Paris is perfect for eating + walking. Grab a pastry and go.
Opens at 7:30 am. Their croissants were so good and I recommend getting a small assortment and walking toward the Eiffel Tower—it's not far from here.
The best baguette I've found in Paris. Crispy crust that shatters, soft interior that tastes faintly of honey. Get there early—they sell out.
Famous for their escargot pastries—flaky spirals filled with pistachio or chocolate. The original 1889 painted ceiling and tiles make you feel like you've stepped back in time. Cash only, closed weekends.
A neighborhood gem near Bastille. Their madeleines are impossibly soft and buttery, and the pain au chocolat has just the right amount of chocolate. Small and unassuming—the type of place locals guard jealously.
The legendary sourdough loaves are baked in wood-fired ovens in the basement. Get a quarter loaf if you're just visiting—it's dense, tangy, and keeps for days. Their punitions (butter cookies) are perfect for the road.
Moroccan-French fusion bakery with incredible msemen (flaky Moroccan flatbread), perfect croissants, and the best focaccia in Paris. The vibe is cozy and the staff is lovely. One of those places that feels like a local secret even though everyone knows about it.
Where to sit, sip, people-watch, and let the hours slip by.
Had a bagel breakfast sandwich and coffee here. Great for a morning near Canal Saint-Martin.
A café where you write letters to your future self. Pick your delivery date—1, 5, 10, or 20 years from now—and they'll mail it to you. I wrote one to myself for 5 years from now. Strange and wonderful to imagine who I'll be when I open it.
Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it's touristy. But the red leather banquettes and the hot chocolate arriving in a little pot—worth every euro. Especially lovely on rainy days.
Yes, it's touristy. But the hot chocolate is perfect, and sitting under the arcades of Place des Vosges watching Paris go by—that's worth the tourist tax. We ended up ordering dinner + desserts. The food was pretty good, but the St. Honoré I got here changed my life!
The garden café in the back feels like a secret courtyard. Perfect for afternoon tea and watching light filter through the trees. Bring something to read.
A beautifully designed specialty coffee shop with excellent espresso and pour-overs. The minimalist space is perfect for a quiet morning coffee. They take their craft seriously without being pretentious.
The oldest pâtisserie in Paris, founded in 1730. The ornate interior is worth seeing alone, but stay for their signature Baba au Rhum and a coffee. History in every bite.
A bright, modern café with great coffee and an all-day brunch menu. The space has a creative, relaxed energy—popular with locals working on laptops or catching up with friends.
Where to eat when you're ready to sit down for a proper meal.
Most small restaurants don't take reservations—show up at 7pm (before the French eat at 8:30) and you'll usually get a table. Or book via TheFork app.
The kind of place where everything feels like someone made it with love. Small and intimate, with views that remind you why you came to Paris. The food arrives looking imperfect in the best way—rustic, generous, warm. This is comfort in a city that sometimes forgets to slow down.
I think about this meal often and miss it a lot.
A legendary Left Bank bistro run by chef Yves Camdeborde. Tiny, buzzy, impossible to get into—and worth the effort. The prix fixe dinner menu changes daily based on what's fresh at the market. During the day, it's walk-in only for casual plates.
A classic Parisian bistro that hasn't changed in decades—and that's exactly the point. White tablecloths, handwritten menus, and dishes like sole meunière and steak frites done perfectly. The kind of place where the staff has been there forever and they know exactly what they're doing.
I'd heard Paris has some of the best Vietnamese food outside of Vietnam—a legacy of French colonial history—and I was determined to find out. We stumbled into this place during that awkward afternoon lull when most restaurants close between lunch and dinner, and it turned out to be one of those happy accidents that travel is made of. Simple, flavorful, and exactly what we needed.
Roman-style pizza by the slice—crispy, airy, and absolutely perfect. The toppings change daily and they take it seriously. Order a few slices, grab a seat, and enjoy some of the best pizza you'll find outside of Italy.
A stylish spot in the 6th with thoughtful, seasonal dishes. The menu feels modern but grounded—nothing too fussy, just really good cooking. The kind of restaurant where you trust everything the chef sends out.
One of the most stunning views of the Eiffel Tower you'll find while dining. Yes, it's a splurge, but the terrace at sunset is unforgettable. The food is elegant French fare that lives up to the setting.
They bake their bread fresh throughout the day and make sandwiches to order. It's casual and affordable—perfect for a quick lunch when you don't want to sit down for a full meal. The bread alone is worth the stop.
There's no menu—just steak-frites with their famous secret sauce, served in two courses so the second half stays hot. The line often wraps around the block, but it moves fast. A true Parisian institution.
For aperitivo hour, sunset drinks, or finding the perfect bottle to take home.
I met a couple of my friends here before dinner and it was the perfect meeting point. Got there before the sun had set and stayed till close to our reservations. They have wine, beer, snacks + charcuterie boards! I love this place.
Skip the fancy caves. These folks will help you find something perfect in any price range and explain it in English without being condescending. They taste everything they sell.
A sleek cocktail bar with creative drinks and great vibes. The bartenders know their craft and the crowd is stylish without being stuffy. Perfect for starting a night out.
Small, intimate, and always buzzing with energy. The cocktails are inventive and the atmosphere is effortlessly cool. The kind of place where you end up staying much longer than planned.
An iconic Parisian cabaret experience—sensual, artistic, and beautifully choreographed. It's glamorous and bold, a true spectacle. Book ahead and dress up.
A secret garden bar tucked inside a boutique hotel in Montmartre. You'll need to ring a doorbell and walk through a hidden passage to find it. Once inside, it's pure magic—lush gardens, candlelit atmosphere, and some of the best cocktails in the city.
Green spaces to sit, stroll, or disappear for a while.
A tiny park at the very tip of the island—you have to walk down stone steps to reach it. Bring a bottle of wine from Nicolas around the corner and stay until sunset. You could bring a book, but honestly the view of the Seine and the boats drifting by is too good—you won't read a page.
The formal gardens between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde are magical at golden hour. Grab a green metal chair, face toward the sun setting over the Arc de Triomphe, and just sit.
The original High Line, but better because it's empty. Runs above street level from Bastille to Bois de Vincennes. Come in the afternoon when it's all yours.
The most peaceful morning spot in Paris. Sit on the iron bridges, watch locals walk their dogs, listen to the city wake up slowly. Best between 7-9am.
The quintessential Parisian park. Grab one of the famous green metal chairs, find a spot by the fountain, and watch children push toy sailboats across the water. The Medici Fountain is especially romantic and tucked away from the crowds.
Dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, a suspension bridge, and a temple perched on a rocky island—this park feels like an adventure. Way off the tourist trail in the 19th. Bring a picnic and spend an afternoon exploring.
The iconic spots and beautiful views worth seeking out.
Sunset timing: Summer = 9:30pm, Winter = 5pm. Plan accordingly—golden hour is everything.
This is where you want to be at sunrise or early morning for the iconic Eiffel Tower view. The wide esplanade and fountain gardens are nearly empty before 8am—no crowds, no photo-bombers, just you and the tower.
Climb the hill to the white basilica and watch the city spread out below you. The steps get crowded with people sharing wine at sunset—it's a scene, but a beautiful one.
Almost too beautiful—gilded statues, Art Nouveau lamps, the Seine turning gold. This is for when you want to feel the full romance of Paris. Bring someone or don't, but bring wine.
After they removed the love locks, it has a quieter, more contemplative energy. The view toward the Louvre turns pure gold just before dusk. Less crowded than you'd think.
A quieter alternative to the main tourist routes. This elegant street runs through the 7th and has beautiful Haussmann buildings, little cafés, and that quintessential Parisian atmosphere. I went around 6am and it was perfectly quiet—but it started to fill up quickly with people.
The stairs behind the building—my secret spot. Almost no one goes there. You get the entire eastern Paris skyline turning pink and purple. Stay until the city lights come on.
Art, history, and beautiful spaces to wander through.
Obviously. But it's massive—don't try to do it all. Pick one wing, take your time, and save the rest for next trip.
☁️ Louvre booking tips
The mansion is beautiful, but on rainy days the garden is haunting. Watch The Thinker getting rained on while you stay dry under the covered walkways.
Wonderfully strange—taxidermy and contemporary art in a 17th-century mansion. It's quiet, almost meditative. The kind of place where you lose track of time.
The building itself is a statement—pipes and ducts on the outside, art on the inside. One of the world's best collections of modern and contemporary art. The top floor has incredible views over Paris, and the plaza outside is always buzzing with street performers.
One of the most opulent buildings in Paris. The grand staircase, the gilded Grand Foyer, and Chagall's stunning ceiling in the auditorium are all worth the visit. You can take a self-guided tour during the day, but seeing a ballet or opera here is the full experience.
☁️ Opera booking tipsVintage finds, bookshops, and things to bring home.
Climb to the second floor, find the reading library, and don't leave until you're ready. The resident cats don't mind if you stay for hours. Bring loose change for tea.
It's walkable from Notre Dame so you can plan to do both easily on the same day.
A carefully curated vintage shop with an excellent selection of designer pieces and unique finds. The quality is high and the prices are fair. Worth digging through for that perfect one-of-a-kind piece.
Another fantastic vintage spot with a well-edited selection. Great for finding unique pieces without sorting through endless racks. The curation is thoughtful and the prices are reasonable for what you get.
A beautiful little shop where you can custom make your own journal. You choose everything—the leather color, the kind of paper you want, string colors, journal type. They also have charms you can buy and add. And they do embossing, all customizable too. Perfect for picking up something truly personal while you're here—or to take home as a gift for yourself.
Saturday mornings are chaotic and wonderful. Come early (8am), bring cash, buy whatever looks good. Eat your haul for lunch in Place d'Aligre.
Even if you're not here to shop, the building itself is worth the visit—look up at the stunning Art Nouveau glass dome. But the real secret is the rooftop terrace. Take the escalators all the way up for a free panoramic view of Paris, including the Opéra Garnier and a perfect angle of the Eiffel Tower.
A curated mix of high fashion, avant-garde designers, and streetwear spread across multiple floors. Even if you're not buying, it's worth walking through just to see the installations and discover new designers.
Colorful, modern stationery with bold geometric patterns. Notebooks, cards, prints—all designed in-house. Perfect for picking up small, packable gifts that actually feel Parisian.
A whimsical toy shop tucked inside one of Paris's beautiful covered passages. Vintage toys, dollhouse miniatures, and old-fashioned games. Even adults will feel like kids again wandering through.
Minimalist, oversized silhouettes that somehow look effortlessly chic. The aesthetic is very "French girl off-duty." Great for elevated basics and statement pieces that you'll actually wear.
Parisian contemporary fashion—polished but not stuffy. Great for quality pieces that feel distinctly French. The Paris stores often have pieces you won't find elsewhere.
A stunning 19th-century-style apothecary selling handmade beauty products, perfumes, and grooming essentials. The packaging alone is art. They'll hand-calligraphy your name on anything you buy.
The world's oldest department store, and still the most elegant. Less hectic than Galeries Lafayette, with a carefully curated selection. Don't miss La Grande Épicerie next door—the food hall is extraordinary.
Honestly, not everything is worth your time.
I would skip it, honestly. It's not worth the day trip when you could spend that time exploring actual Paris. But if you have kids who are begging, you do you.
Walk everywhere. Paris is smaller than it looks, and you'll find the best things when you're not trying to find anything at all. The Metro is fast but you'll miss everything between A and B.