Art, Shopping & Culinary Delights in the City of Lights

Shopping in the Marais

I was traveling solo at the start of my recent Paris trip and wanted to shop in the Marais, but was short on time and didn’t know the area well. I also don’t speak any French (not counting "hello" and "thank you"). I decided to book a private shopping tour to maximize my time and visit more French boutiques.

My tour guides were wonderful to work with. They reached out to me several times in preparation for the tour and tailored the experience around my style, interests, and needs. Clara was easy to talk to as we navigated from my hotel to the Marais. I walked away with a new jacket, shoes, denim, bag, and Jellycat croissant for my daughter (anyone else’s obsessed?!). I’d say it was a successful tour!

The company I worked with also organizes additional Parisian tours. For those looking to maximize shorter stays in the City of Lights, it might be beneficial to book the fully customized day tour. You can spend the morning seeing the highlights of the Louvre and end your day shopping in the Marais.

Le Bon Marché

This iconic luxury department store on the Left Bank is the oldest department store in the world. We were treated to a glam session from a selection of designer make-up brands in a spot where we had a great view of the iconic escalators. Afterwards, we ended our afternoon with Champagne in the private shopping rooms with views overlooking the Mandarin’s Hotel Lutetia.

Cooking class

My cooking skills are as limited as they get and after taking a class on mastering classic French sauces, even I left (mostly) confident in my ability to recreate various sauces with my recipe sheet in hand as the perfect souvenir.

River cruise

In my opinion, the best way to see the Eiffel Tower is at night when it sparkles on the hour. You’ll also appreciate the Notre-Dame, Louvre, and Musee d’Orsay (my favorite) from a different perspective. Various tour companies offer sightseeing, dinner cruise, or luxury cruise options.

Sacré-Cœur

Although crowded, the views of and from the Sacré-Cœur Basilica at sunset are pretty special—and free, so long as you avoid being pickpocketed.

Sainte-Chapelle

The stained glass windows are stunning. This might be one of the most beautiful churches I’ve set foot in.

Musee d’Orsay

While I wouldn’t skip the Louvre, I must admit I do prefer the Musee d’Orsay, which is home to many works by the Impressionists.

Brasserie des Prés

Located on a pedestrian-only, cobblestone street in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Brasserie des Prés serves a seasonal menu of traditional French cuisine sourced from local producers. I enjoyed the beef flank steak, but the vin jaune and morel mushroom chicken is a specialty (serves two). Save room for dessert. May I recommend the crème brûlée or Paris-Brest?

Le Relais de l'Entrecôte

My family and I loved the simple menu (steak and fries) at Le Relais de l'Entrecôte. It’s become increasingly popular—for better or worse thanks to instagram. Expect long waits.

Ralph’s

Classic American fare with a beautiful garden courtyard to enjoy brunch during the warmer months.

La Fantaisie Restaurant

A garden oasis serving seasonal traditional French cuisine to hotel guests and locals in the Faubourg Montmartre neighborhood. Enjoy cocktails before or after dinner at the charming rooftop Bar Sur Le Toit.

La Suite Girafe or Perruche Paris (rooftop of Printemps)

For iconic views of the Eiffel Tower.