Le Meurice
For the royal treatment
Paris
CDG
Like a first name – only celebrity, Paris needs no introduction. Its beauty, from the Haussmann-style architecture to the photogenic patisseries and effortlessly chic fashion, is legendary. If the Louvre is on your been-there-done-that list, add Fondation Louis Vuitton and Jeu de Paume to the itinerary.
Where to Stay
Hôtel Particulier Montmartre
For the art-house opulence
Shangri-La Hotel, Paris
For the best Eiffel Tower views
Maison Albar Hotels Le Pont-Neuf
For the chic suites
Cheval Blanc Paris
For the Parisian luxury
Hôtel Rochechouart
For the Art Deco ambience
Le Pavillon des Lettres
For the literary clout
Eat & Drink
Allard
A Saint–Germain–des–Prés institution since it opened in 1932, this familial French bistro—now under the direction of Alain Ducasse—is where locals go for traditional French fare. Follow Burgundy custom and start with escargots in parsley butter, then split the signature canard de Challans, tender duck served in a sea of green olives.
Café des Ministères
The secret is out on Roxane and Jean Sevègnes’ Left Bank bistro, in the form of rave reviews from chefs and critics. In the kitchen, chef Jean Sevègnes’ unpretentious embrace of fine French cuisine produces dishes so in demand he can’t take them off the menu. So, he changes his mythic vol-au-vent with the seasons, filling it with lamb and lobster sweetbreads in the summer and veal with creamy mushroom come winter. Spotting his Normandy scallops à la parisienne is akin to winning some kind of culinary lottery.
Clamato
Neighbour to its overachieving sister bistro, Septime La Cave, this laid-back seafood joint takes its name from Mott’s clam-infused tomato juice, the ingredient that separates a Caesar (hard to come by in Paris) from a Bloody Mary. Try lunch to avoid the walk-in-only crowd and savour the daily fruits of the sea at their freshest, from red tuna line-caught in Saint-Jean-de-Luz to raw cuttlefish from Île d’Oléron.
Marché des Enfants Rouges
Still beloved by locals, Paris’ oldest covered market lies behind an inconspicuous iron gate in Le Marais. Sashay among the 20-some food stalls that cater to a wide range of international tastes, from Chez Alain Miam Miam’s oil-drenched sandwiches to Les Enfants du Marché’s flavour-packed neo-bistro menu.
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What to Do
L’Atelier des Lumières
Works from masters like Monet, Renoir and Chagall get a 21st-century makeover thanks to 140 projectors and a spatialized sound system at this digital art museum located in a former iron foundry. Paintings of water lilies and ballerinas are projected onto the floors and walls in the centre’s immersive exhibitions, all set to original soundtracks.
Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann
With its neo–Byzantine dome and ornate balconies, Galeries Lafayette is part shopping destination, part architectural landmark. Take a guided heritage tour to see the cupola up close and bask in crowd-free rooftop views of Palais Garnier, the Eiffel Tower and the Sacré–Coeur Basilica. After a little haute couture retail therapy, indulge in a French macaron baking class.
La Cuisine Paris Cooking Class
Celebrate the art of French cuisine with food tours and classes led by experts. Options range from French Baguettes workshops to Intensive Technical Macaron classes with sessions usually lasting around three hours. The French Market Tour and Cooking Class includes a tour of Marché Maubert followed by a lesson in the kitchen. Space is limited, so book in advance.
La Grande Épicerie de Paris
Foodies of all flavours flock to this abundant Parisian pantry, which stocks more than 30,000 gourmet products. A bakery, patisserie and cheese shop and a wine cellar offer spoils for sampling. Consult with one of the many wandering experts on what to take home, from the best regional olive oil to provincially harvested jams.
Fondation Louis Vuitton
Frank Gehry’s silver-sailed vessel, docked in the Bois de Boulogne, is home to the private modern and contemporary art collection of group LVMH and its chairman Bernard Arnault. Biannual temporary exhibits often offer rare glimpses into the personal troves of famous collectors like Mikhaïl and Ivan Morozov and Sergei Shchukin. Among works by Basquiat, Warhol and Giacometti, noteworthy commissions include Katharina Grosse’s floating rainbow Canyon.
The Broken Arm
Nordic minimalism informs both the airy setup and light lunch menu of this two-level concept shop in Le Marais. Browse an assortment of labels, like Comme des Garçons and Lemaire, and discover up-and-coming designers while relishing a cup of specialty coffee.
Nose
It’s okay to be nosy at this Montorgueil-area concept shop, where fragrance sniffing and mingling are encouraged. Find your signature scent by completing a one-minute diagnostic that determines your olfactory profile and recommends five perfumes for blind testing.
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