The number of recommendations may be overwhelming, so this is me trying to make your can’t-miss list a touch easier.
if i had to choose one…
coffee : ki’bok coffee
TKTKTKTK if your goal is to grab a speciality coffee to go from a pint-sized café, pop over to the marais for a café crème at boot. the deliciously slow pace of the shop makes a mundane coffee run feel especially luxurious, and there’s no crowding due to the lack of indoor seating.
sweet treat : kTKTKTK
TKTKTK dozens of boulangeries and chocolate croissants later, in my opinion, this is the crown jewel. the pastry-to-chocolate ratio is perfection, it’s buttery enough that within moments, the bag that serves as a pastry vessel turns transparent, and each time i’ve enjoyed one, it’s served warm, fresh out of the oven.
cocktail : les deux magots
if your rubric for this category is evaluated based on taste, ignore me and head to the little red door. but if, alongside a classic cocktail, you’re also craving an experience, take a seat at les deux magots, order an overpriced aperol spritz, and begin the best people watching of your life.
hotel : rosewood
while i’m aware that this option isn’t available to everyone and requires an annual membership, it felt disingenuous to recommend any other space since the soho house truly blew me away. excellent service, dreAMY communal spaces, and rooms THAT WILL GIVE YOU an overwhelming amount of interior design inspiration. p.s. if you’re not a member, i’ve loved the hoxton paris and have heard incredible reviews of hotel des grands boulevards.
breakfast : carette
This was a go-to special occasion breakfast for my partner and his family when they lived in paris, and i’ve come to really appreciate the breakfast offerings. rich hot chocolate that rivals angelina, creamy scrambled eggs sprinkled with chives, fresh-squeezed citrus juices, and fantastic breads and pastries are all available in this single space, which catapults it to the top of my must-visit list each trip.
lunch : l’as du fallafel
l’as is no secret hotspot, but it is the only meal we feel required to eat on every single trip to paris. while the line may look intimidating, it moves quickly and is well worth any wait. i go for the falafel pita with aubergine, then walk around the marais or head to Square Albert-Schweitzer to sit and eat in a peaceful setting.
dinner : le clown bar
on our most recent trip, my partner and i shared an exquisite and memorable meal at clown bar – with natural wine, a cheese plate we demolished, the best pork chop i’ve ever eaten, and a triple chocolate dessert that left me deliriously happy. the menu rotates, but nothing will disappoint, and the decor feels quirky yet quintessentially french.
shop : merci
basic? definitely. but does that stop me from making the pilgrimage to boulevard Beaumarchais on every trip to paris? absolutely not. with rotating exhibitions that greet you as you enter the store, each visit feels unique and will tempt you with home decor, paper goods, jewelry, and french-approved pieces to add to your closet.
