Travel 9 years ago Damsel Digest: Paris
The city of lights!
September is by far my favorite month in the year to visit Paris. Not only is it Parish Fashion Week, but the autumn weather is absolutely perfect. With warmer days and chilly nights, the season offers the best climate for walking, touring and sitting in the gardens yet it allows a cool breeze to snuggle up with your sweetie while overlooking the Eiffel Tower.
With a recent visit to Paris, a lot of you inquired about where I stayed, shopped and ate. Below you will find a full guide to my experience in Paris. If you have any recommendations, please leave them in the comment section! Also, you can find all of the listed places on my new Pinterest Board: Damsel Digest: Paris
To Eat
L’Avenue // 41 Avenue Montaigne // Website // A wonderful reason to get dressed up for a swanky dinner. This is definitely a must eat restaurant to see and be seen among socialites, fashion industry insiders and beautifully dressed parisians. The food is just as delicious as the atmosphere.
Café George V // 120 Avenue des Champs-Élysées // Website // The perfect place to sit and people watch. I love this restaurant because the atmosphere is very relaxed even though it’s in a very hip and luxurious neighborhood. Super friendly staff and exceptional truffle cheese pasta dish that I am still drooling over. Steps away from an epic Eiffel Tower view and great cocktails. Don’t expect to be amazed by the food as much as the scene.
L’Eclair // 32 Rue Cler a Paris // Website // Located in the famous Rue Cler Marketplace, wedged between tiny flower and fromage shops sits one of my favorite pubs. Order a signature cocktail and the charcuterie board for a happy hour snack post shopping. This is also a perfect pit stop to get dropped off at just before walking to the Eiffel Tower. You can stock up and make the 5 – 10 minute stroll for a picnic in the Champs de Mars which overlooks the Eiffel Tower. Oh, and did I mention the picturesque quartet marching band that strolled down the street like something out of a 1950s film? This place was idyllic. Click here to read more about the Rue Cler Marketplace.
Café de Flore // 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain // Website // This is perfect meeting place for a late breakfast or coffee gathering. The noteworthy scrambled eggs left me coming back for more but prepare your wallet. Walkable to great shops in Saint-Germain as well as a Laudurée that’s a 3 minute walk away {at 21 Rue Bonaparte}. Enjoy the walk as there are many cute specialty shops along the way for interior decor and accessories.
Ladurée // 75 Avenue des Champs-Élysées // Website // You simply cannot make a trip to Paris without a visit to Ladurée where, in my opinion, you will find the best macarons you’ve ever had in your life! Need I say more? If you are in the mood, embellish in an entire breakfast experience.
La Belle époque Restaurant // 36 rue des petits champs // Website // There are no photos {aside from one I snapped with my cell phone} and hardly any website of the truly authentic french restaurant that marked on of my all time favorite meals in Paris. We ordered steak frites and everything, and I mean everything, from the hip crowd to the beautiful decor in the brasserie was incredible.
White Bird Jewellery // 38 Rue Du Mont Thabor // Website // I don’t know about you, but when I travel I always like to find something abroad that is truly special that I cannot find back home. I stumbled across this adorable shop by chance and it is now one of my favorites in Paris. Featuring the very best up and coming designers as well as one of a kind pieces, you are guaranteed to walk out with something unique.
Gabrielle Geppert // 31 Galerie Montpensier, Jardins du Palais Royal // Website // Located within the walls of one of my favorite gardens in Paris rests my favorite vintage store in the world {True Story}. The owner has become an iconic fixture in Paris for her tomboyish style and genuine smile. A visit to her store will not only offer you the best of the best in vintage designer handbags, jewelry and clothing but you are certain to walk away with Gabrielle’s cheery disposition {be careful, it’s contagious}. Be sure to make time for a stroll in the gardens, have a glass of wine, and snap a quick picture at the park entrance.
Merci // 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais // Wesbite // You’re welcome. Yes, I’m that confident that you will Merci me later for recommending this fun concept shop located in the heard of the historic Haut-Marais district. Bringing together products and costumers who have yet to meet, you are sure to discover a new designer or vintage creating that will leave you wanting to come back for more.
Shakespeare and Co. // 37 rue de la Bûcherie // Website // I love nothing more than a cozy book store that you can get lost in for hours. This infamous book store originally opened in 1951 and today it serves both as a regular bookstore and as a reading library, specializing in English-language literature. The shop was recently featured in the Woody Allen film Midnight in Paris.
Cos Stores // Website // I always make sure to leave plenty of room in my luggage for the goodies I pick up at Cos. With crisp and modern styles similar to that of Zara, the best news about this store is that it is now available online & is coming to the US!
Hotels in Paris can be quite pricey so I have always found that renting an apartment is very cost effective. Because I was traveling with my photographer gal pal, we decided on getting a 2 bedroom apartment. The past two trips I’ve taken to Paris I have used AirBnB and had wonderful experiences both times. The 2 bedroom apartment was in an excellent location that was walking distance to everything. {Click here to view the 2 bedroom apartment} The Louvre was only a couple of blocks away, a beautiful coffee cafe two doors down on the corner and the row of shops on Saint Honoré was a 3 minute walk from the doorstep. The beautiful balcony served as the perfect backdrop for a few picturesque Instagrams and there were several good restaurants in the area. A favorite was La Belle époque restaurant at 36 rue des petits champs which was 300 meters from the apartment {no website available}. This was one of my favorite meals while in Paris! Side note: The first time I went I stayed near the Champs Elysées at a studio apartment that was a block away from L’Avenue {great location!}. {You can find the 1 bedroom apartment by clicking here}.
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Photos by Alexandra Gibbs
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