My Master Guide to Paris
Bienvenue à my master list for my favorite city! It was time to take this baby off of a giant shared Google Doc and make it official. I am linking as much as possible so you can research these spots more yourself, but my Google Map I kept during my time living in Paris is linked at the bottom as well. Enjoy!
Favorite Museums:
MEP Photography Museum: my favorite museum in all of Paris. Original work from all the greatest big fashion and entertainment photographers throughout history cycle through!
Palais de Tokyo, Musee d'Orsay, Picasso Museum, Museé d'arte Moderne and The Louvre are my favs.
The Louvre: Everything you year about this museum is true. It is gorgeous in a way you didn’t know was possible and even if you lived in the city for years you probably wouldn’t see it all. Top things to hit are the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Crown Jewels and Pyramide Inversée. If you need a break, grab tea or hot chocolate from Angelina and have it out on the upstairs patio overlooking the pyramid and Louvre courtyard.
Be sure to walk out through the Tuileries Gardens after.
Also make sure to look up current art exhibitions at the Grand Palais to see if anything catches your eye. I saw a great photography exhibition there and also went ice skating inside in December - and at the very least make will want to make sure you see the Palais from the outside!
Activities
Eiffel Tower: my favorite view of it is from the steps of the Trocadero or the lawn of the Champ de Mars. In colder, winter months opt for the Trocadero for a picnic on the marble steps when the grass is wet. Go at sunset and bring fixings like wine, cheese and baguettes. If you forget anything, guys will be selling bottle openers, champagne and wine (for around €5). If you have time to pay to go up to the top, bring your own wine instead of buying it up there and try to go at sunset!
Pont Alexandre III: this is a must-see in my opinion. It is the famous bridge across from the Invalides. It's beautiful to walk around this area at sunset and explore the riverside. Faust, Showcase, FLOW Paris and Rosa Bonheur are a few of the many great boat-bars on the Seine river at Quai d'Orsay to grab a drink or bite at.
Notre Dame: worth seeing the inside slash if the line is short go up to see the gargoyles and views (hutch back of Notre Dame style) and the view from the top is one of my favorite in the city. *edit: I haven’t returned to Notre Dame since the 2019 fire so I am not sure when it will reopen to the public. </3
Square du Vert Galant: this is a tiny corner in the middle of the Seine on Pont Neuf- the perfect spot to sit, chill with a bottle of wine and baguette and watch the boats go by.
Champs Elysees: this is the famous walking street. Not my favorite part of Paris but is still a must-see for some people. Start at the Arc du Triomphe and be sure to go up it - it’s a killer 360-degree view of the city and the only part of this area I would 100% recommend. It’s free with a student ID card. After, you can walk from the Arc du Triomphe down the Champs Elysees past all the big shops and flagship stores in town.
At night, this area is where all the biggest clubs are. QUEEN was our favorite go-to as well as Le Duplex, Titty Twister and L'Arc. More in the clubs section!
The Marais: This is my very favorite neighborhood. The 3rd Arrondissement has the best shopping, vintage stores, restaurants, art galleries and quaint streets to explore. Make sure you stop by Chez Alain Miam Miam for a sandwich when you go here, and thank me later! Deets below in the “restaurants” section.
Jardin du Luxembourg: pack a picnic so pretty to chill in and watch kids race boats on the pond
Latin Quarter: start at Rue de la Huchette across the river from Notre Dame- love this area great for cheap eats and happy hours and is all pedestrian-only. It’s charming and very small, you can walk through all of it in about an hour! Stop by Shakespeare & Company for a new book and Odette for coffee and pastries in an adorable shop.
St Germain: very posh to "see and be seen". Ernest Hemingway was a regular at Cafe de Flore and Deux Magots. Go to cafe de Flore for a drink or coffee and people watch. Also, love Atlas and Le Hibou. There are also more upscale boutiques here.
Montmartre: Such a gorgeous arrondissement, rich in history and character and with the best views of the city. Make sure you go up to the top of the Sacre Coeur for some of the best views looking down on all of Paris. Stroll Rue de Abbesses, the famous Place du Terte square and Rue Lepic. Some of my favorite spots are Soul Kitchen, Galerie Montmartre, Lux Bar and La Maison Rose for lunch.
Restaurants
Derriere: A 3 story house turned restaurant. The space is funky and the food is amazing.
Restaurant Darocco: beautiful Italian
Pink Mamma, Ober Mamma or East Mamma: Owned by the same family and some of the best food and dining experiences I have had in my life. Both of these you have to get in line and put ur name in well ahead of time because there's no reservations but the wait is beyond worth it. Ober Mamma has a more “locals only” feel to it than the rest. Pink Mamma is the newest, super trendy inside and does take reservations.
Les Deus Magots: classic French institution in the St Germain district. Ernest Hemingway’s old stomping grounds. Next to Cafe de Flore, which is also famous for having high-profile writers and philosophers as their clientele.
A. Noste: southwestern French farm-to-table food in a cute ambiance
L'as du Fallafel: famous quick eat on the Rue de Rosiers, which used to be the heart of the Jewish district in Paris. There are tons of great middle eastern eats in the area, but this is known to be the best falafel in Paris by many, including Lenny Kravitz. Great pit stop for lunch on a Marais shopping day.
Chez Alain Miam Miam: This is an absolute must. Get his “special sandwich” its a grilled, messy, amazing work of art melted together with fresh ingredients and local prosciutto. Just tell him you want his special and let him work his magic. I still dream of this sandwich and have tried to recreate it many times. *His stall is in the Marche des Enfants Rouges but he apparently recently opened a storefront too.
Miznon: Delish Israeli restaurant, super close to L’as du Fallafel. For this spot though, make sure you get the whole cauliflower! Sounds odd but it’s amazing.
Chez Georges: classic French institution for a gorgeous French meal.
Septime: beautiful food and interior
Les Philosophes: classic French cafe — great for people watching!
Brunch & Cafes
On Rue Lucien Sampai (10th Arrondissement) there is a few great breakfast spots - grab coffee and a bite from one of them and explore the 10th one day. Its a gorgeous neighborhood and very hipster/up and coming. Top picks: Holybelly, Le Pouch, Bobs Juice Bar
Breakfast in the Marais: Lily of the Valley, Paperboy, Wild & the Moon, SEASON, Bobs Kitchen (was that when I went, now just called Kitchen but the menu looks the same - Vegetarian!)
Merci: this is another must. It is the best cafe, library and concept store and a great spot to take a pitstop during a day exploring the Marais.
La Cafeotheque: For the coffee connoisseurs: my photography teacher in Paris said this was the best coffee in the city and I couldn’t disagree. It’s not trendy, but just great coffee.
Briezh Cafe: best crepes in the city!
Bars
Every street corner is great for grabbing a drink and people watching, so you can’t go wrong wandering the city and picking spots with a street view to people watch for happy hour. As for more nightlife-style indoor bars, here are a few of my favorites!
On the Seine River at Pont Alexandre III:
Faust, FLOW Paris, Rosa Bonheur sur Siene are all clubs/bars on the river at Pont Alexandre III, a great spot to go out because its in a gorgeous location and easy to hop from one spot to the next. People bring bottles of wine and sit out on the water during sunset.
On the Seine River at Port de la Gare:
Wanderlust, Moon Roof Hooka Bar, Concrete, OFF and Nuba are bars and rooftops all in the same giant building of bars on the river.
Petit Bain: this bar has live music and is in an area for great happy hour and day drinking along the Seine River. During the summer, tons of bar stands made out of storage containers and pop-up tables open up along the water, and people tan and drink along the river’s edge. Map yourself here, then explore the boat bars to see which one you want to stop at.
Rue de Lappe: This is a whole street of bars, back to back to back for about 3 blocks. It’s a great spot to bar hop for a guaranteed solid night out on any day of the week. Much more on the younger crowd side, and certain bars are seedier than others so have your wit’s about you. My favorites are Charlotte Bar, Amazonas and Berliner Wunderbar!
Le Comptoir General: My favorite bar in Paris! A ruins bar with no sign out front. You will know it by the bouncer and the line on the street. Be sure to check the Facebook page before to make sure there isn't a private event that night. *I heard it recently changed owners and is different from what it once was which is super sad but still worth checking out IMO.
Le Pavillion des Canaux: A crazy dollhouse themed bar and restaurant in the 19th arrondisement.
Le Baron Rouge in the 12th: This spot fill’s up wine bottle’s for you from homemade barrels of wine. Dirt cheap and amazing wine. You bring the bottle back when you’re done to fill it up again!
Hotel Costes: Pricier but worth stopping in for a drink and to people watch. This is where you will see actresses, models and designers. I saw tons of people including Jennifer Lawrence during Fashion Week!
Rooftops:
Le Perchoir: great rooftop bar on top of BHV in the Marais
Galleries Lafayette
43 Up On the Roof: this is in the Latin quarter, try to make a reservation before because they only let a certain number of people up.
Printemps Rooftop Terrace: Great free view on top of Printemps Mall at 64 boulevard Haussmann.
Speakeasys
Lavomatic: you have to enter through a washing machine in a laundromat… it’s so fun.
Little Red Door: adorable speakeasy with incredible cocktails. No words on the cocktail menu, you flip through a book of art and whichever picture speaks to you is the cocktail for you!
Lockwood
Candelaria: Romantic, candel-lit speakeasy. To find it you have to walk through the taco shop (which has delicious tacos) to the back and through the kitchen to the speakeasy.
Clubs
Queen
Le Hobo
Titty Twister
L’Arc
Cartel
Le Duplex
Showcase Club: look up events on Facebook. This is an underground club under the Pont Alexandre III bridge that has big DJ’s and bands come through! We saw performers like Sam Feldt and the Chainsmokers here.
Basically anything on the Champs Elysses but Titty Twister, QUEEN, Cartel, and Le Hobo we’re our favorites.
Markets
Marche de Enfants Rouges: My favorite market in the Marais with yummy street food, flower shops, fresh produce, an adorable vintage photo store, Chez Alain Miam Miam.
Le Bon Marche: The most insane market and grocery store on earth. More on the expensive side but worth checking out, especially on a super hot day or super rainy day.
Art Galleries
59 Rivoli: This is probably my favorite spot in all of Paris. It is an 8 floor building housing over 30 art studios for local artists. You can walk through it, chat with artists while they paint, buy art and even leave your mark by signing the walls. I tell everyone if theres one thing to do while in this city, go here. So quirky and fun!
Marais: there's a whole art gallery district in the Marais which I love. If you’re into that just popping into a bunch one day back to back is the way to go. My favorite is Magda Danyz and Topographie de l'art.
Picnic Spots
Square du Vert Galant: this is a tiny corner in the middle of the seine sit chill with wine watch the boats go by at sunset
Champ de Mars: for picnicing under the Eiffel Tower
Jardin du Luxembourg: pack a picnic so pretty to chill in and watch kids race boats on the pond
Parc de Buttes Chaumont: Our very fav garden, people bring bottles of wine, music, and even have dance parties on summer days.
Tuilieries Garden
Shopping favorites:
My favorite boutique shopping route: start at Merci in the Marais and go down the Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire. Then go down Rue Vieille du Temple until you get to Rue de Rivoli. End by getting lunch on the Rue de Rosiers (adorable pedestrian-only street).
Favorite stores: Claire Naa, Merci, Hod Boutique, Eleven Paris, Papier Tigre, Maison Labiche, Sezane
**every single store in the Marais