Once the home of cutting-edge art, philosophy and couture, but accused by some of resting on its laurels, Paris has recently experienced a renaissance, with an influx of new ideas and trends. It's a shame the public services are still lacking - interminable airport arrival queues and general dreariness in regards to contact with any government institution. Still, the winds of change are blowing.
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01
Essentials
| 01 |
Be polite. Even though the Parisians may seem rude at times, a little bonjour, s'il vous plait, and merci go a long way. |
| 02 |
Discover "bistronomy", Paris's most exciting food trend for years, combining the relaxed feel of small bistros with young chefs trained in the city's greatest Michelin-starred establishments. |
| 03 |
Do a three star. Paris has more Michelin-rated restaurants than anywhere in the world. |
| 04 |
Get a guide. Paris Addict (+ 33 609 94 09 21) offers bespoke itineraries around the city and in the surrounding region. |
| 05 |
Buy art. The rue Louise Weiss is where gallery owners from London and New York flock. |
| 06 |
Don't drive. Although insulting French drivers may be amusing, parking is impossible and navigating Paris stressful. Relax, save time and get a cab or car. |
| 07 |
Hire a private boat on the Seine for an intimate dinner or cocktails with friends. Brad and Angelina escaped the paparazzi on the Josephine, a luxury peniche. |
| 08 |
Take your laptop. With the Paris Ville Numérique programme, soon parks, libraries, town halls and popular thoroughfares will be equipped with free Wi-Fi. |
| 09 |
Buy truffles. The Maison de la Truffe offers the most pristine of the luxurious black fungus that make everything taste better. |
| 10 |
Take a cooking course. Michelin-starred chef Dominique Bouchet's new Japaneseinspired Wa-Bi Salon offers French cuisine and pastrymaking techniques as well as Ikebana flower-arranging. |
02
Hotels
Independent and easy
Hotel de Sers
41 avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie
+ 33 1 53 23 75 75
hoteldesers.com
Dependable chain
Park Hyatt Paris
5 rue de la Paix
+ 33 1 58 71 12 34
paris.vendome.hyatt.com
Premium
Four Seasons Hotel George V
31 avenue George V
+ 33 1 49 52 70 00
fourseasons.com/paris
03
Dining
Fast breakfast
Rival
20 avenue George V
+ 33 1 47 23 40 99
Business breakfast
Meurice
228 rue de Rivoli
+ 33 1 44 58 10 10
meuricehotel.com
Mid-morning coffee
Table d'Hediard
21 place de la Madeleine
+ 33 1 43 12 88 88
Working lunch with colleagues
Café de la Paix
12 boulevard des Capucines
+ 33 1 40 07 36 36
Need-to-impress-clients lunch
Apicius
20 rue d'Artois
+ 33 1 43 80 19 66
relaischateaux.com/
apicius
Lunch on your own
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon
7 rue de Montalembert
+ 33 1 42 22 56 56
Afternoon tea/drink
Le Forum
4 boulevard des Malesherbes
+ 33 1 42 65 37 86
Dinner on your own
Angle du Faubourg
195 rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré
195 rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré
+ 33 1 40 74 20 20
Dinner with colleagues
d'Chez Eux
2 avenue Lowendal
+ 33 1 47 05 52 55
chezeux.com
Private dinner
Pharamond
24 rue de la Grande Truanderie
+ 33 1 40 28 45 18
Big dinner with partner clients
Chez L'Ami Louis
32 rue du Vertbois
+ 33 1 48 87 77 48
Drink after dinner
Hemingway Bar
The Ritz
15 Place Vendôme
+ 33 1 43 16 30 30
ritzparis.com
Late drinks
Mathis
3 rue de Ponthieu
+ 33 1 53 76 01 62
Late bite
Black Calavados
40 avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie
+ 33 1 47 20 77 77
On the tiles
Le Néo
23 rue de Ponthieu
+ 33 1 42 25 57 14
neoclub.com
04
Reading
Bookshop
La Hune
170 boulevard Saint Germain des Pres
+ 33 1 45 48 35 85
Newsstand
Galignani
224 rue de Rivoli
+ 33 1 42 60 76 07
05
Thank yous
Wine
Booze Wine Shop
Caves Augé
116 boulevard Haussmann
+ 33 1 42 60 59 74
06
Shopping
Something you can't get anywhere else
Absinthe from Vert d'Absinthe
11 rue d'Ormesson
+ 33 1 42 71 69 73
vertdabsinthe.com
Something for the kids
Toys from Au Nain Bleu
5 boulevard Malesherbes
+ 33 1 42 65 20 00
aunainbleu.com
Something for someone you love
Underwear by Gentry de Paris
70 rue Saint Honoré
+ 33 1 45 05 39 36
gentrydeparis.com
Something for yourself
Egyptian-cotton pyjamas or dressing gown from Charvet
28 place Vendôme
+ 33 1 42 60 30 70
07
Two hour tour
| 01 |
Palais de Tokyo
13 avenue du Président Wilson
+ 33 1 47 23 38 86
palaisdetokyo.com |
02 |
Musée des Arts Décoratifs
107 rue de Rivoli
+ 65 6332 3659
lesartsdecoratifs.com |
03 |
Musée Jacquemard-André
158 boulevard Haussmann |
08
Limousine/car
Chabé Verjat
+ 33 1 41 20 36 54
chabe-limousines.com
09
Transport
Buy a pass
Paris Visite is a transport pass giving unlimited travel on bus, metro and local trains. Passes for zones 1-3 cost €8.50 (one day) to €27.20 (five days).
Rent a bike
Allo Vélo, near Canal Saint Martin, open seven days a week with delivery service (extra).
33 1 40 35 36 36
allovelo.com
10
Fitness
Good gym
L'Usine is open seven days a week from 07.00 to 23.00, and is the chicest place to work out in the city.
33 1 42 66 30 30
usineopera.com
Good running route
Scenic, around the Champs de Mars field behind the Tour Eiffel, or along the Seine, past the Louvre, Ile de la Cité and Ile Saint Louis