This is the perfect guide for someone who goes to Paris for a weekend and want to do/see all the typical things!
I am going to do a guide for my favorite spots as well but I do feel it’s very different where you want to go if you are here for a short time or if you are living here.
Many restaurants in Paris are not possible to book long in advanced. Some are possible 1 month before, some are 1-2 weeks. But I don’t think you should stress to much about booking places (sure if there is some special place you really want to go to) but otherwise just be spontaneous. The charm with Paris is just to walk around and to find a nice outdoor seating. It’s never hard to find a table for coffee or lunch because there are soo many. And I feel most of them are really good!
I think the best place to stay in is around/close to the 1ht Arondissement around Place Vendome then it’s close to walk everywhere and you are in the middle.
Hotel recommendations:
Hotel Alfred Sommier, Hotel Regina, The Westin Paris, Kimpton St Honoré, Hotel Costes, Chateau Voltaire to name a few in that area.
Or just do a search in that area after your budget on hotels.com
Photo spots with the Eiffeltower:
4 Avenue de Camoens
Rue St. Dominique
Rue de l’Université
Coffe:
Café Kitsuné Palais Royal (to go)
Café Kitsuné Louvren (sit there)
YSL cafe (to go)
Partisan Café Artisanal (sit or to go)
Matcha social club
Dior café in Dior store on Avenue Montaige
Breakfast:
Carette
Café De Flore
Ralph’s restaurant
Le Café Marly
Lunch:
L’avenue
LouLou
Cafe Charlote
Girafe
Club Marigny
Afternoon tea:
Ritz Paris
Peninsula
Ladurée – 75 Avenue des Champs-Élysées
Drink:
Bar at Hotel Plaza Athene
Mankos
Bar at Hotel Crillion
Perruche Rooftop (summer)
Girafe bar or terrace
Mun terrace (summer)
Nightclubs:
Rasputin
Bristol (after dark)
Kuku
Silencio
More french simple dinner restaurants:
Jais
Le Petit Lutetia
Le Basilic
Brasseri Lipp
Le Relais de l’Entrecôte – a classic, several spots in Paris. You can’t book a table you have to wait in the line!
Palette
Les deux Magots
Dinner: (more party vibe)
Hotel Costes
CoCo
Gigi
Caviar Kaspia
La Perouse
Matignon
Taxi:
G7 is the best app for taxi
Metro is very easy and one way ticket is 2.10 (I go on the metro often)
Shopping:
Avenue Montaigne
Rue Cambon
Galleri Lafayette Hausmann (don’t forget to check out the rooftop)
Le Bon Marché (my fav)
Samaritaine (only luxury stores, so beautiful)
Museums:
Museé Rodin
Picasso Museum
Palais Galleria
Museé D Orsay
Foundation Louis Vuitton
Paris is a big city with many many things to do. But I think you really will like everything above if you go for a weekend! I think the best time to go is march-may and september! But of course nice all year around. Hope you found this helpful. <3