5 Things To Do In Paris

A petit list of faves.

I think of myself as a semi-professional trip planner. As in, I plan a trip like it is my job (and definitely never when I’m meant to be doing my actual job). You would think with so much content out there showing us where to go, what to eat, and the so-called ‘hidden gems’ that planning would be simple. But cutting through the noise has become the biggest challenge.

I don't want to bring up my one-woman campaign against Trip Advisor again, but I think their recommendations are frankly, insane. It's not surprising. You can't really trust the opinion of the PUBLIC AT LARGE when it is impossible even to get your group chat to agree on a restaurant.

Personally, I like to be given recommendations by someone who has calibrated their taste to the same level as me. I’m sure AI will do that one day, but until then, enter, Travelette.

Each Travelette post is five carefully curated recommendations from me, telling you what a nice time I’ve had. Just five, no filler. First up, Paris. 

Get the chocolate mousse at Le Bon Georges 

I used to work with a well-travelled book buyer. I swear she could recommend you a great night out in any city in the world. So when she responded to my Instagram story about Le Bon Georges, I knew I was in for a treat. 

We made a mistake in not ordering the beef. Don’t mess about; get a sharer of beef. Yes, it’s a lot but don’t leave Paris with eater’s remorse. The pâté en croûte was excellent, but the star of the show was this crock pot of decadent, dark chocolate mousse. It costs €30 and is designed to be shared.

I almost ate an entire pot myself. A mouss’t try, if you will.  

Shop the discount Sezane store 

I go to Paris often, and I’d never heard of the Sezane outlet (they DO NOT call it that, but for illustrative purposes, I will). In the regular Sezane store, I overheard one of the women working there talking about it and got that instant panicked excitement - I must go immediately. It is calles Les Archives and is right round the corner from the main store.

Everything is organised by colour. It is super fast-moving, with stock constantly replenished. They have a structured pricing system so all t-shirts cost the same, all dresses cost the same etc.

I got a little silver party dress for €70 euros and a XL cosmetics bag for just €15. 

Get the Cordon Bleu at Bistrot Des Tournelles 

First things first, make a booking. We had a booking at Chez Janou (just across the road) but thought we would chance asking if they had any tables. Trying to hide her ‘are you insane’ eyes, the server said if we came back at 7pm when they opened, we could sit at the bar.

Bistrot Des Tournelles is exactly the type of place you always hope to stumble upon. Cosy, welcoming, the right amount of easy going, a menu that is easy to choose from, and exceptional hearty cooking.

I had the beef with mashed potato. The depth of flavour in the beef was incredible; you can tell they are really taking it seriously. But the star of the show is the cordon bleu—an ostentatious burst of cheese. Very rich, I recommend a crisp white wine and going with a green side rather than frites.  

Drink Japanese-inspired cocktails and dance to vinyl at Bambino

There are so many bars in Paris that it's impossible to choose (derogatory), and it would be easy to overlook this one. Bambino feels like a neighborhood bar packed with locals catching up or couples on Tinder dates,  but its intimate details make it effortlessly cool. 

Inspired by Tokyo Jazz cafes the walls are lined with vinyl and the lights are dimly lit. At a certain time of night, the seats are cleared out to turn the place into an all-out party. In the summer crowds spill onto the street, and it is hard to tell where one bar crowd ends and another begins.

On the cocktail menu, you will find classics made with Japanese spirits as well as some more unusual pairings. 

Watch the sunset from Pont Des Arts

A classic, a right of passage, and always a good idea. The famous Love Lock Bridge is the perfect way to begin your evening (or end your day) in Paris. There are plenty of supermarkets nearby to grab a bottle of wine, bread, and cheese, and you will find many others doing the same. 

Now you might be thinking, this is really nothing new. I’ve seen this old bridge before - there aren’t even any locks anymore!

I hear you, but, take this as a reminder that there’s something truly magical about evening picnics in Paris. Watching the people marvel at nature’s light show over the Seine. Hearing the gasps when the Eiffel Tower glitters for the first time that night. Striking up conversation with strangers as you sip wine from paper cups. 

It is truly rare in the modern world that we get to wonder, to have our eyes widen in amazement, and to feel our chests fill with warm excitement. Paris offers a thousand opportunities to feel this way, and I hope I get to experience many, many more.