"The grand exterior and courtyard, built from 1475 to 1507 and heavily restored in the 20th century, is a disguise. Behind the turrets and thick walls is the city's lively collection of graphic arts, including more than a million postcards and 20,000 posters, an art form at which the French have historically excelled." Want to go. Photo via @oceane88a on Instagram. Originally discovered it via NY Times: http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/03/05/travel/05journeys.html
Want to go.
Olivier Magne received meilleur ouvrier de France 2015 for his much-coveted viennoiserie and breads. I love their dark bread (see my mark on their martyrs location) and their brioche à la coupe is divine (citron confit / cassis). Photo via marionadecouvert. Closed tuesdays.
Fab viennoiserie.
Want to go. Described by Elle as having ‘déco Brooklyn cool style’ (a reason to avoid in my book....) but want to try their baguette bâtard and roulé pistache-chocolat.
Want to go for their pains aux fruits secs (tout bio) and Japanese-influenced pastries
Want to go to try the charmingly-named kabuki (opéra au thé vert).
Want to go for the pain di coin. Newest outpost.
Want to go. Organic flour, apparently good fruit tarts and pasteis de nata
Want to go. Soba specialties
Want to go. Bakery with bread primarily made from organic ancient grains, zero additives.
Want to go. Slightly suspicious of the ‘concept’ nature of the place (bakery+cocktail bar?) but it gets rave reviews for its ancient grains bread.
I’m reluctant to mark this place bc it’s still v much a local spot but I feel selfish indulging in their divine babka all alone... also love their pain noir (it’s the dark one w all the seeds) and I just generally love the atmosphere and friendly, laidback women who work here. Coup de cœur, Go before it gets insta-famous. (And early in the day...)
adorable little resto that specializes in inarisushi — about 4 tables and one chef. Bentos during the week for lunch are a good choice and I also enjoyed the silken tofu.
Gorgeous pain noir with a touch of molasses. (See my mark on their other location for more details on their brioche and pastries.)
Want to go for kamo nanban. Photo via @shifumifood (Instagram).
Want to go.
Épicerie by the folks from Passerini. Lovely staff and delicious house made (if pricey...) pasta.
Want to go. Taiwanese, gets great reviews from the local foodie press. Best to reserve in advance. Owner has a thing for old arcade games apparently...
Want to go. Passed by this place at lunchtime and it looks like a nice combination of chic and comfy, packed with parisians
A classic spot for gorgeous art books, and one of the best selections of English reading material in Paris.
Boulangerie from some ex-Hermé guys. Considered by some to have the best chausson aux pommes of Paris. Tressé figues also looks fab. Didn’t get a chance to try their viennoiserie but I love their buckwheat bread and the gâteaux are some of my favorite in Paris. Prepare for a line, and an odd mix of tourists and locals...
Somewhere between the Tartine and Craftsman and Wolves of Paris by the look of things. Need to investigate further.
It’s ok. avoid petits pains salés. Honestly there are much better places ...update nov 2018: after a few trips i can say that I am in love w the pain liberté here— but the staff are sadly of the snobby/ rude hipster Parisian variety...
Delicious, light, extremely reasonable price fixe Italian inspired lunch. Beautiful little space.
Want to go.
Want to go. Middle eastern bakery and épicerie.
Want to go. Small, Italian-inspired place just voted best bistrattoria 2019 by le fooding.
Want to go.
Want to go.
Want to go. Cuisine du marché w accents gastronomiques.
Want to go.
Want to go.
Want to go. Run by the youngest-ever winner of Meilleur ouvrier de France (at 24!). Pain de seigle noisettes raisins épices sounds so good.
Boulangerie bio / levain.
Great terrace with a view over Paris
Want to go come springtime....
Want to go to their outpost in the 14th. Italian-sourced ingredients and wood-fired pizza oven. Photo via marionadecouvert.
Aline and Laurent say it's some of the best Vietnamese in Paris.
Want to go.
Want to go. Modern tea house w apparently excellent baklava along the Charonne strip of Lebanese places. Photo via pizzahunter.
Want to go. Latin American (particularly Colombian) specialities looked nice at their pop-up at Paris Internationale.
Want to go. Walked by this branché, yet cozy place on a sat night and looks like a sweet spot for dinner. Reservations needed ...
Want to go. Annie loves the salads here.
Want to go. From the Lebanese chef (and president of l’académie de cuisine du monde arabe) Karim Haidar.
Want to go for the pizza. Épicerie italienne next door w entirely uninterested staff, but willing to give the pizzeria a try.
Want to go. Uzbek restaurant.
Want to go for the tasting menu. One of Romain Duris’ coups de coeur....
Great for second hand books in English. This whole neighborhood is filled w librairies of all varieties so worth a hunt around more generally.
Sandro outlet. Still pricey but you can occasionally get good deals.
One of my all-time favorite designers. They have stores all over now but it’s nice to go to one of the flagship Paris boutiques. I still wear pieces from them I bought back in 2011 (one-pieces before one-pieces were at thing!)
Italian restaurant and cafe with very good espresso. Bon rapport qualité /prix, especially at lunch. Charming server from Parma.
Italian place. Want to go mostly for the greenhouse-like atmosphere in the adjacent room.
Recommended
Want to go. Natural wines
Beats with your beets. Kitchen (literally) straight out of ABC Kitchen NYC
Want to go.
Want to go- Paris outpost of Japanese resto. Recommended by a French friend who's spent a lot of time in Japan.
My friend's favorite place in the Marais. Looks fab... especially that thon mariné au gingembre. photo via @yesilale
What's remarkable is the city of Paris and bookshops like this - prints and books dedicated exclusively to the Alps and mountaineering.
Delicious viennoiserie, if a bit pricey and 'found' by the tourist-foodie set. Original Belle Époque déco is a treat. Want to try the pain des amis next time (a bread popular before WWII). while everyone raves about the chocolat-pistache escargot, I'd be inclined to go for just a simple croissant or pain au chocolat next time
Perfect spot for an afternoon or evening drink up on the terrasse above parc Belleville.
Literary cafe on the iconic rond-point in Belleville- hosts evening concerts and 'intello' type events.
Wonderful bookstore, with a children's and art/BD branch across the street.
A little rougher/more bohemian than nearby buttes-Chaumont. Love the terraces and that the full diversity of the Belleville neighborhood is on display here. Don't miss the views from the top terrace.
Hands down my favorite Paris park. Come for the golden afternoon-evening light, and stay for a drink at the Rose kiosk.
I had one amazing and then one ok dinner here (Asian-inspired plates tend to be over-salted). Excellent wine list, primary natural and biodynamic. Branché crowd, w the occasional anglophone table (the chef is from London after all). Evenings only; first seating takes reservations, second seating (21h30-22h) is walk-in ... and expect a wait.
Exquisite dark chocolate macaron. Other pastries looked gorgeous (although on par in price w pierre hermé and perhaps not quite as inventive). They also have a selection of 'traiteur' items that are a good option for takeaway picnic to jardin du Luxembourg
Tasty Bobun. Not worth a detour, but it hits the spot when you want something quick and casual. Could have used a bit more heat (spice).
Want to go.
Sontag, Sartre, de Beauvoir, Man Ray, Brassaï, Duras, Saint-Saëns, Brancusi, Tzara....the great modernists of the 20th and late 19th c are all here.
Want to go back to this cute little bistro /cafe/wine bar that does cicchetti in the evening and Italian-themed literary salons.
Great little (healthy) take-away salads, quiche and sandwiches du jour by the 5 cm cut. Oh, and the Madagascar millefeuille which they make from noon sur commande (supposedly - I didn't see this happening when I was there).
Want to go.
Oh, the house of Berthillon, how I love you. Ice cream parlor from a classier era. Terrific seasonal flavors (Agenaise in the winter!). My highest recommendation.
The classic Parisian ice cream. Brave the lines and you will be rewarded with a beautiful (petite) scoop of delicious glace.
Want to go. Photo via misterngo.
Italian. Pastas. Exquisite.
Want to go.
Absolutely delicious food and wine list. The team of Septime took over this old resto with a perfect intersection of flavors/techniques, and created somewhat the perfect Parisian experience, together with a decadent clown decor.
Je veux y aller.
Have great udon noodles with duck for lunch. Next doors to telescope. Rue villedo 5
Want to go for udon with duck.
Petit luxe. A lush set of 20 rooms, each full of references to famous operas. Want to go. From €170. Via Tablet Hotels.
Want to go. boutique hotel with opera-themed rooms.
A stunning elevated park on an old viaduct - the precursor to the High Line in NYC. Originally came recommended by Jean and David Bordon. Definitely want to go on a future trip. Photo via @malumais on Instagram.
One of the best kept secrets of Paris - beautiful above-ground park, precursor to the High Line in NYC. Definitely worth a stroll.
Beautiful space, cafe too!
Want to go.
Want to go. Looks like a stunning hotel for a stay in the Marais. Tucked away and with the feeling of a London members' club. Photo via their website.
Maggie and I walked by here last summer, shame we couldn't try it. Feels like a bistro for the modern era; packed with locals, delicious seasonal menu (changes daily), bright dining room with an open kitchen.
Want to go. Upscale, perhaps overly trendy place, but with an excellent menu. From what I've read, champions of ceviche and unique vegetable sides.
French comfort food; reasonably priced and popular with locals, so expect a bustling crowd. Closed weekends and Mon-Wed dinner. Want to go.
Want to go.
Great, geeky wine list and quite the scene; perch here for a glass while you're waiting for a table at Le Chateaubriand.
Want to go.
