Best of Paris
Here's a highly arbitrary and frequently changing list of favorite places and things to do in Paris.
RESTAURANTS
Willi's Wine Bar | 13, rue des Petits Champs | 1st | +33 1 42 61 05 09 | www.williswinebar.com
Contemporary French, good food, good wine
Café Charlot | 38, rue de Bretagne | 3rd | +33 1 44 54 03 30 | www.cafecharlotparis.com
Hip, stylish, great anytime, great Sunday brunch
Breakfast in America | 4, rue Malher | 4th | +33 1 42 72 40 21 | www.breakfast-in-america.com
Breakfast in America | 17, rue des Ecoles | 5th | +33 1 43 54 50 28 | www.breakfast-in-america.com
Two locations, rue Mahler (4th) and rue des Écoles (5th) great for traditional diner-style American breakfast (eggs, bacon, pancakes, etc.) and burgers, the location in the 5th is very popular with Sorbonne students
Le Petit Pontoise | 9, rue de Pontoise | 5th | +33 1 43 29 25 20 | no website
High quality neighborhood spot, very French
Aux Prés | 27, rue du Dragon | 6th | +33 1 45 48 29 68 | www.cyrillignac.com
Small, contemporary, nice vibe, some counter seating
Le Bon Saint Pourçain | 10 Bis, rue Servandoni | 6th | +33 1 42 01 78 24 | no website
New owner, new decor, updated menu, warm and charming
La Closerie des Lilas | 171, boulevard du Montparnasse | 6th | +33 1 40 51 34 50 | www.closeriedeslilas.com
Formal, classic old-school French, Hemingway hangout
Fish La Boissonerie | 69, rue de Seine | 6th | +33 1 43 54 34 69 | no website
Good fish, good wine, co-owned by an American and a Kiwi, favorite of expats living in Paris
La Maison du Jardin | 27, rue de Vaugirard | 6th | +33 1 45 48 22 31 | no website
Small, elegant classic French
Les Cocottes de Christian Constant | 135, rue Saint Dominique | 7th | +33 1 45 55 64 67 | www.maisonconstant.com
Popular chef Christian Constant’s contemporary spot, counter and/or community seating, good vibe, no reservations (get there by 7:45 for dinner)
La Fontaine de Mars | 129 rue Saint-Dominique | 7th | +33 1 47 05 46 44 | www.fontainedemars.com
Bistro with classic menu, great service, old-world warmth, the Obamas ate here
MUSEUMS
Hôtel de Ville | Place de l'Hôtel de Ville | 4th | +33 1 42 76 40 40 | www.paris.fr
Free, often long lines, always popular exhibitions ranging from photography to fine art to haute couture
Musée du Luxembourg | 19, rue de Vaugirard | 6th | +33 1 40 13 62 00 | www.museeduluxembourg.fr
Generally excellent exhibitions in a small space in the Luxembourg Gardens
Musée Rodin | 79, rue de Varenne | 7th | +33 1 44 18 61 10 | www.musee-rodin.fr
Very popular and worthwhile, especially the sculpture-filled garden which can be visited separately for only one euro
Jeu de Paume | 1, Place de la Concorde | 8th | +33 1 47 03 12 50 | www.jeudepaume.org
Focuses exclusively on photography at the edge of the Tuileries
Musée Jacquemart-André | 158, boulevard Haussmann | 8th | +33 1 45 62 11 59 | www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com
Once the home of a wealthy couple, features their collection of Italian, Dutch, Flemish art plus special exhibitions
Musée Nissim de Camondo | 63, rue de Monceau | 8th | +33 1 53 89 06 50 | www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr
Beautiful mansion overlooking Parc Monceau featuring 18th century art and furniture and telling the tragic story of the Camondo family
Palais de Tokyo | 13, avenue du President Wilson | 16th | +33 1 81 97 35 88 | www.palaisdetokyo.com
Creative, cutting-edge contemporary art in a space across from the Musée Moderne
SHOPPING
Merci | 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais | 3rd | +33 1 42 77 00 33 | www.merci-merci.com
Paris's latest concept shopping sensation, especially since the closure of Colette, everything from furniture to fashion, jewelry to pet accessories, fun to visit
BHV | 52, rue de Rivoli | 4th | +33 9 77 40 14 00 | www.bhv.fr
The best department store in Paris right across from city hall with, among other things, the biggest hardware department you've ever seen
La Cérise Sur le Chapeau | 11, rue Cassette | 6th | +33 1 45 49 90 53 | www.lacerisesurlechapeau.com
Great store for men's and women's hats, lets you create your own hat from a choice of materials, colors and accessories, pick it up the next day
Hervé Chapelier | 1bis, rue de Vieux-Colombier | 6th | +33 1 44 07 06 50 | www.hervechapelier.com
Great selection of affordable tote bags, wallets, purses
Le Bon Marché | 24, rue de Sevres | 7th | +33 1 44 39 80 00 | www.lebonmarche.com
Historic left-bank department store with art deco and belle époque design elements, well worth a visit for its fashionable luxury products as well as one of the Paris’s best food departments