This past week, I traveled to the land of cheese, baguettes, vino, and croissants! I’ve been to this beautiful french city before, but Paris seemed much different than it was through my 21-year old eyes. Funny how travel changes your view on something when you aren’t concerned where the closest local bar is next to your hostel 😉 I was surprised how much I didn’t remember of this beautiful city. When I went previously, I didn’t get the charm and hype around the place. I mean, everyone is obsessed with Paris, or at the least, thinks they will be if they haven’t been yet. This time around, I was lucky enough to go with work, and I truly was able to take in the incredible tastes, sites, and history. I wanted to snap a photo of every little corner, cityscape view, and brasserie I passed. Paris is such a site to be scene, with impressive historical architecture, a strong fashion scene, delicious hidden eateries and outstanding hotels..
A small list of hotels I recommend..
We stayed at The Peninsula and it was nothing short of amazing. We also dined at Hôtel de Crillon, a Rosewood Hotel that has recently gone through a huge renovation. If you are in need of a mid range to budget accommodations, I am dying to rent a beautiful Airbnb next time to get a taste how the locals live, and drink an afternoon cappuccino on “my” balcony. As for budget places, Ibis hotels are almost as cheap as hostels in Paris, but are more comparable to a US Holiday Inn, and are a surprisingly fine place to rest your head (I stayed at multiple on my journey through Europe post college grad.)
Where we dined and snacked..
It really helps to have a list of recommended places to dine when visiting Paris. There are so many hidden gems, beautiful cafe’s, and outdoor brasseries that it would be impossible to choose – you’d end up walking the city for hours deciding on a place for every meal! I know that I’m missing a ton of hidden gems, and cannot wait to go back to try more…
Breakfast/Lunch:
La Place Royale: Your typical brasserie, I loved the omelette and green salad (with a side of frites, of course). We followed lunch up with pistachio gelato from one of the many nearby shops.
L’As du Fallafel: The best fallafel you will ever eat!! Also in the adorable Marais neighborhood with plenty of shops and chocolate places to peak into after your meal.
Angelina’s: Known for their delectable, thick hot chocolate, this well-known spot was perfect for a late brunch. It’s the quintessential parisian brunch spot, filled with piled high plates of pastries and croissants. I also loved their avocado eggs benny!
La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac: OMG! This place is the most important on my list. We stopped here on our last day to get on more Paris sweets fix. We bought a chocolate cake to bring home, the best macaroons of the trip, l’equinoxe (what they’re famous for), and, of course, a bounty of croissants!
Dinner:
LiLi: Outstanding dim sum and specialty Chinese dishes located at The Peninsula. The decor is almost as good as the food. Was just what the doctor ordered straight off of a 12 hour flight.
The Lobby: You can probably see a pattern with the Peninsula restaurants, but this hotel does everything right, and I’d rate this my favorite meal of the trip. Must try the french onion soup! Also a great spot to enjoy an afternoon cocktail or tea time.
Brasserie d’Aumont: We dined here on our last night in Paris. As I mentioned above, this (very fancy) Brasserie is located at the recently renovated Hôtel de Crillon, which is a Rosewood property. The Brasserie menu is creative and delicious. A great place to celebrate a special occasion. If you don’t end up dining or staying here, it’s worth it to stop by for a glass of champagne and explore the beautiful lobby fill with gorgeous art.
Aside from eating, we filled our days in Paris with tons of activities and lots of walking (hello, 20k steps/day!) We visited Musée d’Orsay and picked up gorgeous art posters to be framed for our new apartment, explored the beautiful Marais neighborhood, filled with fashion shops and small kosher food stores, had a picnic along the river, went to Disneyland Paris (!), took in the tourist sites along Champs-Élysées, and rode the The Roue de Paris (the ferris wheel, so worth it!)
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