paris
Dreamin’ Man
Hypebeasts, hipsters, creatives, intellectuals, and crossovers of the above will find themselves at home at Dreamin’ Man. Located at the end of the 11th, founder Yuichiro Sugiyama serves up pour-overs, espresso, and lattes while his girlfriend Yui Matsuzaki, a pastry chef, is responsible for a selection of sweets that don’t disappoint.
Address: 140 Rue Amelot, Paris, France
Ralph’s Coffee
If you’re going to blaspheme, you might as well do it in style. Sitting within the Parisian Ralph Lauren flagship, Ralph’s Coffee delivers a heady dose of Americana suffused with Parisian style. A chic space, it’s also one of the few places you can order a cappuccino without being scoffed at.
Address: 173 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris, France
Cafe Kitsuné
Despite being the brainchild of much-hyped lifestyle brand Maison Kitsuné, the crowd at Cafe Kitsuné is predominantly composed of locals. There are four locations in Paris, we’re partial to the one in the Tuileries.
Address: 208 Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France
Words by John Deckard
Feature image courtesy of Andrea Maschio
