… a lovingly curated selection of the essentials you need for living in the City of Lights – prepared by people in the know.
Metro: Censier Daubenton (line 7), Jussieu (lines 7 and 10)
Longing to abandon the hectic city life and escape to an exotic location, but can’t leave Paris? A trip to the Grande Mosquée de Paris is all you need to feel pampered and rejuvenated. A beautiful historical landmark located in the 5th arrondissement not far from the Jardin des Plantes, the Grande Mosquée de Paris is home to one of the most popular hammams (traditional steam baths) in all of Paris. Get your massage or waxing done here too.
Right in the heart of the Passy area, you’ll feel transported to Thailand at Ayada Spa, where you can get a Thai massage from smiling masseuses trained at the famous Wat Pho in Bangkok. Or sit back in a comfy armchair and give your feet a sensory treat with a 30 or 60 minute reflexology treatment. If you have more time, they also have a small hammam.
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.
Métro: Rennes (line 12), Sèvres Babylone (lines 10/12)
Step into this oasis of eternal spring and you’ll feel all your tensions melt away. As the first fragrance day spa in Paris, every treatment Free Persephone offers – from manis and pedis to facial treatments and full body massages – is around fragrant themes: aromatic, citrus, or floral, depending on your mood.
Bring a friend, get treated like goddesses, then linger in their salon du thé. You can even privatize the space for a bachelorette party, birthday or other private event.
Prices: 18€ for a 10-min mini-massage; 34€ and up for manis/pedis; 96€ and up for facial and body treatments.
Read our review of Free Persephone HERE!
45 Avenue Edouard Vaillant, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Metro: République (lines 3,5,8,9,11)
Once you step into the exotic surroundings of Les Cents Ciels, with it’s sensual ambiance and Moroccan décor, you’ll be transported to a land of “The Hundred Skies”. At this traditional hammam, every detail ensures your complete relaxation and serenity. Bliss out and try one of their Rituels du Hammam packages, which allow you access to their steamy hammam, sauna and pool for about one hour before your treatment.
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.
Metro: Sentier (line 3)
For a unique spa experience, try Spa Dans le Noir, where trained personnel with sight disabilities perform massages and spa treatments in the dark. The concept began in 2004 with Restaurants in the Dark and now includes spas in Paris and Bordeaux.
Tarifs: 49€ for 30 mins, 90€ for 60 mins and 135€ for 90 mins.
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!
Metro: Ecole Militaire (line 8)
Yuzuka is a Japanese spa salon located just minutes away from the Champs de Mars and Ecole Militaire in the chic 7th arrondissement. As you step through the door and smell the scent of yuzu, the aromatic Japanese citrus fruit from which this spa gets its name, you’ll feel your stress melt away.
Read our full review of Yuzuka HERE.
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
The American School of Paris (ASP) in Saint Cloud, a western suburb of Paris, is a great place for families to find innovative activities and holiday camps in English. Through its Extension Program the private, international school opens its world-class facilities to external students aged 4 to 18 during school vacations as well as Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the school year.
Camps and year-round activities led in English include basketball, tennis, soccer, coding, science, fashion design, filmmaking, theatre and more. Kids looking to improve their English skills have a choice of English immersion classes and even intensive workshops to prepare for the English BAC exam or the SAT American college entrance exam. At ASP, there’s bound to be a camp or workshop right for your child.
Check out their WEBSITE for all the details!
Who doesn’t like to bowl? There are several bowling alleys in Paris for great family fun, from the Bowling Mouffetard to Bowling Foch near the Champs Elysées, or the child-friendly lanes at Front de Seine in the 15th arrondissement which has lightweight balls for little ones 5 years and up.
Bowling is a great birthday party option as well. Check the lanes nearest you for their party packages.
Bowling Mouffetard: 73 Rue Mouffetard, 75005 Paris
Tel: +33 (0)1 43 31 09 35
Bowling Foch: 2 Avenue Foch, 75016 Paris
Tel: +33 (0)1 45 00 00 13
Front de Seine: 44 Rue Emeriau, 75015 Paris
Tel:+33 (0)1 45 75 35 37
Bowling de Champerret: 2 Rue du Caporal Peugeot, 75017 Paris
Tel: + 33 (0)1 43 80 24 64
4 Rue Malher, 75004 Paris, France 0.73 km
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: Cardinal Lemoine (line 10), Place Monge (line 7)
A cultural and education center providing a vision and profile of the personality of Ireland. Offering student accommodations, events and activities in the heart of Paris.
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 !
Homesick Brits love this popular, English style bakery-cafe with four establishments around Paris serving a wide variety of homemade cakes, scones, quiches and fresh bread. A favorite treat is the carrot cake with icing made from organic quality ingredients. They also serve organic salads and soups and brunch on weekends. The original Rose Bakery is located on the rue des Martyrs in the 9th arrondissement, a street made popular by its numerous resident artisans and specialty shops.
For more brunch recommendations, read our article: “15 Best Weekend Brunches in and Around Paris”
Lights, camera, action! Follow in the footsteps of James Bond, Audrey Hepburn and Carrie Bradshaw as you walk through the streets of Paris! Hollywood lovers will relish visiting Parisian locations featured in their favorite films and TV shows, including Midnight in Paris, a View to a Kill, the Hunger Games, the Da Vinci Code, Amélie, Sex & the City and many more. Set in Paris offers a variety of walking, car and bus tours to help you re-live famous scenes from your favorite films, while exploring the City of Light in a unique and fun way.
Metro: Pont Marie (line 7)
The ice cream shop where you hear La Vie en Rose playing in the background as you enjoy a scoop (or two!) on the picturesque bridge connecting the two islands, Ile Saint Louis and Ile de la Cité. All of the flavors are delicious, if you actually manage to choose from the incredible selection chez Berthillon!
Metro: Pont Marie (line 7)
Grab a refreshing gourmet popsicle at La Paleteria on Ile Saint Louis in one of their really fun flavors like chocolate cherry, clementine, mojito, and even speculoos — those delicious, spicy French biscuits !
Metro: Cluny-La Sorbonne (line 10), Saint-Michel (line 4)
Sometimes you just crave a good bowl of Chinese noodles. Mirama is the place to go for the best shrimp wonton noodle soup, roasted duck and BBQ pork in the heart of Paris, just steps away from Notre Dame Cathedral. Open daily till 10:30 pm.
Metro: Pont Marie (line 7)
Stop by the Musée de la Magie for a tour from a wizard or one of the museum’s favorite magic shows. Located in the Marais, this quirky museum is full of amazing artifacts illustrating the history and magic of the art of illusion. Examine antique magicians’ props and gadgets, learn about stunning optical illusions and how to stump your friends with a slight of hand.
As mentioned in our Guide to After School and Weekend Activities or in 15 Indoor Activities for Children in Paris on Rainy Days!
Metro: St-Paul
Offering a large selection of American grocery store favorites, including kitchen and baking accessories. At Thanksgiving time, they sell fresh turkeys, hams, cranberries, homemade desserts and other seasonal treats.
Metro: Odéon (lines 4 and 10)
This beautiful park, located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, covers 23 hectares and is known for its lawns, tree-lined promenades, and flowerbeds. The model sailboats on its circular basin will keep the kids busy for hours. For children, there’s an enclosed playground (small entry fee), a famous carousel with brass ring game, tennis and basketball courts, and pony rides.
One of the largest and most varied selection of white porcelain pieces, plus more, with 5 locations in Paris.
Benenova makes it incredibly simple to match you with volunteer opportunities in the field so you can get involved whenever you can, in a friendly atmosphere and with the assurance of being both well received and 100% useful.
Just browse their calendar and pick a project that best suits your interests and availability, then join the other volunteers on D-Day! The association launched its first pilot actions in 2013, and how has a community of over 8500 volunteers supporting over 230 collective projects each month in Île de France, Nantes and Lille. Their website is in English and in French.
Metro: Saint Paul (line 1)
Hand rolled ice cream is the new trend in ice cream and a fun experience on a hot day! Ice Roll has developed a special chilled plate to which they add your favorite base before forming it into ice cream before your eyes! The neat thing is that it is scraped into curls before being placed in a cup for a really beautiful design — then, you have a choice of any toppings you’d like.
Founded in 1995 by Françoise Dorget in the Marais district, Caravane’s collection are a mix of bohemian and modern. The furniture along with the lighting, handcrafted objects and textiles are a source of inspiration for everyday interiors.
Metro: Hôtel de Ville (line 1)
Italian ice cream in Paris! If you are craving fantastic gelato without the train trip to Italy, POZETTO is the place to go! You order from a counter outside while practicing your Italian pronunciations, then pay inside where you can either sit down or take it to go to further wander through the streets of the enchanting Marais, one of the oldest parts of Paris.