At the very centre—the heart, soul and jewel of France, we find Paris . . . Paris in all of its overwhelming magic and allure. Paris that, perhaps of all places around the globe, of all the islands and coasts, extraordinary mountains, cities, and countrysides, might just be the most dreamed about of them all. And is it with any wonder? Enveloping the experience of l'art de vivre is a rosy hue, a hue only seen while you are there [long remembered and forever held in the heart], swept up in the magic of the city of lights. Here, for hundreds of years, thousands and thousands of visitors near and far have traveled to visit, to live, [even if just for the day] amongst all that is Paris.
Here we find perfectly imperfect cobblestone streets, many offset by poetically tilted and beautifully aged architecture, and as we walk, we quietly take in the unabashed beauty and élan, as elegant & effortlessly stylish women pass by; an older man, pedaling along on his bicyclette, en route to the barber may bring on a smile—indeed, a postcard sight; ladies immersed in each other's company, tucked in bold red chairs at a quaint café, back and forth they speak, in reverent conversation; or peek into the windows of elegantly merchandised shop windows, seductively showcasing handmade merchandise, created with skills perfected centuries ago. A host of streets may call you to stroll, looking up as you go, at the decorated facades, noticing a tiny pot with a cheerful blossom tucked into the tiniest of nooks. Not so unlike Paris, where charm abounds—charm and quality, hand in hand—be it fine foods or perfumes, fundamental manners & etiquette, or tying a scarf with flair.
Perhaps it's passion? Perhaps it's Paris. A city unlike any other, Paris calls creatives to create, lovers in love, and explores to explore . . . for those with an appetite to discover and to learn may discover a convergence of past and present, and may lose themselves forever, never to be the same. And so, today we warmly invite you to join us as we visit some of the most memorable places, and share some of best kept secrets in our address book of Paris . . .
WHERE TO STAY
01 | Four Seasons Hotel George V : 31 Avenue George V 75008
02 | Hôtel Bellechasse : 8 rue de Bellechasse 75007
03 | Hôtel Crillon : 10 Place de la Concorde 75008
04 | Hôtel Lancaster : 7 Rue De Berri 75008
05 | Hôtel Lumen : 15 Rue des Pyramides 75001
06 | Hôtel Plaza Athénée : 26 ave. Montaigne 75008
07 | Hôtel Recamier : 3 Place Saint-Sulpice 75006
08 | Hotel Thoumieux : 79 Rue Saint-Dominique 75007
09 | L'hotel Particulier : 23 ave. Junot Pavillon D 75018
10 | La Belle Juliette : 92 Rue du Cherche-Midi 75006
11 | La Réserve Paris : 10 Place du Trocadéro et 3 Ave. d'Eylau 75116
12 | Le Royal Monceau : 37 Avenue Hoche 75008
13 | Maison Champs Elysées : 8 Rue Jean Goujon 75008
14 | Mandarin Oriental : 251 Rue Saint-Honoré 75001
15 | Murano Urban Resort : 13 Boulevard du Temple 75003
16 | Plaza Athenée : 25 Avenue Montaigne 75008
WHERE TO EAT
01 | Alain Ducasse Au Plaza Athénée : 25 Avenue Montaigne 75008
02 | Bagatelle : 42 Rue de Sèvres 75016
03 | Carette : 4 Place Trocadéro et 11 Novembre 75116
04 | Cristal Room Baccarat : 11 Place des États-Unis 75116
05 | Ferdi : 32 Rue du Mont Thabor 75001
06 | Huitrerie Regis : 3 Rue Montfaucon 75006
07 | Kei : 5 Rue Coq Héron 75001
08 | Kong : 1 Rue du Pont Neuf 75001
09 | Ladurée : [multiple locations]
10 | L'Arc : 12 Rue de Presbourg 75116
11 | Le Dali : 228 Rue de Rivoli 75001
12 | Le Clarisse : 29 Rue Surcouf 75007
13 | Le Grand Vefour : 17 Rue Du Beaujolais 75001
14 | Le Train Bleu : Gare de Lyon Place Louis Armand 75012
15 | Mini Palais : 3 Avenue Winston Churchill 75008
16 | One Place Vendôme Restaurant : 1 Place Vendôme 75001
17 | (Phantom) L'Opéra Restaurant : Place Jacques Rouché 75009
18 | Pierre Hermé : [multiple locations]
19 | Restaurant Maison Blanche : 15 avenue Montaigne 75008
20 | Vitelloni : 4 Rue Dupetit Thouars Carreau du Temple 75003
bakeries & tea shops
Fauchon : one of my favorites, love the prepared tea sandwiches/salads here; grab some and head to the Luxembourg Gardens.
Pierre Hermé : [also listed above] like a boutique, with 9 delicious éclairs -- the vanilla eclair is to die.
Mariage Frères : best tea shop in paris, always bring home some "wedding imperial tea"; I would suggest the location in the Marais
Café de Flore : I love going to Café de Flore—I know it's supposedly "touristy" but whenever I am there, it feels like you are seeing with the Sartorialist'ss eyeglasses and everyone there is French.
WHERE TO SHOP
01 | Anne Fontaine [clothing] : [multiple locations]
02 | Astier De Villatte [home accessories] : 173, rue Saint-Honoré 75001
03 | Blanc D'Ivoire [home décor] : [multiple locations]
04 | Chanel [fashion house] : [multiple locations]
05 | Chaumet [jewelry] : [multiple locations]
06 | Christian Liaigre [home décor] : [multiple locations]
07 | Christian Louboutin : [multiple locations]
08 | Christian Tortu : 5, Rue du Commandant Lamy 75011
09 | Cire Trudon [home accessories] : 78, Rue de Seine 75006
10 | Colette [concept store] : 213, Rue Saint-Honoré 75001
11 | Coté Bastide [lifestyle] : 4, rue de Poissy 75005
12 | Delisle [lighting] : 4, Rue Parc Royal 75003
13 | Dior [fashion house] : 30, Avenue Montaigne 75008
14 | Eres [lingerie, swimwear] : [multiple locations]
15 | Galeries Lafayette [department store] : 22 ,Rue du Départ 75015
16 | Le Petit Atelier de Paris [concept store] : 31, Rue Montmorency 75003
17 | L'autre Maison [home décor] : 54, Avenue La Motte Picquet 75015
18 | Maison Michel [milliner] : [multiple stores]
19 | Merci [concept store] : 111, Boulevard Beaumarchais 75003
20 | Mis En Demeur [home décor, accessories] : 37, Rue Bayen 75017
21 | Paul & Joe [fashion house] : [multiple locations]
22 | Perrin [fashion accessories] : 35, Rue des Petits Champs 75001
23 | Pierre Frey [home décor, fabrics, accessories] : 2, Rue Furstenberg 75006
24 | Pinel & Pinel [travel] : 22, rue Royale 75008
25 | Princesse Tam Tam [lingerie] : 19, rue Vieille du temple 75004
26 | Repetto [famous ballerinas] : 2, Rue de la Paix 75002
27 | Roger Vivier [fashion house] : 29, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré 75008
28 | Stern [paper goods] : 131, Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré 75008
chloé : 54/56, rue du faubourg saint-honoré 75008
isabel marant : 47, rue de saintonge 75003
vanessa bruno [french designer] : 100, rue vieille du temple 75003
printemps : [department store] : 64, boulevard haussmann 75009
ysl : 38, rue du faubourg saint-honoré 75008
lanvin : 22 and 15, rue du faubourg saint-honoré 75008
balenciaga : 10, avenue georges v 75008
VİNTAGE
free’p'star : 8 rue sainte croix de la bretonnerie 75004 & 61 rue de la verrerie 75004
yukiko : 97 rue vieille-du-temple
vintage : 32 rue des rosiers 75004
pretty box : 46 rue de saintonge 75003
esprit vinyle : 57 rue saintonge 75003
iglaine : 12 rue de la grande truanderie 75001
mamie : 73 rue de rochechouart 75009
mamie blues : 69 rue de rochechouart 75009
vintage desire : 32 rue des rosiers 75004
noir kennedy : 12 rue du roi de sicile 75004
WHAT TO SEE
01 | Arc de Triomphe [monument] : 36 Rue Pierre Demours 75017
02 | Assemblée Nationale [government building] : 126 Rue de l'Université 75007
03 | Basilique Sacré Coeur [church] : 35 Rue du Chevalier de La Barre 75018
04 | Centre Georges Pompidou [museum] : Place Georges Pompidou 75004
05 | Eiffel Tower [monument] : Parc du Champ de Mars 75007
06 | Jardin du Luxembourg [public park] : 5 Impasse Royer-Collard 75005
07 | La Gaîté Lyrique [art & music centre] : 3bis Rue Papin 75003
08 | Le Panthéon [monument] : Place du Panthéon 5e
09 | Les Invalides [mueum] : 129 Rue de Grenelle 75007
10 | Eglise de la Madeleine [church] : Place de la Madeleine 75008
11 | Louvre [museum] : Musée du Louvre 75058
12 | Musée D'Orsay [museum] : 62 rue de Lille 7534
13 | Notre Dame [church] : 6 Parvis Notre-Dame Place Jean-Paul II 75004
14 | Palais de Chaillot [museum] : 1 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre 75116
15 | Palais Royal [palace & gardens] : 25 Rue de Valois 75001
16 | Place de la Concorde [public square] : Place de la Concorde 75008
17 | Sorbonne [institution] : 1 rue Victor Cousin 75005
18 | Versailles [palace, gardens, museum +] : place d'armes 78000 [Versailles]
WHAT TO DO
* Indulge in a wonderful new haircut at the famous salon, Alexandre de Paris
* In the evening, attend a ballet performance at Opéra Bastille or Palais Garnier
* Take a walk through Parc Monceau [be sure to have your camera by your side]
* Wander up and down the fabulously chic Champs-Élysées
* Visit the local markets for fresh food and bouquets of flowers
* If you are feeling especially young at heart, visit Disneyland in Paris
* Take a whimsical ride on the sweetly adorned carousels
* Enjoy a mid-afternoon croissant or chocolate-topped waffle
* Get lost in the large Artcurial bookshop, with over 18,000 fascinating titles in stock
* Plan a romantic picnic and enjoy a lunch at the Parc du Champ de Mars
* Explore the flea markets for wonderful and unique treasures
* Spend an unforgettable day in Versailles, immersed in history
* Rent a bicycle and enjoy the city as locals do [also : velib]
* Put your map away, and get lost in the possibilities . . .
WHAT TO TAKE HOME
A large part of the charm and intrigue of Paris is, without a doubt, the careful construction and respect for tradition that goes into many of the products and services available. It is always lovely to bring a few items home to remind you of your beautiful Parisian adventures, whether handmade laces or carefully embroidered linens from Yves Delorme, a new favorite scent, or treasures found at a flea market. The possibilities are endless. Additionally, while walking along the Seine towards the Musée D'Orsay, you may fall in love with a subtle watercolor, being sold by a budding artist. Cards from your favorite shops, postcards, and other such fun snippets, collected throughout the trip, can certainly bring back wonderful memories of unforgettable experiences for years to come.
