Paris recos
Paris recos
as a wide-eyed, Paris-obsessed tourist, my mish was to learn the city inside and out. see map for flags marking the places i wanted to check out (i went to most of them!).. you could say i was busy in Paris!
so here is a lil guide to Paris by MOI!!
where to stay:
the “centre” is Notre Dame so anything around that is coo.
Saint Germain des Pres is the typical Paris from the movies, beautiful clean streets with cafes, where all the old artists/writers hung out. quite touristy because of this
- Le Marais is kinda the new St Germain - very cute, great shopping, super central. tourists think it’s more authentic but locals still think it’s touristy. a speakeasy hotspot!!
Republique/Oberkampf: this is where more of the locals live, accom is more affordable. awesome bars around here. we stayed in Belleville nearby.
Bastille - love this hood, lots of cute bars and restaurants. International Youth Hostel is dece enough and cheap. you have to leave the rooms from 11-3 though, kinda weird
Montmartre: very cute winding hilly streets, lots of bars around Moulin Rouge (also hookers, so whatever you’re into), beautiful white cathedral Sacre Coeur. typically cheaper hostels because it’s further north. but still walkable to the main stuff. Monclair Montmartre is a good hostel!
around Champs Elysees/ Arc de Triomphe - BJV Champs Elysees Monceau hostel is well located, right by Parc Monceau which is so cute. from this area over to the Eiffel Tower are high end hotels and shops, worth a stroll if you’re feelin boujee. my ideal area to stroll around (and stay, if i should be so lucky) is still the classic Place de la Concorde/Tuileries Gardens/the Louvre. obv very touristy and expensive but so so perfect and and Paris and beautiful
bars:
speakeasies: Little Red Door, Candelaria, the Ballroom, Moonshiner (go through the pizza place). i think Experimental Cocktail Bar was my fave one, and Jefrey’s right across the street is cute too. also Lavomatic is through a laundromat, that one’s still on my list!
Mary Celeste is near the speakeasies and is a good cocktail bar- Le Syndicat, Mauri7, Chez Jeanette are right beside each other. Le Syndicat is a cocktail bar, kiiinda a speakeasy? and the other 2 are more chill Paris pubs where everyone spills out onto the street drinking
best place to dance: O’Sullivans Grand Boulevard! great stair dancing. big party area, can also go to Corocan’s. i tried to go to a club called Silencio and the bouncer said “you are not invited here” LOL-
Rex Club if you are into doing many drugs and bobbing to dj shows till 7am
Dirty Dick or Glass are some grungy/packed bars near Moulin Rouge
if you’re feeling fancy/like spending a lot of money: through the front door of the Ritz go to Hemingway Bar (casual 30 euro cocktails but cool to be in Hemingway’s old stomping ground) and there’s Ritz Bar too with a much more affordable 24 euro cocktail menu. there’s also Le Rooftop near Champs Elysees with amazzzeee Eiffel Tower views
Jacopo is nearby Le Rooftop/Champs Elysees, very young cool vibe. i just popped in but wanted to come back!
Chez Georges an underground wine cellar in St Germain, fun lil dance floorjazz:- my go-tos: 38 riv, baiser salé (go upstairs).
Caveau de la Hutchette is really cool and is in an old court and torture chamber.- also Caveau des Oubliettes in Saint Michel, was super crowded, upbeat funk jazz which was cool
to do:
walk this route: Notre Dame, along the Seine to the Louvre, Tuileries Gardens, Place de la Concorde. note the mirror imaging of the city design: the Arc de Triomphe leads directly down the Champs Elysees to the little arc by the Louvre. also when you’re standing in the Place de la Concorde, see the pillared building on one side and its mirror image across the bridge. LOVE this. continue down the Seine, admire Pont Alexandre III bridge, and straight down to the Eiffel Tower. good photo opps of the tower across the river at Palais de Chaillot.
if it’s spring, go to Parc de Sceaux for a cherry blossom paradise. 45 mins by RER train from Gare du Nord
ballet tickets are only 10 euro if you go to the box office 1 hour before the show. views will suck but it’s worth it to be inside the stunning Palais Garnier
shopping: Le Marais, Rue de Rivoli, St Germain, Champs Elysees if you’re fancy. Galeries Lafayette is a big mall with stained glass ceilings
museums if you’re into that: go visit Mona at the Louvre or see modern art at Musee d’Orsay
go check out the Pantheon, Place de la Contrescarpe, and the adorbs Rue Mouffetard. don’t make the mistake of eating before you hit this street like i did, because you will want to get some treats- obviously just sit at all the terraces and drink a coffee or wine, depending on time of day. you get to decide the time.
to eat:
breakfast: be one with the Parisians and have a coffee and maaaybe throw in a croissant. but i did have a delish real brunch at Benedict in Le Marais and Passager in Bastille (the bagel sammys)
literally just to-go crepes and baguettes. not overrated.
obv cheese plates
Wild & the Moon or Lemon were good healthy food spots
Pizzeria Popolare of Big Mamma group has the most deeelish 5 euro magherita pizza, and that’s comin from someone who was just eating her face off in Italy. and a peach spritz. the restaurant is so cool, with floor-to-ceiling bottles decking out the windows. there will be a line up down the block so prepare to wait
kebabs/falafels are a must-have drunken snack. sober works fine too.
OBVIOUSLY go to Ladurée for a macaron or other treat
cute parks:
Parisians are all about their parks.
people flock to Place des Vosges in Le Marais
Buttes-Chaumont is a big one that reminded me of central park
Parc Monceau is so pretty and posh, near Champs Elysees
Luxembourg is beautiful, lots of locals doing their thing
nothing will beat Tuileries Garden for me. it’s so pristine and perfect. the Eiffel Tower view, perfectly manicured gardens, white sculptures, fountains surrounded by everyone lounging in the green chairs. par-fait.
that’s all i got for now but i thiiiink i’m probably missing some so guess i’ll just have to go back??