Paris is always a good idea, right?! Yes, we cry! As soon as you see the iconic architecture of the city, you know you are in for a treat when it comes to soaking up the beautiful culture. The wrought-iron Tour Eiffel and the magnificent Basilique du Sacré-Cœur overlooking the city from Montmartre contrast with the modern Centre Pompidou and art nouveau cafes' wicker-chair-lined terraces. The old meets the new and it all comes together perfectly. Plus, the cream-coloured stone buildings make for the best Instagram-worthy backdrops.
These days, Paris is renowned as a foodie paradise and rightly so. With an array of creative wine bars and quirky restos emerging across the city, Paris is not short of places to grab exquisite cuisine - from a freshly ground café au lait to an authentic croque monsieur. People watch outside a cafe by the Seine or soak up culture in one of the city’s buzzing museums. One thing’s for sure - whatever you do, make sure you do it (dressed) in style…
Where to eat:
PINK MAMMA
Bigmammagroup.com
From Batignolles to Bastille, the greatly successful Big Mamma group now boasts six restaurants in Paris, all of which specialise in fresh Italian cuisine and Instagram-worthy settings. Opt for one of their authentic wood-fired pizzas and a glass of their finest Chianti, or share their Florentine steak speciality with your fellow dining partner.
DERRIERE
Derriere-resto.com
Just on the cusp of Le Marais, locate the unmarked door between the 404 restaurant and Andy Wahloo and you will be lead into a courtyard and from there into the eccentric Derrière. With other venues like Sketch and Double Club in London, expect quirky, eclectic scenes with the hottest people hanging out there. Opt for the bed table with your gang, or try your luck with a game of ping pong.
What to do:
MUSÉE YVES SAINT LAURENT
Museeyslparis.com
Housed inside the elegant hôtel particulier on Avenue Marceau where Yves Saint Laurent worked for almost 30 years, this museum is dedicated to the life and work of the iconic couturier. The museum plays host to many exhibitions of YSL’s work as well as offering a sneak peak into the designer’s studio. Pieces are displayed on mannequins so that guests of the museum can get a privileged first hand feel of the designs.
MUSEE DE L’ORANGERIE
Musee-orangerie.fr
Immerse yourself in the work of one of France’s most celebrated painters - Monet. His extraordinary cycle of eight enormous Decorations des Nymphéas occupies two huge oval rooms purpose-built in 1927 on the artist's instructions. After you’ve soaked up a bit of culture, explore the magnificent Jardin des Tuileries just outside of the museum and set yourself up there for the afternoon with a little picnic.
Brands to wear:
ISABEL MARANT ETOILE
Our go-to for easy Parisian style: Isabel Marant. With insouciance at the core of the brand’s ethos, Isabel Marant’s Étoile diffusion line boasts collections of relaxed off-duty fashion with a romantic bohemian edge that quickly become the ultimate cool-girl staples. As the basis of the designer’s own wardrobe, this line is close to her heart, designing clothes for real people and real moments.
LEON & HARPER
Created in Paris in 2010 by Philippe Corbin, Leon & Harper has rapidly insinuated itself into the wardrobes of free-spirited young women through its timeless basics with their unique sense of detail. Leon & Harper presents a pop and enlightened fashion line for “with-it” girls who do not break the rules but rather twist the codes. Speaking to the cool girl within, the brand doesn’t take themselves too seriously and completely embodies female empowerment as well as independence.
