It is absolutely impossible to create a shortlist for Paris, as the city is paved with fantastic restaurants, cafés, bars and museums. But here are a few ideas, which should only be suggestions as any good trip to Paris turns into improvised meals around the corner, or an impromptu picnic after the Sunday market, without any risk of being disappointed.
Eat
– Septime. Probably the hardest reservation to get in Paris, although Clamato, their second restaurant right next door, has a no reservations policy and serves small plates of seafood all day long.
– Mokonuts. Only open for lunch on weekdays, so make sure you call ahead to book a table. Husband-and-wife team Omar and Moko will delight you with labneh and other Lebanese-inspired savory dishes, as well as the best chocolate chip cookies in Paris.
– Racines. One of the best Italian restaurants in Paris, in a small alleyway, with a fantastic vibe and the most wonderful chef.– Du Pain et des Idées. An old school boulangerie by the Canal Saint Martin, famous for its pistachio escargot.
– Miznon. An Israeli restaurant where you should order the burnt cauliflower, a pita sandwich, and pretty much anything else on the menu.
– Le Servan. A beautiful bistro where Tatiana Levha, who used to work at L’Arpège with Alain Passard, delights us with Asian-inspired traditional French bistro dishes. Her second outpost, Double Dragon, is fiery and much less Parisian.
– La Bourse et la Vie. Daniel Rose’s (Le Coucou NYC) restaurant, with gougères and pot-au-feu: one of the super Parisian meals compulsory on a first trip to Paris. Le Baratin and le Bistrot Paul Bert are excellent alternatives on the East Side.
– Le Chateaubriand. Le Chateaubriand is a polarizing restaurant, but it has defined bistronomie in France and inspired chefs worldwide.
– L’Arpège. If you only have one Michelin-starred meal in France, it should be this one. Alain Passard is an unrivaled maestro who plays around with the most beautiful vegetables in Paris.
Drink
– La Buvette. The perfect “cave à manger”, with selected wines and small plates to nibble on — love the bergamot beans. Go there around 6pm for a glass of wine before heading to dinner. Don’t mix it up with Jody Williams’ Buvette which is in Pigalle!
– Septime La Cave. Septime’s friendly wine bar, aka the perfect spot to wait for a table at Clamato while sipping orange wine. You can also buy wine to go!
– Le Café du Coin. It’s called café, but serves excellent wines and small plates.
– Combat. The hippest bar in Paris!
– Cravan. A newer bar on a different side of town, perfect after playing tourists all day.
– L’avant-comptoir. A fantastic spot right next to Le Comptoir and you can nibble saucisson and cheese with a great glass of wine. You’ll be standing and it will probably be packed, though.
– Frenchie bar à vins. Another “cave à manger” and this one is by chef Gregory Marchand, aka the perfect spot if you couldn’t get a reservation at Frenchie.
– Shakespeare and Company. One of the best bookshops in Paris now has its own little café right by Notre-Dame.
Do
– Le Musée d’Orsay. This lesser known museum is set in an old railway station, overlooking the Seine. Another excellent museum is Le Musée Picasso.
– Biking. Don’t waste your time waiting in line to climb up the Eiffel Tower, but do see it from your bike along with the Trocadero, Notre-Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Invalides, and even Montmartre if you’re courageous.
– Le Jardin du Luxembourg. Le Luco is a garden where West Bank locals go for a stroll or a picnic, so stop by Pierre Hermé’s first shop and enjoy a Mogador macaron by the fountain.
– Le Marais. One of the most touristy neighborhoods in Paris, and for a reason. Lock up your bike and spend a couple of hours getting lost in the cobblestone streets.
– Picnic by the Seine. On the Ile de la Cité you’ll find a few shops to get wine, bread and cheese and then walk down a few steps to eat right on the river bank.