Today I’m sharing my recommendations for lovely lodgings, cracking coffee, beautiful baked goods and delicious dinners in Paris. Let’s go on an armchair adventure!
Where to Stay
Une Auture Chambre
Situated in the heart of Le Marais (in the 3rd Arr.) this beautiful boutique hotel effortlessly blends old school Parisian charm with modern comfort. The hotel gives warm and cosy vibes making you feel like you’ve taken not just a step back in time but into a more elegant and quieter part of the city.
Our superior double room “Collette” (named after the author of the novella Gigi) is very bijou but extremely well appointed with all modern cons. Each of the hotel’s 17 rooms are unique and named after French heroines. Each room has books and portraits of their namesake so you can get to know them better.
The bathroom is fabulous and we especially love the Clarins toiletries. The hotel is conveniently located between two metro stations and it’s the perfect base from which to explore the city with great bars, restaurants and cafes a short walk away.
Where to Find Fabulous Coffee
La Caféothèque Paris
We find this cosy coffee shop/roastery almost by accident but it’s a real gem. There are a few tables outside and inside there are three different rooms with artwork from around the world. The staff here are lovely and the baristas take their coffee very seriously – you can taste the difference!
If you’re hungry, the food menu is a bit limited with a small selection of pastries and wait for it… empanadas. They are an unusual addition to the menu but they are really delicious – we try both the meat and the vegetarian varieties and they’re very tasty.
You order at the front and if you’re getting your coffee to go, head to the back and wait for the barista to call your order at the counter. If you’re enjoying your coffee in situ, grab yourself a seat and your order will come to you. This really is a lovely little coffee filled oasis in the heart of Paris.
The Coffee
We were so surprised to find out that this is part of a chain because it has independent written all over it. This branch is cool, calm and compact and it’s the perfect spot for grabbing a coffee on the go.
Inside is contemporary rather than cosy and it’s very modern right down to the ipad on which you order! Seriously, some of the best coffee in Paris!
Where to Get the Most Delicious Pastries
Boulangerie Moderne
My one regret about my time in Paris was that I didn’t get to enjoy nearly as many pastries as I would have liked but I do make it to Boulangerie Moderne – famous in it’s own right and even more famous now it’s Emily’s bakery of choice in Emily in Paris.
The bakery gets super busy and there’s sometimes a queue. I arrive late morning and some of the shelves are already bare.
There’s still a decent amount of choice, so much so that I’m quite overwhelmed! We settle on a classic croissant and a chocolate and pistachio number. There’s some seating outside but we get our baked goods to go and enjoy them at the Medici Fountain later.
Don’t forget when you enter a shop in France, always greet the shop assistant with a cheery bonjour! It’s considered polite and respectful and is almost a ritual of French life!
Where to Enjoy Classic French food With a Modern Twist
Brasserie Dubillot
This place ticks all the boxes – it has great kerb appeal, has a seasonal menu, reasonable prices and it’s a short walk from our hotel. It’s giving independent vibes even though it’s part of the La Nouvelle Garde group.
There’s a lovely street side terrace but we’ve booked ahead – this place is super popular – and our table is on the first floor. The dining room is stylish and the vibes are cool.
Word on the street is that the onion soup is legendary but it’s a super hot day and neither of us can face it. We choose a couple of plates from the Apero section of the menu – “first bites that slap” and slap they do! I am delighted with my pate en croute and David enjoys his country terrine served with bread and cornichons.
For mains, neither of us can go past the flank beef grilled over charcoal and served with homemade fries and served with a choice of bernaise sauce or parsley butter. However you order your steak here expect it to arrive a bit pinker than you anticipated and you won’t be surprised. Although the dessert menu looks tempting, we’re just too full to fit anything else in and call it a night.
Les Philosophes
Here you’ll find French classics served up in an unpretentious bistro with a cosy terrace – be prepared to sit very close to your neighbour! Talking of neighbours, the guy on the next table told us he’d lived around the corner from this place for years and came here to eat at least once a week – if that’s not a recommendation, I don’t know what is!
Apart from getting to know other diners, the terrace is a great spot for people watching but be prepared for the cigarette smoke – smoking is still permitted outside cafes and restaurants in Paris.
Everything is made in house and the restaurant offers a great variety of dishes from something light to big and hearty, there’s an allergen menu too. I have the homemade tarama and toast to start and David’s back on the country pate.
For mains, I have the lamb loin with organic herbs from Provence and David had the Aubrac Beef Bourguignon.
It’s our last night in Paris and we’re stuffed but we can’t leave without trying the creme brulee here – I’ve heard it’s great. It’s not just dessert that’s sweet, our waiter is an absolute delight. He’s attentive, funny and he doesn’t even laugh at my French! Les Philosophes doesn’t take reservations but the kitchen is open from noon to 1am so you’re sure to find a spot!
Have you been to Paris? Do you have any recommendations to add to the list? If you went to Paris what would be the dish you’d most want to try?
All food, drink and accommodation was independently paid for and all opinions are my own.
