October came with that perfect in-between mood, summer behind, winter not quite here, and Paris at its prettiest. I spent the month doing what I do best: wandering, tasting, and finding beautiful places that make me forget how tired I am.
The Lunch Spot:
Ralph’s, Paris 6e
I wasn’t planning to eat a burger. I really just love the vibe at Ralph’s, so when we were in the area and there was a free table for lunch, we grabbed it. You have to walk through the boutique to reach the restaurant, which always makes it feel a little hidden and I love the cosy bar area especially when the weather starts to shift.
We ended up sitting right near the bar, where it’s warm and elegant without being stuffy. The details are perfect, the wood panelling, the soft lighting, the fact that the butter is branded. I ordered the burger completely on impulse, and it turned out to be exactly what I didn’t know I was craving. My friend had the salmon, which also looked amazing, and the service was lovely in that relaxed-but-attentive Parisian way.
The Drink:
Vanilla Matcha at Café Nuance
Let’s get one thing straight: I am a matcha girl. I drink it basically every other day. But I’m very specific, iced only. Always. So ordering a hot matcha was already a big character development moment for me. But it was one of those crisp October days in Paris where you just need something warm in your hands, and I was feeling bold… so I went for the hot vanilla matcha.
Honestly? It was a win. Just sweet enough, perfectly balanced, not too bitter. The vanilla softened it without making it taste like syrup, and the temperature (for once) didn’t ruin it for me. I was impressed.
The café itself, Café Nuance, is one of my go-to spots in Paris. I think they do some of the best matcha in the city, and their locations are always beautifully done. Full of colors, warm, designed but not try-hard.
A New Boutique Visit:
Jacques Marie Mage, Paris 1er
A spontaneous stop turned into one of the most beautiful boutique visits I’ve had in a while. The Jacques Marie Mage store, hidden just off Place Vendôme, feels more like a little museum than a sunglasses shop and I mean that in the best way.
Designed by Jacques Garcia, the space is full of antiques, rich textures, and Empire-style details that somehow don’t feel heavy. One of the team members gave us a full walk-through of the boutique and the brand's story, and I left genuinely inspired. The sunglasses themselves are made in Japan and built like small design objects, carefully crafted, bold, and completely unique. There’s even a little bar area downstairs, which adds to the whole experience. It’s a place I’ll definitely come back to, even if just for the interiors.
The Icon:
Cartier’s Crocodile Necklace
One of the most unexpected highlights this month was a quick stop at Cartier, which turned into a full moment. We were just popping in near Place Vendôme for a little perfume discovery game, and one of the sales assistants offered to take us upstairs to see the iconic pieces they currently have on display.
And that’s when I saw it. The crocodile necklace. Not a new piece, not for sale, just something from the Cartier archive that they brought back out as part of their private collection. And honestly? I’ve never seen anything like it.
It’s two baby crocodiles in gold and precious stones, curved together to form the necklace. Completely over-the-top, unapologetically bold, and somehow still elegant. I found out later it was originally created for María Félix, a Mexican actress and Cartier obsessive, who (allegedly) walked into the boutique in 1975 with her live pet crocodile and asked for a High Jewelry replica. Only two women have ever worn it: Félix herself… and Monica Bellucci. Iconic doesn’t even begin to cover it.
It’s not every day you come across something that feels that theatrical, that alive and yet there it was, just sitting in a glass case on the second floor of a boutique I’ve walked past a hundred times. Completely unexpected. Completely unforgettable.
The Getaway:
Positano, Amalfi Coast
And then, as if October wasn’t already full enough, I ended the month in Positano, on a totally last-minute trip I was sure would be peaceful and off-season. Spoiler: it was not off-season. Turns out, Positano in October is pretty busy. But it was my first time there, and honestly? It was worth every second.
The town is as pretty as the photos, maybe more. The hand-painted flower tiles, the pastel houses stacked on the cliffs, the steep little paths that give you accidental leg day. We had amazing weather (except for one rainy day), and I felt genuinely relaxed the whole time.
I haven’t spent much time in this part of Italy, France always kept me close, but I loved discovering somewhere that felt totally different. The food, the colours, the atmosphere… everything had its own rhythm. I think that’s what I liked most, it was chaotic in a different way.