I was born in the South of France but quickly move to Paris and its surrounding. I lived there until I was 25 years old and left for London, then California. Paris is home, and will always have a special place in my heart. While studying History of Art, I was exploring the city’s incredible museum, historical places and architecture. I was also partying hard and having too many croissants and warm pain au chocolat in the morning. The culinary experience one can have in Paris is of course legendary. It would be impossible to condense all the places I love in a little blog post but here is some of my favorite places or experiences to have in Paris. I hope you’ll find yours too and will exchange your good tips with me at your return.
Margot is a french photographer based in Long Beach, California and travel back in France for engagement sessions, proposals, and weddings. Send an email at info@lapetitephoto.me for more info on availabilities and rates.
Must Do / Behave
Don’t be scared to be firm to street vendor. They will insist. And insist. And insist again. They will make you feel guilty.
I would avoid the north of Paris (Outside the périphérique, the road that circulate around Paris).
Keep your pockets in watch at ALL TIME. Be mindful at all time and especially in the metro or buses about your pockets and open bags.
Don’t leave any valuable on the ground when drinking or at a terrace. Or on your table when you are outside. People grab phones before the metro door close too (rare but that happens). Don’t show you have money too much in small neighborhood especially at night. But you’ll be fine :)
Overall if you are hungry you can stop at any bistro. These are the best traditional lunch place in Paris. Usually very good! Basic comfort food. Don’t expect to drink your coffee while having lunch, that’s a post lunch treat for us. Asking for a coffee to enjoy while eating is just plain rude in France.
If it’s past 10pm and you had too much too drink, time to stop at a Kebab. Ask for “mettez tout s’il vous plait” when asked for sauces and onions and all… (Put everything in it please).
I would suggest to buy a phone card and unlimited internet credit for one of your phone to know where you are and being able to go around. You can download the app:” ratp” to access the map from the metro and know where to go. I suggest to walk as much as you can.
Tips. Well. They are non mandatory but kind off expected if you are an American client. A couple of euros is fine for a meal or 1 euro for drinks. I was a waitress so I’m talking from experience here.
Neighborhood / Sites:
Don’t need to go to the champs Élysées really… it’s very commercial.
Le Marais. So good for shopping around, street art, art galleries, restaurant and coffee shops. You can try “l’as du falafel” supposedly the best falafel sandwich in Paris. And I agree! The shops nearby pretend to be the actual best. Up to you to try them all and see for yourself.
Notre Dame, Quartier Saint Louis, Quartier Saint Germain, Île de La Cité and Île Saint Louis. The eldest neighborhood of Paris. You can go and visit with a guide you’ll learn so much! As a kid we used to visit with our class to learn about history. It was amazing.
Les grands magasins: les galléries lafayettes. Stunning indoor shops. The rooftop has a great view too!
Check the Palais Royal, Louvre neighborhood, jardin des tuileries and Place Vendôme. The richest and poshest neighborhood of Paris.
Rue Mouffetard is cute. Party at night! (Ah… Longing for my young adults years partying there!) During the day is quite calm and historical. I lived nearby and they have a cute market in the south part.
Sacré Cœur. If you feel like it, start at the metro Anvers or Pigalle and walk up. A loooot of stairs. Pickpokets! If you can start from the metro Abbesses it’s perfect. It’s the cutest neighborhood. When you are all the way up to the Sacre Coeur, turn around and look at the view! You can go have a look at Place du tertre behind. Beautiful place and nice restaurants!
Museums
So many museum. If you like a certain style or era, make some research to find the perfect fit.
Louis Vuitton Foundation. New and incredible.
Centre Pompidou. I used to work as a guide there! Their rooftop restaurant is incredible. I spent too much money at the gift shop and too much time at the library.
Musée d’Orsay. So romantic. It’s in an old train station and hosts some of my favorite painters. I was a history of art major and always admire their collection.
Musée d’Histoire Naturelles. Tropical hothouses, dinosaur bones, architecture and of course the incredible Gallery of Evolution with all the stuffed animal in the center of the museum. My favorite as a kid.
Favorite parcs
Jardin du Luxembourg. There is a photography exhibition on the east side of the fences. My college was nearby. Loved spending my afternoon there.
Parc des Buttes Chaumont. I mean. Just wander around for a bit. Then you can go to the Rosa Bonheur for a drink. Owners are LGBTQ and it’s a seriously amazing guinguette in the park.
Parc Monceau. Ro-man-tic.
Restaurant
Obviously it would be hard to make a small list of best restaurants in Paris… But here is a couple that stole my heart.
Restaurant La Mosquée de Paris. Stay for lunch, order a couscous or grab some pastries and sit for a mint tea. The tea is cash only (probably 2 euros).
L’entrecôte. There is a couple of locations in Paris. There is always a line. One menu only so you only order starter, dessert and wine. The meat and fries are the best!
I loved going to the rooftop of Centre Pompidou. Posh dinner with view. So so delicious.
Saint Regis: my favorite restaurant for the ambiance. Go for “apéro” (5-6pm wine of glass) on the terrace and stay there for dinner. Watch people passing by on the bridge and you might have a musicien on the bridge if you are lucky. I used to go there with my friend after work. We were coming early and staying way too late. There is so many people passing by, you will probably talk to people around.
Marché des enfants rouges. Great for lunch. Not open everyday I think. Fresh produces and cute place. It’s a farmers market.
Le comptoir général is a great and boho ambiance. Near the canal Saint Martin. If you’ve seen the movie Amelie, she does “ricochets” on the canal nearby. The Comptoir General is truly an incredible place.
Comptoir des saints pères, les deux magots, café de flore. Very famous bistrots because romantic writers used to go there all the time
Treats
Bertillon. Île Saint Louis. The best Ice cream in the world. Get the Chocolat Mendiant. Or anything really. It’s just so good.
I would stop by Angelina for overpriced pastries and hot chocolate. So gorgeous!
To do
Marché aux puces. Only open Friday Saturday Sunday. You HAVE to go…
You get out at Porte de Clignancourt. The neighborhood is a bit ghetto, very dirty… Cross under the highway and it will be on your left. A little village full of antiques and vintage objects, furniture… it’s my favorite thing to do in Paris but I never have time to go :(Shakespear and Compagny
Very famous English library in the heart of Paris. If your favorite American or British author lived in Paris, they went there. Tiny and old get a tote bag as a souvenir!
Enjoy for me!
