Travel Guides
I’m jetting off to Paris for the first time later this spring.
I am of course very excited but also a bit concerned with how to best organize my itinerary. I don’t want to tumble into every tacky tourist trap, nor waste my precious shopping sprees in endless luxury and lady stores that will have little relevance to me and my Louis Vuitton-free lifestyle.
If any of my well-respected readers have guidance on the best sites, shops or strategies for creating the brightest of times in the City of Lights, I know your advice would be the smartest and most chic of all.
March 24th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
I’ve never been but hope to one day. From a lot of the publications I read they say you should make a point of hitting up some of the respected local food haunts and the vintage shopping is the best in the world. Have a wonderful time and please take lots of pictures for us.
March 27th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Passage des Panoramas, Passage Jouffroy and Passage Verdeau – atmosphere and little shops
Saint James – I go to the one on rue Tronchet because the other store has completely incapable service, not that this one is great but…
Au Petit Bonheur La Chance – old French homeware and stationery and the Saint Paul village is nice to browse around for old things in general
Breizh Café – most delicious crepes
Les Archives De La Presse – old books and magazines, large collection of Vogue I seem to remember
le Petit Atelier de Paris – ceramics
Zinc Caïus Le Bistro – Nice small bistro
Rose Bakery – in Pigalle or Montmartre
Deyrolle – taxidermy, the most tourist thing you must do
Poilâne – bread, atmosphere
Mamie Gateaux – cafe
Maybe a bit too girly but I tried!
April 14th, 2010 at 9:57 am
If you’ve not yet booked every night in a hotel, you may want to check out “Les Degrés de Notre Dame.” It is situated on a movie-set worthy street and there is a fine (tiny) restaurant a half block away on the street in back. http://lesdegreshotel.monsite.wanadoo.fr/
April 17th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
The Latin Quarter is fun at night. There are lots of underground (literally) clubs that are like the places the Beatles played at in Hamburg. One in particular was named after an old newspaper whose name is escaping me. I was only there for a few days but ended up hearing a fantastic French jazz band that played in the 1930′s style and was a lot of fun to listen to. A few days later I went back and saw a more uninspired group. The cover was a little pricey but its worth it for the great music and ambiance.
If it happens to be the first Sunday of the month, go to every museum you can. They’re free. We packed in l’Orangiers, Musee Picasso, and Musee Maillol. Never made it to the Louvre.
And as always check out Le Dome (where Henry Miller hung out in the 30′s) and Shakespeare and Company, who published the first edition of Ulysses.
I didn’t do any shopping, by the time I got there I’d blown all my cash on food and drink in the south. Stay away from la Rue Pigalle. Those aren’t bars. They’ll scam you before you even know it.