Off the Beaten Path in Paris
by habituallychic
07 . 24 . 09
A few of you had some great shoe suggestions for Paris that I had never heard of so I thought I should ask if anyone has any off the beaten path restaurants or shops we should visit. Obviously we plan to visit all the sites and other usual suspects such as Deyrolle, Colette, R & Y Augustie, les puces, Laduree and Pierre Herme, etc. I keep joking with Stefan that I am going to have to taste test every macaroon in Paris. Good thing we’ll be walking them off! But if anyone has any secret gems, we’d love to hear them!
We didn’t announce it before but we will also be attending the Maison & Objet home show while in Paris. When I was talking to Monelle Totah from Williams-Sonoma Home and telling her our plan to visit Versailles, she was the one who suggested that we visit in September so we go to the show. I hear it’s amazing so we are also very excited because it means that many of our friends will be there too such as, Mercedes and Alberto from Etos and George and Jon from Flair! I can’t think of any more fabulous people to share our trip with and I know it will mean lots of fun stories to report later!
We are staying in the Saint Germain area a block away from the Seine and the Pont Neuf which couldn’t be any better for walking to all the sites. Everyday I wish I was leaving tomorrow! But I’m sure you are sick of me talking about Paris everyday so I promise to post about some other topics…for a few days at least! A bientot!
Photo from GoosieGoose via Flickr
26 Comments
If you have time, do try a falafel from Chez Hanna in the Marais , 54 rue des Rosiers (better than L’as du Falafel if you ask me). Also a wonderful little restaurant: Le Gaigne, 12 Rue Pecquay, in the Marais near the Rambuteau metro; if you have time for the five course tasting menu, it’s fabulous and very reasonable! (http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/john_talbotts_paris/2008/06/le-gaigne-a-pleasant-successful-sunday-revisit-with-a-gang.html). As for shops, you will discover hidden treasures just from all the walking! Bon Vacances!
I just ate the last macaroon from the little Laduree box my girlfriend brought back for me, so sad. Wish I could eat them everyday.
I never tire of hearing about Paris – can’t wait to hear what you think of the M&O show…I’ve never been but also hear its fantastic. Make sure you get to le Place des Voges…so cute. The Marriage Freres cafe/shops are also adorable. Saint-Germain is definitely my favorite area…so beautiful just to walk around. Have fun! Wish I was coming with you both!
Every time I go to Paris, one of my first stops is the wonderful hammam at the Grande Mosquee de Paris – it’s the best way I’ve found to get over the jetlag and wash away the airplane grime.
Even if you don’t have enough time for a steam bath, don’t miss the delicious mint tea and pastries served in the lovely courtyard!
You can easily walk to the hammam from St Germain – it is located in the 5th arrondissement, near the Jardin des Plantes.
Bon voyage!
Emmanuelle
I’m so jealous! I’ve stayed in the 6th before. Go to the Luxembourg Gardens. Have café at the historic Cafe de Flores. You’ll have a great time no matter what you do. Just don’t get a toothache and have to find a dentist like I did, lol.
Don’t forget Flamant (the home store) or Repetto for ballerina flats. I’m going to the show this year too and quite excited about it. So you can’t talk about Paris too much for me. I will say hello if I see you there.
I would love to hear the shoe suggestions! While I could never endure the chic shoes you talk about while being on my feet all day in any city, I am always looking for a way to look “chic” while doing this.
Have a lovely time!
Have a lovely time! Au revoire!!
Leslie
The Musée de la Vie Romantique … please go there if you haven’t …
I think we deserve a Paris clock countdown on your websites, clicking away the hours, minutes, seconds till you fly off for this dream. So much to see and enjoy and I hope it is crammed much, much happiness!
Laduree macaroons, Luxembourg gardens, the gorgues little Diptyque store on St. Germain, Saint Chapelle is the most amazing place – go on a sunny day and you’ll feel like you are standing inside of a giant faberge egg. They also have evening concerts. And one of my favorite casual restaurants was Willis Wine Bar. It’s on the right bank a couple of blocks from the Louvre. I’m so jealous! I want to start planning another trip right now!
I can’t wait till we go! I think I may have to find some new shoes as well, always a problem for men with small feet (TMI?)
Please, talk about Paris as much as you want–it is the most magical place on earth (after all).
We walk M&O every year and our favorite little bistro is Au Bon Acceuil @ 14, rue de Monttessuy in the 7th – wonderful food, delightful ambience and if you sit at a table outside, a pretty view of the Eiffel Tower at night. Also, don’t miss the Musee des Arts Decoratifs next to the Louvre on Rue de Rivoli.
Flamant is a must!
Didn’t Deyrolle suffer a huge fire? I do hope it is back.
You will like Bon Marche department store for clothes!
We’ve been to Paris a few times and love (besides some of those already mentioned):
Aux Lyonnaise – by Alain Ducasse, quite affordable set dinner, make reservations
JP Hevin – hot chocolate to die for, don’t go overboard by having chocolate cake with that (like we did), located on Rue Saint Honore
Berthillon – heavenly ice cream, go to their own store located near Notre Dame for best choice of flavors
Chez Francis – you’ve posted a picture with the Effiel Tower, so I think you’d like the view from here. I don’t remember much about the food, but the view of the Effiel across the river is great. Get the alfresco streetside seating, start dinner before it gets dark, and watch the tower light up in time for dessert. Located at Place de l’Alma.
We’ve love reading your blog.
Bon voyage and enjoy Paris!
Saint Germain is probably my favorite area to stay in, you cannot be the location.
The Sacre Coeur is a must for a birds eye view of Paris and of course, Montmartre is fantasic. There is a sweet neighborhood cafe on Rue de Clignancourt near Rue Labat. They serve a fab beer that’s been called 1615! Bon voyage!
You’ll have the best galettes and crepes at Breisz Café, rue Vieille du Temple. Have a jug of cidre with it and try the Lait Ribot (buttermilk). You usually wait for a table, but watching the fashionable crowd, time passes quickly.
The rue Vieille du Temple and rue des Francs Bourgeois is good for all sort of (window) shopping and very inspirational. It has changed a lot since we first moved there in 2004, but I still love it.
Restaurant wise I also love Mon Vieil Ami (we usually go there for my birthday!, as I am a veggy freak, and no one prepares them so beautifully) on the Isle Saint Louis, Café des Musées, rue de Turenne. A must is Chez Prune on the Canal Saint Martin, they serve a delicious lunch menu weekdays (that is where I finally fell in love with Paris), and in the evening it’s a really relaxed and quirky, inspiring hang out place.
I could go on and on …
Don’t miss the Mare on Sundays, it’s the place to be. One of my favorite restaurants Chez Janou is there as well as a great shop, Manoush. Anthropologie carries some of thier line and it’s divine. There are a few Manoush stores through out the city now.
http://www.chezjanou.com
If you go, make a reservation and order the chocolate mouse!
My Brother and Sister in law have been livng in the 16th for the past fours years. So when my hubby and I go we have our own personal tour guides and translators. Nice, because neither of us knows a lick of French. On our last visit this spring we went to LaPorte in the Latin quarter(even though it is a French restaurant). It is my foodie BIL’s fav and it was excellent. Super reasonable too. We also like Bugsy which is kind of a happy hour pub that is British with a mafia theme. It is really close to the Hermes, 24 Rue de Faubourg Saint-Honore (the one Oprah got kicked out of). It is definately a local place for the English speakeres. I would say don’t bother with anyones else’s macaroons except Ladure. They all look so pretty but sadly do not stack up. Trust me I’ve tried them all. Lastly, if Fendi Casa is at Maison, they have Ladure’s macaroons for free. Yum!!
the garden’s at Vesailles are lovely ane the Hall of Mirrors nice but it wasn’t my fav. If you can get out to Monet’s Gardens in Giverny that was a highlight. I’d also suggest you do a boat tour on the Seine through Bateau Moche. We didn’t even get resevations but it was April. That is all my insider tips.
You have to go to L’Avenue on Avenue Montaigne- not exactly off the beaten path but it is so chic and French, you will love it
Also, go to the Hotel Costes (same owner as L’Avenue)
Allison is a great little clothing store on Rue du Bac (same street as R&Y Augusti), make sure to walk all the way down this street from Ave. St. Germain to Le Grande Epicerie (amazing french grocery store).
Someone else said this but you have to go to Jardin du Luxembourg, it is one of my favorite gardens I have ever been to.
Again, Avenue is a must for lunch.
Have a great time Heather!
Natalie
We were just in Paris for our honeymoon and found 2 adorable and reasonable restaurants between Saint Germain and the Latin Quarter just steps from the Sorbonne. They are Le Petit Prince and Le Coupe Chou (the cut-off head). Le Coupe Chou is such a treat and very romantic. I highly recommend it!
I forgot to mention…I agree with othter commenters…the Marais is great for shopping especially on Sunday when most everything else is closed. Another good “to do” on Sunday is the Jardins Luxembourg…very lively on Sundays too!
I have not been, but there is a new store, Merci, which sounds very cool.