Where to stay, eat and what to wear

But upon arrival in Paris I immediately felt at home. Like a long-lost friend reminiscing about our youth, I grinned when I saw street names I’d typed into endless fashion week schedules and iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Being a ‘virgin visitor’ in a capital city can often be overwhelming, but going to Paris felt more like a long-awaited reunion.

Paris has one of the most enriched cultural landscapes in the world, making it a challenge to see it in just 72 hours. But armed with a to-do list of recommendations from colleagues and several Instagram accounts bookmarked, I divided my time by breaking my visits into manageable chunks, according to the arrondissement, and making sure there were some good lunch spots along the way and pubs were visited.

Here’s a beginner’s guide to Paris, with tips on where to stay, where to eat and where to shop:

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Where to stay

Aptly named after the street where you can find it, Rue du Château d’Eau – located right in the 10 of Paris^e district. Located a 15-minute walk from the train station, Gare du Nordthe former hotel has been given an 80s-inspired renovation by Charlotte Albert & Alexis Lamesta, the French design duo of Necchi Architecture.

Two enormous ceramic panthers frame the reception to greet hotel guests and set the tone of Hotel Château d’Eau; Infused with attitude, animal prints are tastefully peppered alongside hand-picked flea market finds on the ground floor smoke room.

Looking at Paris’s pioneering disco scene, the artistic community that accompanied it, and New York’s Studio 54, each of the 36 rooms is like stepping into a time machine. Inspired by the aesthetic cues of American Psycho and Serge Gainsbourg, you can expect smooth mirrored bedside tables, deep earthy rugs that extend to the table consoles and domed stainless steel sinks.

Prices start from approx £138.

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Maison Delano is located in the luxurious 8th arrondissement. In keeping with the area’s chic sophistication, the former 18th-century mansion combines classic Parisian architecture with understated design pieces. Expect traditional cornices and marble fireplaces, alongside Japanese controlled toilets and Scandi-inspired bouclé chairs. The terrace is an indispensable hotspot and a perfect sun spot on long afternoons; The dining options are thanks to Michelin star chef Thierry Marx.

Prices start from around £511.

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Named after the famous French author and now known as ‘the most romantic hotel in the world’, this Maison Proust-inspired, sultry and sophisticated hotel makes for the most memorable holiday. With just 23 boutique rooms, the hotel features a decadent Belle-Époque interior with flora and fauna and gilded artwork. Guests can also enjoy a traditional hammam treatment at the Moroccan-style spa.

Prices start from around £867.

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Minimalists, look away now. The lavishly appointed Le Grand Mazarin hotel and spa in Paris’s 4th arrondissement is a stone’s throw from the Seine, just off the famous Rue de Rivoli. The hotel looks like it was plucked from a Wes Anderson film – the eclectic design extends across the whimsical rooms, quaint spa and bar; the latter is tucked away in the hotel’s basement and encourages nightcaps that make hours pass in minutes.

Prices start from around £400.

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Where to eat

A walk along Canal Saint Martin at dusk means a visit Gros Bao, a simple Japanese restaurant. With ruby ​​red floors and vintage signage on the wall, the playlist is current and the open kitchen tends towards a relaxed atmosphere. The menu offers plenty of steamed dumplings and, because of its namesake, enormous bao buns. Also choose a large number of small dishes; meltingly soft eggplants, a spicy cucumber salad and sweet and spicy mapo tofu (with a generous portion of Shanghai noodles).

Pick up pastries at Mamiche to see you from breakfast to lunch with ease. Our top tip? The almond and chocolate croissant is stunningly delicious, as is the caramelized sweet bread that, once bitten into, leaves you soft and pillowy; like a hybrid between French toast and a crème brûlée. The star of Mamiche is the focaccia sandwich, filled with antipasti courgettes and Fromage à Pate Dure (which literally translates to hard cheese, and tastes similar to Parmesan).

There is one bistro that leads the way when it comes to Parisian dining, and that is it Chez Janou. Famous for its decadent chocolate mousse, this understated but wildly popular restaurant is definitely worth the wait. Expect all the usual and delicious French dishes; share mussels gratin to start and order the haddock brandade for main (a creamy mixture of potato and smoky fish, served with a spicy dollop of aioli). Make friends with your waiter and you’ll get a shot of pastis to end a real feast.

Order a pre-Eurostar snack Le Mansartwhich is a stone’s throw from the Moulin Rouge. Devil’s eggs and a fresh fennel salad with orange, apple cider vinegar and Greek yoghurt make for a perfect light lunch and are an effortless crowd-pleaser to recreate once you’re back on home turf.

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Where to drink

Le Gare Le Gore in Paris’s 19th arrondissement is one of those places where hours can seemingly pass in minutes. The music venue is definitely worth the subway trip and is located next to an abandoned railway line. During the day it’s the perfect place to enjoy a fresh pint of Blanche, away from the crowds, but in the evening it comes alive with jazz and techno.

Le Petit Martin is a traditional neighborhood spot that encompasses all the best features of a truly great bar; a striped awning over seating that stands on the shoulder to encourage conversation regardless of the language barrier, cured meats hanging behind glass and covered in chalked prices, locals who you think are bar staff, bar staff who you think they are locals. On the second visit, you shake hands with the landlord and graze on olives and a baked camembert studded with pine nuts in the late afternoon sun.

The 10^e The arrondissement has a large number of bars to choose from, and luckily Hotel Château d’Eau is located near a handy intersection of great bars. Sit outside Le Napoleon and guzzle a bottle of Côtes du Rhône while people watching. Le Chateau D’Eau (next to the hotel, also named after the street) feels akin to Soho’s Blue Posts pub; The Aperol Spritz’, which sits on a corner and attracts a well-dressed crowd, goes down more than smoothly under the red neon sign.

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What to see

Of course, as a first timer, it would be rude not to check off the amazing sights of Paris. Walk to Notre Dame, via the Center Pompidou, then head towards the Louvre and rest your feet in the Jardin des Tuileries. From there, a long walk along the Seine towards the Eiffel Tower and then to the Arc de Triomphe before hopping on the metro to the Champs-Élysées is a must.

Place des Vosges in Le Marais

Before you leave the city, visit the Sacré Coeur and Montmartre and, if you can, take a trip to Le Marais for some vintage shopping. You will find it fine near Place Vendôme Lifestyle boutique Hotel Costes which is filled with beautiful home accessories and rare limited edition vinyls.

The suggestion of spending a sunny day in a cemetery may sound somewhat morbid, but the Père-Lachaise cemetery is fascinatingly beautiful. It is the most visited necropolis in the world and is home to the graves of some of the world’s greatest talents – think Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde and Edith Piaf. The labyrinthine paths lead you up small cobbled steps and around large pillared buildings among endless flower-covered tombs. Entrance is free and on an area of ​​no less than 110 hectares you can get lost for hours.

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What to wear

The Parisienne style is unanimously chic, but for a flying visit to a city with very changeable weather, it’s essential to pack like a pro.

• Choose separates that you can layer and wear casually during the day. Come evening and swap in an effortless crisp white shirt and some statement jewelry. You need a bag big enough to see you from sunrise to sunset, so opt for a neutral color scheme and a roomy shape for versatility.
• Boat shoes are the shoe of the day and are the perfect option for walking around comfortably in something that’s a little better put together than sneakers.
• And it wouldn’t be true French fashion without wearing a striped sweater – this one from Samsoe Samsoe is a subtle nod to the classic Breton.

  

  

  

  

  

  Tory Burch Tory Burch Marshmallow Bag

  

  Samsoe Samsoe striped sweater

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