Are you happy to be in Paris?
Okay, Now Where? Paris, France
bonfreakingjour – longtime no chat. With “euro summer” well underway, I figured I’d share a brief guide to one of my favorite cities in the world. This is not an exhaustive list (obviously), but rather my a list of my tried-and-true stops for eating, drinking, and walking around.
Okay, Now Where? Paris, France
Where to Eat & Drink
A quick bite (savory):
I cannot emphasize enough that my favorite thing to do in Paris is grab something to eat and go eat it in a park or by the Seine. Here are a few of my favorite savory stops.
Caractère de Cochon: The absolute best Jambon-beurre
Chez Alain Miam Miam: Enormous sandwiches and crepes
Mizonon: They have location in NY and London, but the Paris one is significantly better than the other locations. The lamb pita & roasted cauliflower are a must.
L’as du Fallafel: Famous Middle Eastern restaurant. Grab a shawarma and mint lemonade and sit by the Seine (especially good for the weekdays as they’re closed Friday and Saturday)
Dumbo: an impressively good burger for France.
A quick bit (sweet or of the pastry persuasion):
These are a few of my favorites but I do genuinely think on of the best things about Paris is you can find a good pastry anywhere. Follow your stomach. If a pâtisserie looks (or better yet smells) good, it probably will be.
Mamiche: Currently my favorite bakery in Paris.
Du Pain et des Idées: Known for having one of the best croissants in Paris, I prefer their Escargot pastry.
Terroirs d’Avenir: A very, very good croissant
Les Deux Magots: very, very basic (read: touristy) location, but I am a fan of their desserts (albeit a bit spenny).
A glass of wine:
Any of the cafés on île saint-louis that sell Berthillon ice cream (pistachio ice cream and a glass of white wine is an unrivaled pairing).
Georges: Rooftop restaurant at Centre Pompidou (a bit $$) that has great views of Paris.
Grab a bottle of wine from a grocery store and sit in literally any public park (remember to get a screw top unless you happen carry a wine opener with you at all times).
Cafe de Flore: Much like Les Deux Magots, this place has a reputation for being extremely touristy, but I think it is worth a trip anyways.
Genuinely any brasserie: sitting outside and people-watching is one of life’s greatest activities.
Restaurants:
This is a shorter list because a lot of my beloved recommendations are a couple years old, and I’m not sure they’re still open and/or good. When I spend a longer stint in Paris, I will update this list.
Le Petit Chatelet: Remains the best roast chicken I’ve had in my life.
Chez Janou: bottomless chocolate mousse, need I say more?
Relais D’Entrecote: Basique but tres delicieuse
Derriere: Feels like you’re eating inside a very cool person’s home.
What to See & Do
Museums:
This is the list you probably don’t need my recommendations for because Paris is filled with museums, but these are my favorites.
Musée D’Orsay
Musée de L’Orangerie
The Louvre
Centre Pompidou
Fondation Louis Vuitton
Musée National Picasso-Paris
Palais de Tokyo
Palais Galliera
Galleries:
Thaddeus Ropac (Last time I was in Paris, there was a Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit here).
David Zwirner
Parks and Public Places:
Place des Vosges
Jardin Luxembourg
Champ-de-Mars (grab food and wine from a store and picnic here at sunset).
Shopping:
I usually am more of an eater than a shopper in Paris, but I have a few very quick recommendations.
Bijoux Pierre Caron: I have been wearing the same ring here for six straight years, it was 30 euros, it’s slightly mishapen, but it’s barely tarnished. The owners are so nice and they jewelry is great quality. I visit every time I go to Paris.
Le Bon Marché: A very over the top department store (they also own La Grande Épicerie which is an even more over the top grocery store)
Weekly Reccos:
What to read: Blue Sisters by Coco Mellor
What to watch: Hitman or Love Island USA
What to listen to: Rachel Maddow’s new season of Ultra.
Eeeep love this list. Esp the chocolate mousse rec. Come say hi if you're ever in NYC!