Paris
Bonjour! Un café au lait d'avoine s'il vous plait!
Must eat & at:
You can find the touristy stuff elsewhere. Here’s how to do Paris like a local.
Hôtel Bachaumont - Hip boutique hotel with bar/restaurant (one of my favorite spots in Paris - reservations highly recommended)
Café Grand Coeur - Untraditional French brasserie in the heart of the Marais (reservations highly recommended)
Alcazar - Super hip and beautiful restaurant, the music and drinks are great.
Pizza Popolare - No reservations, arrive early. Line is long but moves fast. Excellent pizza.
Pink Mamma - No reservations, arrive early.
Frenchie wine bar - open on weekdays only..have to get there early as there is usually a wait
Le Mary Celeste (small plates + cocktails)
Candelaria - Speakeasy spot with Taqueria in front and cocktail bar in the back
Little Red Door - Bespoke cocktaill bar
Shake n Smash - Bespoke cocktail bar
Le Comptoir Général - (Bar + experimental space)
Experimental cocktail club
Lulu White cocktail bar
Holybelly (brunch)
Echo Deli (brunch)
Café Méricourt (café)
Gramme Paris (café)
Nola restaurant (brunch)
Bouilon Julien - Typical french food, cheap but good an beautiful space and local
Chez Prune - Brunch in the 10th near the Canal
And finally, here’s a list of fancy-ass restaurants that a bougie-bae sent my way.
Must experience:
Walk along Rue Montorgueil - pedestrians only, no cars, great little cafes and people watching.
Seine Boat Tour - great way to see Paris from the river - plan your ride to watch the sun set from the boat,
Go to Rosa Bonheur or Flow on the seine for sunset
Parisien flea-market and pick up some vintage finds
Get cultured:
Palais de Tokyo
Foundation Louis Vuitton
Foundation Arp
Foundation Le Corbusier
Right Bank
Gerard Mulot - A great boulangerie in the 6th: You can grab stuff from there and then go to Luxembourg Garden to eat
Cafe Flore - Popular brasserie, good for people watching and a croque monsieur or just a croissont and coffee
Pierre Herme for Macarons
Relaisentre cote - Well known place for steak and frites (very local)
Cafe de Flore - good stop for coffee or croque monsieur when you are walking in the 6th saint germain
Berthillon - Ice cream place on il saint louis
Le Voltaire (old school french)
Cafe Charlot - wine and a really good burger. Fun for people watching
Left Bank
L'as du Falafel- Falafel/Schwarmas/Middle Eastern - This is the best place to get falafels. They have good schwarmas too. And it's cheap. Around 5-7 euros for a dish. It’s been featured in the NYT so you know it’s good.
Breizh Cafe - crepes, 109 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003 Paris
Angelina's - tea house with desserts...known for their rich hot chocolate-near the louvre ($$$)
Georges - At the top of the modern art museum. Food is whatever but I go for the view at sunset and have a drink. ($$$)
Palais Royale - next to the louvre, its a great park.
Claus Paris - Good for brunch near Palais Royal
Oscia - amazing local italian pizza place
Stohrer - Great pastries
Verjus - 5 course tasting menu is a must do. It’s a young chef whose setup a super casual but extremely trendy vibe and there is an excellent wine bar underneath - go for a drink beforehand.
Hotel Amour - fun for drinks!)
Coffee
Wild and the Moon - food and great specialty coffees and caffeinated beverages, with vegan and GF options. multiple locations.
Telescope
Ten Belles Coffee
Shopping
Maris area
Bon Marche (like a nordstrom)