Growing up in high school, I dreamed of Parisian bakeries and patisseries, French typography and architecture, and the French way of living and eating. I was deeply in love with the Cherry Blossom Girl’s blog, visiting her site nearly everyday and falling more in love with her pictures of Paris with every post of hers. When I finally got the chance to visit last year, it was everything I dreamed of and more: the patisseries, museums, the beautiful gardens, the croissants, the way everyone dressed so stylishly, the white buildings.
Paris is a place I hope to visit again – here are my favorite places I think you’ll enjoy too!
Eat
- Le Cinq
Because we were in Paris, we felt we had to eat at a fine dining 3-star Michelin restaurant for the experience. Lunch prix fixe is always cheaper over dinner and tasting menus, so we went for that and were treated to surprises in between meals, extra helpings of delicious bread, the most hospitable and unpretentious service, and caramels and chocolates to take home. This place had me swooning and in love *heart eyes*. - Pirouette
Such a gem! We had their set lunch menu, which came out to $20 a person for an appetizer and main course. Everything was so fresh, tasty, and vibrant. Truly a steal, in my opinion. One of my most favorite meals in Paris. - Du Pain et Des Idées
There’s a reason why this bakery is one of the top choices for croissants and breakfast pastries. We came early because I read that they sell out fast, and we had some of the flakiest, buttery croissants. - Popelini
Stop by this pastry shop to have bites of their choux à la crème! They are little choux filled with cream. With so many flavors, buy a few or more to taste! One of my favorite sweet bites of Paris. - MÛRE
One thing I love about Paris is the fact that it’s filled with so many cute cafes and coffee shops! This one especially was close by our hotel, and we were immensely charmed by the lady owner and her delightfully scrumptious gluten free, buttery almond madeleines.
See + Do
Shops
- La Trésorerie
A lovely, airy kitchen and home goods store where I picked up some wares to take home - Merci Merci
A popular concept store and cute cafe to browse and spend an hour – and did I mention the red car in the courtyard that is very instagrammable? - La Grande Épicerie
Anyone who loves food and cooking will love it here – floors full of gourmet food and groceries with a butcher, bakery, patisserie, a restaurant, and so much more. A great place to get souvenirs.
Attractions
- Musée de l’Orangerie
For admirers of Impressionism and especially Claude Monet’s works … the oval rooms with his water lilies cycle paintings were a dream come true to see in person. - Musée d’Orsay
Airy and bright and perfect for a long afternoon of wandering through the rooms and halls of artwork. Especially loved the beautiful cafes in this museum and the famous clocks. More photos here. - Palais Garnier
Came here for a self-guided tour for this Italian-style opera house, and we were in awe of the opulent, grand rooms and halls, especially the Grand Foyer. More photos here. - Palais Royal
Our first morning in Paris was spent exploring the beautiful courtyard and gardens, with a short break at Cafe Kitsune for coffee and tea. More photos here. - Jardin du Luxembourg
A beautiful garden with manicured gardens and a fountain, in the heart of Saint Germain, perfect for taking a break at after exploring the neighborhood - Louvre Pyramid
Saw the Louvre lit up aginst a dark blue night sky – a really beautiful moment for us. - Jardin des Tuileries
We strolled past this garden a lot – it’s very much in the middle of everything! It’s such a nice garden to sit and people watch. One evening, we just sat here and had a simple dinner of sourdough bread with lots of butter, salami, strawberries, and salads. You just have to have a little picnic in Paris! - Musée Jacquemart-André
A beautiful private art museum with monumental stairways and its winter garden room. More photos here.
If you’ve visited Paris, where have you been to and loved? Would love to know!
