… a lovingly curated selection of the essentials you need for living in the City of Lights – prepared by people in the know.
Metro: Quatre Septembre (line 3)
For a fabulous haircut that falls naturally without fuss, book with YUJI at his hair salon embedded in the Japanese quartier in the heart of Paris. Yuji worked at two of the city’s most prestigious coiffeurs before opening up his own Zen inspired salon. It’s a bit pricey but if you think your hair is worth it, you definitely won’t be disappointed.
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.
Coming from three generations of Italian hairdressers, Cristina and her staff are very friendly and great with kids too. You can even get your nails done while getting your tresses colored, and it won’t break the bank.
Metro: La Muette (line 9)
A compact nail bar and esthetic salon located off rue de Passy in the 16th arrondissement that is open Sundays and closed Saturdays. Treat yourself, often, to a double whammy manicure/pedicure treatment or a relaxing facial for 55 euros each. Perfect for the busy woman managing a budget.
READ MORE in our Perfect Sunday Pedicure article!
Metro: Filles du Calvaire (line 8)
This trendy concept beauty and nail bar is favoured amongst the Marais’ trendiest fashionistas and it promises an extra special experience you’ll want to share with all the girls in your life! In addition to the traditional manicures and pedicures, Gloss-Up organises a range of special events for groups.
Metro: Victor Hugo (line 2)
For an amazing facial by Kristina, who has been practising skincare for 26 years, visit her home salon in the heart of the 16th arrondissement near the Arc de Triomphe. Her soothing treatments, all designed to help the anti-aging process, include relaxation facials, oxygen facials with collagen, glycolic acid peels, and lymphatic drainage treatments.
Acne problems or other skin problems on the face in general? She can help!
Finish up with dazzling eyes with her eye treatments and eyebrow designs or a parraffin treatment.
Metro: Charles Michel (line 10)
Known for their manis and pedis, My Color also has a Beauty Bar where you can get 30-minute flash facials, which include a remise en beauté to touch up your hair and make up before you head out for a night on the town. They also do waxing (épilation).
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: 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.
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: Grands Boulevards (lines 8 and 9)
This restaurant and épicerie (grocery) offers a unique and tasty experience for those gluten-intolerant, yet discerning gourmets. Some of their dishes are also lactose-free and/or vegetarian.
Read full review here of gluten-free bakeries in Paris by INSPIRELLE contributor Chloe Martin.
Metro: Pyramides, Opéra, Tuileries
Singaporean actress and mother Charlotte Chiew founded Little Tykes Theatre in 2007 as an answer to a need for quality and fun workshops and parent-child classes for the under 3-year-olds in Paris. She and her team lead holiday camps (for 2 to 8-year olds) and weekly workshops (for little ones 3 months to 3 years) which use games to present simplified forms of professional mime and actor training to children.
GET THE SCOOP on more kids’ activities in our Ultimate Guide to After-School and Weekend Activities!
Metro: Opéra (lines 3, 7 and 8)
Craving Peking duck? This quintessential dish (order in advance) is served here over three courses: starting with the duck skin you wrap with a plum sauce in thin rice pancakes, then as a main course sautéed with vegetables, and finally as a delicious soup. It also has a decent dim sum (Chinese dumplings and hors d’oeuvres) menu, available for lunch and dinner.
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: Opéra (lines 3, 7, 8) Auber (RER A)
A pharmacy with products generally only found in the USA and the UK. They offer translations from French medicines to anglo-saxon medicine names.
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: Grands Boulevards (lines 8 and 9), Le Peletier (line 7)
Wondering whether you really have space in your closet for another Halloween party costume? No need to worry. Just rent it for the night! Au Fou Rire has two floors packed with costumes and accessories to get you dressed to impress for almost any theme. Or, if you want to add another costume to your collection to whip out for the next fancy dress party, you can shop online and have everything delivered to your home. Rental for adults, sales for kids and adult costumes.
Their new collection strives to return to the fundamentals while taking you into the timeless world of creation. The clean lines and curves, the natural materials and colors represent the best in the French way of life and interior design.
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).
Metro: Sentier Line 3
Boneshaker serves up not-just-any-ordinary donuts. We’re tasting and talking about plump, hand-rolled sweet pastries with flavors ranging from a simple sugar glazed to inventive maple syrup and bacon. READ MORE ABOUT BONESHAKER HERE
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: Sentier (line 3), Bonne Nouvelle (line 9), Les Halles (line 4)
You may think it’s hard to imagine why anyone would crave American food in Paris, a city known for its scrumptious and refined cuisine. But sometimes there’s just no substitute for the nostalgic associations that come with savoring certain culinary mainstays—like a perfectly baked American-style cookie. And we know just where to find them in Paris!
Read INSPIRELLE‘s interview with owner and extraordinary cookie baker, Jean Hwang Carrant HERE.
Metro: Sentier (line 3) Etienne-Marcel (line 4)
This is a great stop for pastries and during the summer, a wonderful stop for ice cream. Just like the pastries, Fou de Patisserie offers a unique selection of ice cream from all the top chefs in Paris!
Madura creates collections with the aim to give pleasure and to make interior design easy, enjoyable and approachable. Together with their vast range of textiles, they also offer a wide selection of lamps, blinds and other accessories.
Numerous locations in Paris, around France, Europe and New York City.
Metro: Sentier (line 3)
One of the city’s most eccentric and hip bars for single people, The Experimental Cocktail Club is proof that Paris has finally taken a leaf out of New York’s classy and creative cocktail bars book. This cocktail bar is one of the city’s most sophisticated places to mingle and serves delicious, unique cocktails that will blow you away. Forget mojitos and Cuba libres, this bar creates cocktails that you couldn’t even dream up!
Metro: Madeleine (lines 8, 12 and 14)
Christopher Mesnooh is an American attorney from New York who has lived in Paris since 1989. Specializing in American investments in France, he was educated at Columbia (BA) and Yale (JD). He has dual qualifications to practice law in both France and the United States. Christopher is frequently called upon by both the French and international media to decrypt legal, economic and political issues involving France, and has appeared on all French television stations as well as the BBC, SkyNews, NBC, Bloomberg, Reuters and the New York Times.
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: Bonne Nouvelle (lines 8 and 9)
The largest in the family of Viva Fiesta stores, this location has three floors packed with all of your favorite party costumes and themed party decorations. Whether you’re looking for a generic disguise or superhero characters, or famous cartoon character costumes for you or your kids, they have a wide selection for you to choose from. Perhaps you prefer to mix and match to create your own look? No problem, you’ll find plenty of wigs, make-up, and even special effect contact lenses. Order online for home delivery (4.99€ or free over 40€) or pick-up in the store.
With more than 15 shops across 4 continents, Maison de Famille furniture and decor are a fusion of classic, ethnic and modern styles. This blending of new and old, local and exotic immediately wins over a clientele of all ages and styles.
Other locations in Morocco, Italy, USA, Russia, and Japan.