My Paris Recommendations
Paris is the most magical city in the world—and my favorite place to be, second only to sitting beside my husband and son.
I used to live in Paris; I studied there in college, and I travel there annually for work (to report on Paris Fashion Week) and for leisure.
I even got engaged there (see photo above!).
I’m lucky enough to have visited more times than I can count, and as a result, I’m often asked for my Paris recommendations. Below are my personal favorites to help you make the most of your trip.
Hair Styling
✂️ David Mallett
A top-notch Paris hair salon known for personalized cuts and styling in the heart of the city.
📍 Address: 14 Rue Notre Dame des Victoires, 75002 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://david-mallett.com/
📞 +33 1 40 20 00 23
✂️ DESSANGE Paris St Honoré Salon (multiple locations around the city - but this one is my favorite)
Elegant Dessange salon near Rue Saint-Honoré and the Tuileries — classic Parisian salon experience.
📌 All Dessange salons offer professional haircuts, styling, coloring, and beauty services rooted in French salon tradition and modern trends.
Photographers
📸 Elena — Paris Photo Shoots
Creative photographer specializing in portraits and shoots around Paris.
📍 Website listed below:
🌐 Website: https://en.elenaparisphoto.com/
Hotels
🏨 La Fantaisie
Boutique luxury hotel with a hidden garden and rooftop in a lively neighborhood.
📍 Address: 24 Rue Cadet, 75009 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.lafantaisie.com/
🏨 Paris Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel
Well-located hotel near shopping and transport hubs in the Opera district.
📍 Address: 16 Bd Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/paroa-paris-marriott-opera-ambassador-hotel/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0
Bookstores
📚 Shakespeare and Company
Historic English-language bookshop beloved by locals and travelers.
📍 Address: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/
Tourist Attractions
🖼️ Musée d'Orsay
World-renowned museum of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art on the Seine.
📍 Address: Esplanade Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, 75007 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.musee-orsay.fr/
🗿 Musée Rodin
Beautiful sculpture museum set in lovely gardens.
📍 Address: 77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.musee-rodin.fr/
⛪ Sainte-Chapelle
Gothic chapel known for its stunning stained glass windows.
📍 Address: 10 Boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.sainte-chapelle.fr/en
📸 Notre Dame Cathedral
Iconic Gothic cathedral (still under restoration with exterior views and surrounding parks).
📍 Address: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame — Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/ (official site – restoration info)
🚴 Bike Tours Through Paris
Unique way to explore the city — local companies offer e-bikes and guided tours starting near major landmarks.
👗 Galerie Dior
Luxury fashion and history museum celebrating Christian Dior.
📍 Address: 30 Avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.dior.com/en_int/experience-dior/paris-galerie-dior
⛪ Sacré-Cœur Basilica
An iconic white basilica atop Montmartre, with panoramic city views.
📍 Address: 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France
🌐 https://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/ (official site)
🗼 Eiffel Tower
Iconic iron tower and global symbol of Paris with panoramic city views.
📍 Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Av. Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.toureiffel.paris/
💀 Catacombs of Paris
Fascinating underground ossuaries housing the remains of millions, offering a unique look at Paris’s history.
📍 Address: 1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.catacombes.paris.fr/
🏛️ Louvre Museum
The world’s largest art museum, home to the Mona Lisa and centuries of artistic masterpieces.
📍 Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.louvre.fr/
🕊️ Père Lachaise Cemetery
Paris’s most famous cemetery, known for its tree-lined paths and the graves of figures like Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, and Édith Piaf.
📍 Address: 16 Rue du Repos, 75020 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.pere-lachaise.com/
Neighborhoods for walking and flâneur-ing*
*A flâneur is a 19th-century French term for a detached, leisurely stroller who wanders city streets, observing modern life without a specific, urgent purpose. It’s my favorite activity to do in Paris. Paris-based author Lauren Elkin’s "Flâneuse" explores this concept beautifully.
📍 Marais
Historic district filled with boutiques, cafes, galleries, and food markets.
📍 Opera
Dynamic area around the Palais Garnier and major department stores.
📍 Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Charming Left Bank neighborhood known for cafés, art, and literary history.
📍 Montmartre
Montmartre is one of Paris’s most atmospheric neighborhoods—romantic, slightly bohemian, and unmistakably cinematic. Perched on a hill in the 18th arrondissement, it’s known for winding cobblestone streets, artists’ studios, hidden cafés, and sweeping views over the city. Once home to Picasso and Toulouse-Lautrec, Montmartre still feels like a village within Paris.
Restaurants
🍷 Le Bon Georges
Classic French bistro beloved by locals. Has a wine list the size of a bible!
📍 Address: 45 Rue Saint-Georges, 75009 Paris, France
🌐 Website: http://www.lebongeorges.paris/
🍽️ Bouillon Chartier (Grands Boulevards – original location)
Historic Parisian bouillon serving classic French dishes at famously affordable prices since 1896.
📍 Address: 7 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.bouillon-chartier.com/
🍽️ Le Cheval d'Or
Contemporary French restaurant with a focus on seasonal cuisine.
📍 Address: 21 Rue de la Villette, 75019 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://chevaldorparis.com/
Shopping
🛍️ Flea Markets (Les Puces & More)
Paris flea markets are legendary for antiques, vintage fashion, art, and curiosities:
Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen (Les Puces) — large sprawling market near Porte de Clignancourt, great for antiques and vintage treasures.
📍 140 Rue des Rosiers, 93400 Saint-Ouen, FranceMarché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves — classic outdoor flea market with vintage finds on weekends.
📍 Avenue Marc-Sangnier & Avenue Georges-Lafenestre, 75014 Paris, France
🍰 Iconic Tearoom & Pastry House
Angelina – Paris Tea House
Classic Paris café and pâtisserie known for its Mont-Blanc dessert and rich hot chocolate. Founded in 1903, it’s a historic stop near the Tuileries.
📍 Address: 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
🌐 Website: https://www.angelina-paris.fr/
🍸 Bars in Paris
• Bar Hemingway – Legendary cocktail bar tucked inside the Ritz Paris, known for its intimate atmosphere and classic drinks honoring Ernest Hemingway’s Paris legacy.
📍 38 Rue Cambon, 75001 Paris, France
🌐 https://www.ritzparis.com/hotel/paris/bars-restaurants/bar-hemingway?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb_bar_hemingway
• The Moose – A lively Canadian-style bar in Saint-Germain with craft beers, poutine, burgers, and plenty of screens for live sports.
📍 16 Rue des Quatre Vents, 75006 Paris, France
🌐 https://www.mooseparis.com/
• Café de la Nouvelle Mairie – Time-honored Parisian café/bar near the Panthéon with a classic sidewalk terrace and good wine by the carafe.
📍 19 Rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris, France