What to do in Paris.
Posted on April 23rd, 2012
Coffee & Food
It’s hard to get bad coffee in Paris. Preferring black coffee to creations with milk and flavors, I mostly ordered espresso, sitting outside or drinking it straight at the bar, the way old Parisian men do. I often had coffee after lunch or dinner at one of Paris’ Brasseries. Here are some places for food & coffee:
138 rue Mouffetard, Paris, Ile-de-France 75006
I wish I had not had breakfast before coming here. Lovely bistro with good looking food and great coffee.
6 Rue Georges Desplas, Paris, Île de France 75005
Thé de Menthe and great food in a great atmosphere.
111 boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, Île-de-France 75003
Cake, Snacks, Tea and Coffee. A place for rainy days.
60, rue de Jacob (Rue des Saints-Pères), Paris, France 75006
Skip Café de Fleur and head here instead. The Quiche was great and the Art Deco interior beautiful.
4bis Rue Neuve Popincourt, Paris, Île-de-France 75011
Paris’ very own Currywurst place with lovely people, German beer and Udo Lindenberg records on the wall.
Parks
I love parks and Paris has some of the prettiest:
18 Rue Buffon, Paris, Île de France 75005
Surround yourself with beautiful vegetation and take a glimpse at small pandas living in the neighboring zoo.
Place Edmond Rostand, Paris, Île-de-France 75006
Bring a book, sit down and relax.
Rue de la Bonne (Rue du Chevalier-de-la-Barre), Paris, Ile-de-France 75018
A place to escape tourists on Montmartre.
Quai de Valmy (Quai de Jemmapes), Paris, Île de France 75010
Not necessarily a park, but worth a visit.
Architecture & Sights
Paris is famous for it’s architecture and rightly so. Walking along the Seine from east to the west, will give you a glimpse of the most famous sights and one building will be more stunning than the last one, but you should definitely also walk along little side streets and discover some hidden gems.
1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, Paris, Île-de-France 75007
Considering the long queue infront of it I was a bit sad, it had been turned into a museum and stopped being a trainstation. I would have loved to see it from inside.
Avenue des Champs Elysées, Paris, Île de France 75008
Don’t go there!
51 rue de Bercy, Paris, Île-de-France 75012
Being interested in French cinema & in architecture, I had to swing by this building by Frank Gehry.
Misc
When in Paris, you should definitely ride through the city on the back of a vespa. You should take the metro to random stations and take a peak outside. You should get lost and discover places and streets that the tourist miss out on seeing. Wander around Le Marais and the Quartier Latin. Buy a Pariscope and find out that a band you really like is playing the same evening. Go and have drinks in the evening and talk to strangers. Don’t feel rushed to see the Tour Eiffel or the Louvre, there is more to Paris than that. Don’t mind the rain, be waterproof.∗
Tagged: Paris, Recommendations
“Don’t feel rushed to see the Tour Eiffel or the Louvre, there is more to Paris than that.”
Word!
But although it’s kind of a tourist thing, I always liked sitting on the stairs up to Sacre-Coeur, reading, eating some bread, drinking some wine, watching all the different kind of people climbing up Montmartre and the whole town to my feet. But Tour Eiffel and Louvre are not that important. And you get a better view on top of the Arc de Triomphe. :)
Oh yes, I did sit on those stairs, as well. The view is marvellous. I did not make it to the Arc de Triomphe at all. Next time!
I’m so close to push the booking button thanks to you!