In my 25th year of life, a year that will live in infamy, I was finally able to trek to Paris to see the sites, eat the foods, drink the dranks, & shop the things.
As a student of the French language for 7+ years ( that sounded refined & cultured, but honestly all I really learned how to say is “what time is it?” and “may I please use the restroom?” ), a lover of all things carbs, & a proponent for drinking wine during the day, Paris has always seemed like a mystical dreamland that I would, one day, deeply appreciate.
&, it was just that, to put it quite simply.
I’ve put together a guide of the many restaurants, bars, shops, & activities we were able to experience during our week in Paris. You’ll also find a map at the bottom of this post, where I’ve marked the locations of these recommendations + a few more bonus recommendations we received frequently, but weren’t able to experience ourselves ( you’ll have to tell me how those things go for you! ).
you may also want to view the post: What I Wore in Paris
where to stay
AirBnb!
We chose to stay in an AirBnb in Paris, because that set-up made the most sense for us. We weren’t looking to drop thousands of dollars on a fancy hotel ( maybe one day, when I’m not 25 & in the first years of self-employment, I’ll be able to drop some $$$ ), and we wanted to feel like we REALLY lived there. Megan, Kristen & I stayed at this little flat near Le Marais area, and we have no complaints. I apartment was in an AMAZING location, we were able to walk to many of the places we wanted to go. I will admit, it’s a bit small for 3 people, but we also didn’t spend much time at home. I recommend if you’re looking for convenience & affordability! Our host was also an ANGEL.
where to eat
Angelina Paris
for a classic French breakfast ( aka: pastries ) & a cafe au lait! The omelette/scrambled eggs are also amazing at this little restaurant/bakery.
Chez Alain Miam Miam
for the best fucking sandwich in Paris & an environment that makes you feel like you’re hanging with your family.
Hollybelly 5
for a delicious brunch! Get the scrambled eggs or the pancakes ( or both )!
Pink Mama
is kind of an institution in Paris, based on the truffle pasta alone. I recommend going for early dinner, so you don’t have to wait in line as long!
Brasserie Les Deux
is the cutest little Parisian cafe for lunch or a cappuccino + a croissant near the river.
Breizh Cafe
for savory crepes to-die-for. Seriously. The Truffle Ham Gillette ( aka: savory crepe ) was DIVINE.
Hotel Costes
to spend way too much money on the absolute best cheesecake of your life & a dirty martini. The staff looked at us kind of weird when we asked to be sat for dessert alone, but they did let us sit. Also, Hotel Costes as some hot-ass waiters. Eye candy x1000.
Wild & the Moon
for HEALTHY juices + morning coffee… LA-style. We walked to Wild & the Moon every. single. day. I started every morning in Paris with an iced coffee & green juice, like the true betch that I am.
where to drink
Experimental Cocktail Club
is a primarily english-speaking bar with GREAT cocktails. It’s an cozy little bar that’s perfect for pre-dinner drinks!
Crazy Horse Cabaret
for the BEST cabaret show EVER. I love a good scandalous cabaret moment. Sip cocktails while watching the dancers in literal awe. Us women are art, it’s a fact.
Candelaria
is a speak-easy-style bar in the back of a hole-in-the-wall taco shop. The margaritas were bomb, & it’s one of the only places I saw other people taking shots. Important.
L’Arc
was an… experience. L’Arc was apparently the place to be on the Thursday night we decided rally. Both of my friends found their flings-of-night upon arrival, whereas I sat by the bar enjoying back-to-back-to-back-to-( you see where I’m going with this ) cocktails, waving off personal-space-intruders like the true betch I am. But, by the end of the night ( at 4AM to be exact ), I was FaceTiming all of the fuckboys I’ve come across in 2019. So, it’s that kind of night.
where to shop
Vintage Paris
was the little vintage shop where I purchased my FIRST Chanel bag! This vintage spot is high-curated and the prices are pretty great. They stock Chanel, Gucci, Hermes, Dior, etc. Definitely stop by if you’re looking to make a high-end vintage purchase.
Galleries Lafayette
on both Haussmann and Champs-Élysées. The Champs-Élysées was better curated, in my opinion, carrying high-end brands and emerging designers ( think streetwear ), along with boujee beauty products & the “cafeteria” of my dreams at the bottom floor.
Vintage Shopping — So Many Options!
so stop in Killiwatch, Vintage Desir, ChineMachine, etc. There are tons of vintage stores down Rue Saint-Antoine.
Shakespeare & Company
is the CUTEST book store in Paris! Definitely go for the experience of walking through the maze-like store, which is covered floor-to-ceiling in books galore. There’s also a little coffee shop connected to the book store.
Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen
is basically a HUGE flea market, and it’s the best on Sundays ( at least, that’s what I was told ). Its a bit of a trek from where we stayed in comparison to other shops/things to do, but it didn’t disappoint! There are plenty of vintage clothing shops, leather shops, book stores, & cafes in this area!
what to do
The Classic Sight-Seeing
You probably know the drill– picnic at the Eiffel Tower, grab a coffee overlooking the Louvre, walk through the Luxembourg Gardens, take a stroll next to the Seine.
Versailles
is a day-trip from Paris, and it’s something I think everyone should do. My favorite part of our time at Versailles was walking through the gardens & having a glass of wine near the water. The boat situation didn’t go as smoothly as I had planned, but it ended up being hilarious. Must-do for the photo, at the very least.
Le Centre Pompidou
for contemporary art galore! My friends and I try to find contemporary art museums in the cities we visit pretty often. It’s my favorite! The gallery exhibit was cool, but the installations & pieces in the museum were really the best.