It's beautiful here : PARIS
La Tour Eiffel at night.
by Charles Bukowski
Friends,
I remember as a kid announcing to my parents at aged 7 that ‘one day when I’m old and rich I’m going to have so much money I’ll be able to jet off to Paris for a weekend.’ They laughed (those dubious 70’s parental skills, man) said ‘sure Nicole’ but et voila - here we are. It’s no coincidence that I live exactly 2hrs & 17mins hours from the centre of Paris.
There is something unbelievably magical about this city.
Before you head off, I recommend these two special French movies to get yourself in the mood:
This travel guide is fantastic and this one too, but I promise you, taking a French lover is even better.
Read this wonderful article about James Baldwin’s Paris, and 9 Places in Paris that follow in The Footsteps of Coco Chanel.
This blog post is one of the most comprehensive I’ve seen and I have it saved on my phone for every trip.
Here’s five things I love about The City of Light.
1. Sleep
I’ve had a few airbnb hiccups in Paris so I tend to stick with smaller, central hotels instead. I have 3 that I currently rotate, depending on my mood:
i. The Hoxton
This is definitely a fave as it’s just 17mins walk from Gare du Nord which is where the Eurostar comes in from London. Super central location and rooms are spacious (for Paris). Comfy beds, beautiful bathrooms. The restaurant is one of the best I’ve eaten at too.
If you have time, I recommend a yoga class around the corner at Yoga Colibri. Trying to follow along in French feels like you are learning yoga for the first time!
ii. Hotel Providence
iii. Grand Pigalle Hotel
2. Eat
Here’s three that I usually end up at, most trips:
i. Carbon Paris - reservations needed, check out their instagram for the menu.
ii. Ma Cocotte - located in the Les Puces / St Ouen flea markets north of Paris, drop in’s are welcome but queues start at 12pm. Incredible food and interior design by Phillipe Starck. Outdoor terrace has blankets & heaters for winter dining.
iii. Holiday Diner Paris (Vegan)
Also a little outside Paris but worth the trip as they have a fantastic store too. Reservations needed.
Pssssst .. It’s a 3 month waiting list to eat here, but I hear the food is mind-blowing.
3. Shop
i. Merci - linens, clothing, homewares and the most beautiful cafe-slash-bookshop.
Ghost Sofa by Paola Navone that I have in my home. SO COMFY!
ii. Shakespeare & Co - probably my favourite bookshop in the world. I have a tradition of buying a book here every trip because they stamp the inside cover for you which I’ve never seen anywhere else.
*fun fact - Hemingway wrote many of his books here and his typewriter and desk are still in the shop. Read about the history of this magical little shop here.
iii. Maison Kitsuné - homewares, clothing and the best coffee in Paris.
4. Picasso Museum
The one museum I always recommend to friends.
5. Antique Flea Markets
Known to be the best and biggest in the world, spend at least 3-4 hours at The Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen. Furniture, clothing, antiques and vintage Levi’s are what I love to browse for.
♥️