Sam has always loved France and since it’s so close to his heart, it’s become close to mine aswell. I mean, Paris is one of my favourite cities anyway – it’s beautiful, romantic and it’s full of style. But since Sam has shown adoration for it, I love it even more! In fact, it’s become our happy place.
He booked me a few nights in Paris as a Christmas present and he chose to go in July, which I was thrilled with! Is there anything better than floating around in summer dresses and sandals?! We flew from Bristol Airport on Thursday and arrived in time for a late dinner before settling down at our hotel. Could I wait for French onion soup with a fresh baguette and plenty of beurre (butter)? Of course not!
Friday
The weather was gorgeous, so we set out as soon as possible and headed for Au Vieux Paris. It was constructed around the same time as Notre-Dame, so quite possibly one of the oldest cafes in Paris. Then, we wandered to Odette, a pastry shop specialising in cream puffs. I chose passionfruit and Sam went for his trusty flavour of choice, chocolate. They were delish!
We meandered around Smith and Son independent bookshop for a while, which was paradise to me. Not only do they have huge range of books but their range of fashion magazines is apparently the largest in Europe. They carry more than 15 editions of Vogue!
We also stopped at Café de Flore, another old but legendary cafe, as well as Good News Coffee where I filled up on matcha latte. Naturally! The rest of the day was spent wandering in the glorious Parisian sunshine. It was so warm that I called into Bathroom Graffiti to buy a handheld fan. And ogle the divine homeware. All very me!
In the evening, we stayed around the Republique area and ate at Khantine, a healthy Asian restaurant, had dessert at Mon Coco (strawberry salad, FYI) and enjoyed music in the square. After speaking to some locals, we learned that Parisians frequently gather here for concerts, parades, and dancing so it was the place to be!
Saturday
We set out early to make the most of the day, as always. Our first stop was Palais Royal and a walk around the gardens. I have many beloved places in Paris, and this is one of them. It’s quiet, chic, and perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle. I love wandering along the old-fashioned stores in the arcades, which includes the luxurious, multi-coloured nirvana that is Rianna + Nina, Café Kitsune (a firm favourite in Paris) and Augustinus Bader.
Next, we headed to the Eiffel Tower (how can we not?), Café de l’Alma and Place de l’Estrapade, which is right next to the Pantheon. Emily in Paris fans, you might recognise it, as it’s the location for her apartment, Gabriel’s restaurant, and the bakery, La Boulangerie Moderne.
The foodie tour continued at Café Boheme, which was worth the trip to Montparnasse. It had the cosiest, prettiest décor, the service was lovely, and the food was great. I’m always slightly skeptical of “Instagram worthy” cafes having good food but this place delivered on all aspects. Bravo!
In the evening, we ate at Matcha Ochaya, a floral-themed Japanese restaurant and tearoom and ate macarons from Pierre Hermé. Magnifique!
Sunday
Today was our last day, before flying home but we managed to fit in Republique of Coffee, a charming café with big glass windows, mirrors and Street Fighter playing on a Nintendo in the corner. To finish our gourmet weekend, we had a macarons and the new Eugénies (a biscuit and chocolate hybrid) at Laduree in the airport. As always, we had a fabulous time and couldn’t wait to go back in October.
