DESTINATION 1
Paris, Not Your Tour Guide
A place where beauty is everywhere, and yet somehow never quiet. Paris is everything at once: elegant, chaotic, overwhelming, inspiring. It asks a lot, and gives a lot back.
I spend a lot of time in Paris, not really by choice, but mostly because of work and because many of my friends live here. It’s not the kind of city I fall in love with easily. A few days usually feels like the right amount before I start feeling overstimulated and wiped out. It’s loud, fast, and packed with people. Everything is close but somehow still exhausting to reach.
Still, there are things I really enjoy. The city has changed a lot over the years. There are more and more curated spaces, cafés, boutiques, galleries that feel thoughtful and well-designed. Some of them even remind me of places in Asia, which I love. The food scene is great too. You can find everything from tiny Japanese restaurants to old-school bistros, and I really like how diverse it’s become.
At the end of the day, what makes Paris work for me are the low-key dinners, café breaks with friends, and the occasional exhibition or gallery that actually feels inspiring. That’s how I survive this city, one small highlight at a time.
Paris is a city of neighbourhoods, and the more time you spend here, the more you start choosing favourites. Some feel cinematic and elegant, others creative and slow-paced and depending on the day (and my mood), I always find myself pulled to a few familiar arrondissements.
The 1st and 2nd arrondissements, this is where I usually stay when I’m in Paris. It’s busy, yes, but I like the energy here; the narrow streets, the beautiful architecture, the proximity to everything. You have the Jardin des Tuileries for a quick reset, and some of the city’s most stylish cafés tucked between historic buildings. Café Nuances and Noir Coffee are two personal favourites, especially for people-watching.
You’re also near some very unique shopping spots: Willow & Grove (52 Rue Montmartre, 2nd) is a design-led lifestyle store that feels more like a beautifully curated apartment than a shop, and The Socialite Family (12 Rue Saint Fiacre, 2nd) is a go-to for anyone into contemporary interiors with a Parisian flair. The whole area around Rue Saint-Honoré is also packed with concept stores and smaller flagships that feel more special than what you’ll find on the Champs-Élysées. And when it comes to food, Siena is one of the best new Italian restaurants around, while the iconic Maxim’s still carries all its old-school glamour.
I didn’t love the Left Bank at first. It felt too quiet, too residential, too old Paris somehow. But it’s grown on me. Now I like the calm. I like walking past antique stores and interior design shops with no one rushing. The pace is different here. Of course, Le Bon Marché is a staple (even if I had a bit of an overdose working there for months during a pop-up). Still, the home section is beautifully curated, and the food hall next door is unmatched. For interiors, Silvera (42 Rue du Bac, 6th) has an amazing furniture selection, and CHAHAN Interior Design (11 Rue de Lille, 7th) is like entering a gallery disguised as a showroom; calm, luxurious, and full of understated design.
Food-wise, this part of Paris has some real gems. Cherry is a cosy spot with good energy, Petit Lutetia is like the kind of Parisian restaurant that hasn’t tried too hard to be cool (in a good way), and Sugaar is a newer opening that’s slowly becoming a favourite. The Left Bank might not have the buzz of other areas, but it’s where I go when I want a bit of space and maybe a coffee without a queue.
The 3rd arrondissement, this is one of the most exciting areas in Paris right now. The 3rd has always had this quiet creative edge, lots of independent galleries, niche fashion brands, and cafés that double as design studios. It’s more chilled than the 1st but still very central, and there’s always something new opening. One place I keep going back to is The Broken Arm (12 Rue Perrée, 3rd), half café, half concept store, and fully worth the detour. The street it’s on is full of little creative studios and boutiques too. Serpent à Plume is another fun one, a bar and cultural space that’s a little eccentric, always atmospheric.
Even though Hôtel Sinner is no longer around (it’s been taken over by the Experimental Group), I still have good memories of it, it was one of those places that really knew how to set a mood. The area as a whole has that same energy. It’s full of charm, but also a little bit unpredictable, which I love.
There are a few spots I return to almost every time I’m in Paris. Some for the atmosphere, some for the design, some just because they make the city feel a bit softer. These are the places that feel familiar in the best way; calm, inspiring, and just really well done.
Candle Kids Coffee is one of those places I go to when I want a coffee and a moment to breathe. The space is clean, minimal, and never too crowded, it’s basically everything I need when the city starts to feel too loud. White Coffee and Shin Cafe are also regular stops, depending on where I am in the city. Both do coffee well, and the interiors are calm and quiet, which is becoming harder to find these days. Saint Pearl Café has a really comforting vibe. It’s not trying too hard, and sometimes that’s exactly what I want.
For something more elevated, Ogata is always worth a visit, a beautiful Japanese concept space that feels like an experience every time, from the tea to the architecture. Same with Cravan, a very well-designed cocktail bar that’s equal parts classic and unexpected. When I want a nice hotel bar or just a break somewhere that feels indulgent in the right way, I go to Château Voltaire or Hotel Balzac, both are stylish and intimate without being over the top. I never regret going there.
For exhibitions, Musée des Arts Décoratifs and Bourse de Commerce are usually on my list. The spaces themselves are beautiful, and even if the shows vary, I always leave with at least one thing that sticks in my mind. These are the places that make the chaos of Paris a bit easier to handle. Well-designed, calm, a little inspiring; exactly what I need in a city that rarely slows down.
