… a lovingly curated selection of the essentials you need for living in the City of Lights – prepared by people in the know.
Make your own salads at Jour’s numerous locations in Paris including 8 shops in the 8th arrondisement (see all locations on their website). You can also order online for delivery.
Metro: Concorde or Tuileries (line 1)
For over a century, Angelina’s has built a reputation as a place of sophistication and indulgence. Its renowned African hot chocolate is so thick that you almost feel like you’re digging into a bowl of soup. It’s made from three types of African chocolate from Nigeria, Ghana and the Ivory Coast and is made especially for Angelina’s. It is a beautiful place where the likes of Proust and Coco Chanel frequented. While you’re there, be sure to try the Mont Blanc, Angelina’s trademark pastry since 1903!
Read The Hot Chocolate Challenge for other great spots to satisfy your chocolate craving.
Other Angelina locations on website.
Metro: Franklin Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9)
Fiery-hot Northern Chinese food, smack in central Paris. Serves mainly Pekingese and Sichuanese regional specialities including soups, dumplings, seafood (marmite of spicy prawns) and poultry (try the crispy spicy chicken and their scrumptious Peking duck), meat dishes like Shanghainese lion’s head, water-cooked beef, and braised pork with vermicelli noodles. Casual atmosphere. Conveniently located near the Champs Elysées.
17 Rue des Écoles, 75005 Paris, France
An authentic American diner serving breakfast all day, juicy hamburgers, homemade chile con carne, bagels, and much more!
READ MORE IN OUR “Top 15 Weekend Brunches in and Around Paris” article!
Metro: Pont de Levallois Bécon (line 3)
Located on a tiny island 5 minutes by car from Étoile in Paris, this spacious loft style brasserie is housed in a 19th-century building with a dinosaur skeleton suspended above the entire dining room. They also offer a weekend brunch menu with freshly squeezed juices, mini viennosseries such as “feuilletée au Nutella” for chocolate lovers, an appetizing selection of antipasti and Italian desserts.
Read about this and more weekend brunch spots in our weekend brunch roundup!
METRO: Cardinal LeMoine (Line 10) or Place Monge (line 7)
The perfect bistro for any occasion! Simple, fresh and homemade, what more do we need to say !
Metro: Opéra (lines 3, 7 & 8)
Just a few meters away from the beautiful Opéra Garnier, the Grand Hotel serves a delicious hot chocolate in its adjoining restaurant and bar, Café de la Paix. You can ask for the chocolate to be fort en goût (very strong) or touché delicate (delicate touch) depending on your preference. Hot chocolate is served all day and even late into the evening, so it’s perfect for that late night craving. It’s another pricey venue but the place itself is stunning and the hot chocolate is wonderful.
Read The Hot Chocolate Challenge for other great spots to satisfy your chocolate craving.
Metro: Pigalle (line 2), St-Georges (line 12)
Café Marlette is an adorable, quirky place where you can find homemade BIO food, gluten free cakes and delicious coffee. They also do incredible BIO breakfasts, brunches and lunches as well as snacks for l’heure du goûter
Read full review here of gluten-free bakeries in Paris by INSPIRELLE contributor Chloe Martin.
Metro: Filles du Calvaire (line 8)
A small Mexican restaurant in the third arrondissement where the lack of space (and maybe the strength of the frozen margaritas) means that you naturally get to know your neighbor. There is even a small speakeasy hidden at the back of the restaurant behind a white, unmarked door.
We adore this charming, chalet-style restaurant and event space on its own island in the Bois de Boulogne in the West end of Paris. The voyage there itself is unique – you can row, yes we said row, your way across the lake. Or, you can park and then take a ferry from the public parking area (free for restaurant goers, 1,50€ round-trip for island hoppers). On fine days, you can pack a picnic and find a spot of grass to spread out. Or, you can book a brunch at their elegant restaurant.
For more brunch recommendations, read our article: “15 Best Weekend Brunches in and Around Paris”!
Metro: Parmentier (line 3), Oberkampf (lines 5 and 9)
Another hip and must-visit gluten free bakery in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Their pastries are to die for and you just have to try their famous rectangular bread!
Read full review here of gluten-free bakeries in Paris by INSPIRELLE contributor Chloe Martin.
Metro: Porte de Choisy (line 7 and T3)
An authentic Chinese “dim sum” restaurant that’ll transport you back to the big banquet halls of Hong Kong, with pushcarts that circulate the dining tables offering dozens of dainty, traditional bite-sized delicacies for you to choose from. Try steamed, fried or stuffed. Rely on old favorites like: steamed shrimp dumplings (Har Gao), steamed pork brioches (cha siu bao), stuffed raviolis and sticky rice in lotus leaves. It’s noisy and crowded, but definitely kid-friendly!
For more brunch recommendations, read our article: “15 Best Weekend Brunches in and Around Paris”!
7 Rue Gustave Courbet, 75116 Paris, France
46 Rue de Sablonville, 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Once known as the original American diner in Paris, Coffee Parisien now boasts 3 restaurants, with talk of a fourth opening! Count on American staples like eggs benedict, bagels with cream cheese and lox or French toast with grapefruit. For a French touch, enjoy a big cup of café au lait.
FIND MORE brunch recommendations in our: “15 Best Weekend Brunches in and Around Paris” article!
Metro: St. Augustin (line 9), Miromesnil (line 9 and 13)
Crom’Exquis is a gourmet restaurant in the 8th arrondissement, which serves up traditional French food, using the finest produce, including its own garden products such as pea shoots, red shiso and cress. On Saturday evenings, we highly recommend you join the chef, Pierre Meneau, at his table d’hôte (host’s table) where he indulges his creativity. Only three tables are available, so book ahead! Read our review of Crom’Exquis here!
Metro: Arts et Métiers (lines 3 and 11)
It’s not often that you walk into a restaurant that looks like you’re in a shabby chic, Parisian apartment; but when you do, you’re in for a real treat. Here, you’ll find guests drinking, dining and flirting in the bedroom, living room, dining room or boudoir, making themselves quite literally “at home”. There’s even a Ping-Pong table and a smoking room hidden behind a mirrored wardrobe… très chic.
Metro: Corentin Cariou (line 7)
A large, banquet hall-style restaurant offering a wide range of traditional Chinese dishes, from classic seafood and meat courses to gastronomic specialities like abalone and sea cucumber, as well as some Thai and Japanese dishes.
28 Rue Vignon, 75009 Paris, France
The first bakery in Paris to offer traditional French pastries 100% Gluten-free. Run by husband and wife team François and Marie, the bakery is warm and inviting and their pastries will have you coming back for more.
Read full review here of gluten-free bakeries in Paris by INSPIRELLE contributor Chloe Martin.
Metro: Jacques Bonsergent (line 5)
Holybelly is owned and operated by Sarah Mouchot and Nico Alary, who together create a new menu every month – a mix of classic French and Western comfort food, based on what products are in season. Their staple: Sunday breakfast.
Metro: St-Georges (line 12), Pigalle (line 2 and 12)
When INSPIRELLE recommends breakfast at Hotel l’Amour or “Hotel Love”, it should be a late romantic breakfast for two. In fact, why not get away for a weekend with your partner and reserve one of the intimate hotel bedchambers?
FIND MORE brunch recommendations in our: “15 Best Weekend Brunches in and Around Paris” article
Metro: Rue Saint-Maur (line 3) Saint-Ambroise (line 9)
This wine bar is known for it’s ‘just like at home atmosphere’.
Metro: Vavin (line 4)
Imagine sipping your café au lait and reading your Sunday newspaper quietly in one of Paris’ most iconic and legendary Art Deco brasseries. Known for being frequented by politicians, artists, the literati and glitterati over the years, La Coupole is a popular tourist stop, but mornings are a tranquil time to go for a traditional French breakfast of coffee, juice and a basket of fresh croissants and pains au chocolats. English menus and wi-fi are a plus.
FIND MORE brunch ideas in our: “15 Best Weekend Brunches in and Around Paris”
If you love some of INSPIRELLE‘s portraits and Paris photos, turn to professional photographer Alexis Duclos. One of our most fervent supporters, Alexis is an experienced award-winning photographer and video cameraman who can capture your individual and family portraits for business or personal use as well as produce corporate videos to enhance your company websites.
To consult his versatile work visit his website: http://www.alexisduclos.com
Metro: Miromesnil (lines 9 and 13)
“A place of peace and expertise where everything is for you.” Includes swimming pools, 8 treatment rooms, a Russian Banïya and a private couples suite. Leave the kids in the Kids Club while you have your treatment!
“More than simply a Law Firm”, P3B AVOCATS is comprised of 5 partners with differing practice experience to create a unique, high-quality, full-service firm. Their structure leverages each partner’s acknowledged practice area of expertise, enabling them to provide legal advice to the highest level.
Most of the partners are bilingual English and French speakers. Helpful for start-ups in small business and the media and tech industry.
Metro: St-Phillipe-du-Roule (line 9)
A social and cultural club open to women who are, or who are married to, British or Commonwealth nationals. Their clubhouse in the heart of Paris includes a lending library of English books for its members, as well as space for their many regular weekly activities.
Metro: St. Augustin (line 9), Miromesnil (line 9 and 13)
Crom’Exquis is a gourmet restaurant in the 8th arrondissement, which serves up traditional French food, using the finest produce, including its own garden products such as pea shoots, red shiso and cress. On Saturday evenings, we highly recommend you join the chef, Pierre Meneau, at his table d’hôte (host’s table) where he indulges his creativity. Only three tables are available, so book ahead! Read our review of Crom’Exquis here!
Metro: Franklin Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9)
Fiery-hot Northern Chinese food, smack in central Paris. Serves mainly Pekingese and Sichuanese regional specialities including soups, dumplings, seafood (marmite of spicy prawns) and poultry (try the crispy spicy chicken and their scrumptious Peking duck), meat dishes like Shanghainese lion’s head, water-cooked beef, and braised pork with vermicelli noodles. Casual atmosphere. Conveniently located near the Champs Elysées.
Alexandre de Paris always said, “Every woman is a queen in my chair” and indeed at this luxurious salon near the Grand Palais, you can enjoy a relaxing moment while being pampered. You can even pick up one of their beautiful hair accessories while you’re there.
Insider’s Tip: our friends love Vietnamese hairdresser PHUC, especially for weddings.
Ecole Internationale Bilingue (EIB) Paris is a network of bilingual schools which welcomes international students of more than 70 nationalities in its co-ed and secular campuses around Paris. EIB offers a bilingual education to students from preschool (maternelle) through high school, according to the British, American and IB qualifications.
EIB’s four campuses in the 8th, 16th and 17th arrondissements follow the official program of the French Ministry of Education (hence it is sous-contrat with the government e and tuition is partially subsidized), with daily lessons in English at various levels.
EIB Victor Hugo follows an English-language, international curriculum, with daily French lessons, from pre-school through high school. Students can earn an internationally-recognized High School Diploma or IB Diploma.
Contact individual schools for further information.
You know Zara Women’s and Men’s affordable clothing stores so visit the chain’s home furnishings boutiques throughout Paris. Discover attractive collections of small furniture, decorative objects for the bathroom and kitchen and a textile selection (bed linen, tablecloths, towels, throw covers).
Eurécole was founded in 1989 and offers a pre-school through secondary level of tri-lingual education. Following the French national educational curriculum, the experience is strengthened through additional activities such as sports, music, history of art and others. They offer language tuition every day from pre-school in French, English and Spanish or German.
Metro: George V or Franklin D. Roosevelt (line 1), Saint-Philippe-du-Roule (line 9)
One of the most famous pharmacies in Paris, it was established in 1890 by an Englishman. Ideally located in the heart of the most beautiful avenue in the world and offering exclusive prestige brands.
A wide range of products are available both online and in the store, which amazingly for Paris, is open 24 hours/7 days per week!
The Canadian Bilingual School of Paris is the first school to offer a Canadian curriculum in France. Its goal is to provide students from kindergarten through 12th grade (ages 3 to 16) a truly bilingual and bi-cultural experience that will develop the language skills students need as 21st-century learners. In adopting British Columbia’s Education Plan, the ECB-CBS provides students with a personalized approach to learning.
Specialist children’s hairdressers with TVs at each seat, a playroom for waiting, and a small toy when finished. They’ve been a fixture in the 17th near Parc Monceau for 15 years and are now in the 7th and 9th arrondissements . Also, the owner recently designed her own children’s clothing line which is available for purchase in the salons.
Metro: Villiers (lines 2 and 3)
This 50+ year old London sensation can be found here in Paris, too! Many of the top hairdressers have been trained in London and speak English. See other locations in Paris on website.
Metro: Franklin D. Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9)
Part of a big international chain, this full service beauty salon and spa is pricey (107 – 157€ for a women’s cut and blowdry), but you will walk out feeling like a well-coiffed glamour queen. We love chilling out in massage chairs while getting our tresses washed.
Craving crumpets and scones, beer-battered fish and chips or Chicken Tikka Massala to take home? M&S now has 6 Food Halls in and around Paris to satisfy your British food cravings! After all the shopping, in some locations, you can enjoy a sample of the takeaway foods in their café/restaurant.
Metro: George V (line 1), Franklin D. Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9)
This beautiful spa in the heart of Paris’ golden triangle features 1,400 m2 of tranquillity, sophistication, beauty and comfort, hidden in the lower level of a Haussmannian building. Book a relaxing massage or facial and you can use their divine indoor swimming pool. Want to get fit? Get a membership at their fitness center, which offers aqua fitness classes as well as pilates, yoga, zumba and boxing. After working out, grab a drink at their juice bar and chillout on a comfy lounge chair around the pool.
Metro: Charles de Gaulle – Étoile (lines 1,2,6 and RER A)
Step into a haven of tranquility and escape the hustle of the city at the first Spa My Blend spa by Clarins, which boasts 1,500 sq m of space to offer a full range of exclusive beauty treatments, as well as a fitness room, hammam, laconium room, sauna and a 23-meter infinity pool — all housed inside the luxurious Hotel Royal Monceau. Free access to the Spa for all appointments of over 2 hours. Club membership packages also available if you want regular access to their fitness and spa facilities.
One of the largest and most varied selection of white porcelain pieces, plus more, with 5 locations in Paris.
Metro: Champs Elysées Clemenceau (line 1 and 13)
A hands-on science museum housed in the magnificent Grand Palais in the heart of Paris. Includes a planetarium, permanent and temporary exhibits and regular demonstrations and workshops. It’s also a sister museum to the Cité des Sciences, so you can get an annual Universcience pass to visit both museums through the year.