Visitor's Guide to Paris

My favorite places in my favorite city.
Non-Negotiables
  • Feed ducks in Tuileries
  • Watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle from the Seine
  • Stroll around Montmartre, see the Sacré-Cœur
Things To-Do (Random)
  • Watch a ballet at Palais Garnier (go to the box office for rush tickets)
  • See a classical music concert at the Panthéon
  • Visit inside the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
  • Picnic in Place de Vosges or Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
  • Les Puces de Saint-Ouen (huge flea market right outside of Paris open weekends
  • Walk around Luxembourg gardens
  • Moulin Rouge: Think Cabaret meets the Rockettes Christmas Special. Tickets sell out months in advance, so plan ahead.
  • Shakespeare and Co.: touristy but wonderful American bookstore right next to the Notre Dame.
  • Explore the Ritz hotel (afternoon tea, Bar Hemingway)
  • Watch the sunset on top of the arc de Triomphe
  • Bike around the city using Lime
  • See a concert at L’Olympia
My Favorite Museums
  • Petit Palais: free and tiny. check out the courtyard.
  • Rodin: on a beautiful day.
  • L’Orangerie: if you want to see the water lillies.
  • Musée Marmottan: if you like all things Monet.
Restaurants
  • La Maison Rose: Picteresque restaurant in Montmarte, go for cocktails.
  • Le Souffle: Tiny local French restaurant in the Madeleine neighborhood.
  • Early June: wine bar and restaurant that regular switches traveling chefs.
  • Brasserie Lipp: elegant french brasserie with amazing history
  • Ferdi: Cool, trendy place for the best burger of your life. Make sure you get a reservation in advance.
  • Au Bon Accueil: French restaurant right by the Eiffel tower
  • Les Relais de l’Entrecote: Touristy, but worth it. There’s usually a line so bring bottles of wine for your wait.
  • Le Train Bleu: Touristy, but beautiful French restaurant inside of an old train station.
  • Noto: for a bday party (turns into a club)
  • Au Pied de Cochon: Again, touristy but worth it. White table french restaurant serving dinner until 5am.
  • Restaurants for Eiffel tower views: Bambini, Girafe, Au Bon Acceuil
Bars
  • Bar Hemingway- Pricey, but once in a lifetime. Named after Hemingway after he came to the Ritz with tanks at the end of WWII to "liberate the hotel from the Nazis". There were no Nazis there when he arrived that day, so he just ran up a tab for 51 martinis instead.
  • Bar les Ambassadeurs- Pricey and you to wait in line, but beautiful interior reminiscent of Versailles and live jazz on Fridays.
  • Galways Irish Pub- classic Irish pub, great place to make friends over a pint.
  • Ferona- wonderful happy hour on a sunny day.
To dance the night away
  • Le Caveau de la Huchette: Jazz bar to dance in in the Latin Quarter. Touristy (it was in la la land), but wonderful
  • Boum Boum: Crazy club to dance until 6am. Best on Sundays.
  • Silencio: Artsy, cool, local club.
  • L’arc and Deflower: If you want the luxury club experience, perfect for celebrity sightings during fashion week.
Specific Foods Items
  • Ham and cheese croissants: Ritz Le Comptoir (also really good Madeleines)
  • Cream Puffs: Dunes Blanches (so good)
  • Hot Chocolate: Carette
  • Steak Frites: Les Relais de l’Entrecote
  • Onion soup: Le Comptoir de Gastronomie
  • Burgers: Ferdi
  • Baguette sandwiches: Le Petite Vendome
  • Souffle: Le Souffle
Shopping
  • Thrifting: The Marais
  • Food: Galeries Lafayette Food
  • Luxury: Rue Cambon (start by Chanel)
  • Somewhere with everything: Galeries Lafayette and Printemps (they’re right next to each other)
  • Lingerie: Fifi
  • Evening gown dress rentals: Une Robe Une Soir
Gift Ideas
  • Dog Paintings in Montmartre
  • Butter from Le Bon Marché
  • Custom Dior lip glosses from Galeries Lafayette
  • Books from Shakespeare and company (get them stamped)
Day Trips
  • Epernay: in the Champagne Region, taste champagne in vineyards and château all day
  • Giverny: Monet’s gardens and apartment
  • Chantilly: make your own whipped cream
Overrated (in my opinion)
  • Cafe de Flore/Les Deux Magots: Stroll by or grab a drink if you're interested in the history behind these cafes, but skip the food.
  • Angelina- Carette hot chocolate and boulangerie treats are better
  • Walking down the Champs d’Elysee: Going to the arc is a non-negotiable, but you the Champs d’elysee is kinda boring and not all that special.
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