PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA

by Des

Bonjour my loves,

Not long ago, we’ve spent a couple of days in beautiful Paris attending some important meetings as well as working on an exciting project which we will talk about soon. In fact, the world fashion capital has become very important to us since a lot of exciting things have happened lately. 

Can´t wait to share what is coming next!

THE ESSENTIALS

We flew in to Paris with Fly Niki, which is the easiest way to get around Europe. We truly love flying with them because you can be sure to receive an excellent service on and off board. Personally, I enjoy a good breakfast when flying in the morning, which should rather be light and nourishing. Granola yogurt, fresh fruits, a warm croissant with honey and tea… so yummy! What else could you ask for? Delicious food always increases my enjoyment! Needless to say that breakfast is definitely my favorite meal of the day and essential in starting my day properly. In Austria, most of the people tend to enjoy a long, well-nourished and varied breakfast which I also love to do when in Vienna with my friends.

On our arrival, we couldn’t have asked for a better weather. It was warm and sunny; the best time to discover a city. In a magical city like Paris, the options on what to do are uncountable. So, I came up with a to-do list, including some of my personal tips which I want to share with you.
An amazing new spot in Paris is Off Seine, the first hotel and bar on water. It is certainly an unusual experience as there is a plunge pool and bar with tasty cocktails. You should definitely try their tapas!

 

During our last stay in Paris, we accidentally found Hotel Taylor, a little boutique hotel with a lovely interior design (just renovated). It’s a heaven of calm since it’s located in Rue Taylor, a small, secluded street. They have a great Wi-Fi access and most of all I really enjoyed the breakfast there (they even provide soy milk if you ask).

 

A very elegant and established hotel is the Park Hyatt near the Place Vendôme. With it’s beautiful restaurant and bars and more than luxurious suites and rooms, it is definitely the best choice for a classic Parisian stay.

 

WHERE TO EAT

It is safe to say that Paris is undoubtedly THE one place on earth with some of the best restaurants. The food is just too damn good and every time I visit the city, I discover some new places to eat. 

 

The first time I stumbled across the restaurant La Belle Eouque (36 Rue des Petits Champs, 75002 Paris, France) was during Fashion Week. I immediately fell in love with the romantic historic layout, besides the great food and authentic Parisian atmosphere and a fashionista crowd!
For the ones with a sweet- tooth, you should try the bakery Angelina Paris in order to enjoy classic French pastry in a tranquil and exquisite space.

 

La Dispensa is a little Italian restaurant in Rue Taylor which we discovered during our stay at the Hotel Taylor. It does not have a huge selection, but very tasty and high quality food with a cozy atmosphere and incredibly friendly staff who really wants you to enjoy your dining experience. Good choice of Italian wines and delicacies. 

 

A very chic and lively restaurant itself is Alcazar (62 Rue Mazarine, 75006 Paris, France) with a Dj every night. Jen and I loved the seared foie gras and the beef carpaccio which was recommended by the friendly staff.
Darocco is a quite new hotspot in Paris with a superb venue and great music. Definitely need to try the pizza! And there is of course

 

Le Costes (239-241 Rue Saint Honoré, 75001 Paris, France) which is very fancy and the place to be if you want the most Parisian experience with candle light rooms covered in red velvet with a decadent decor to the max (You will find roses everywhere!). They have the best choice of international cuisine such as the thai basil chicken spring rolls or the “weeping tiger” beef and creamy prawn risotto.
Go to Monsieur Bleu at the Palais Tokyo and order the Spinach ravioli – they are to die for! This place is amazingly beautiful and has a fantastic view of the Tour Eiffel.

 

WHERE TO SHOP

Paris is the place to be when it comes to fashion and one of my favorite cities to shop in. You can definitely find the most stylish people there. For example Le Marais is full of hidden shopping spots and a pleasant place to stroll around. I also like to visit the Merci Concept Store which offers clothing, furniture, decoration and two places to eat.

 

Then there is Montaigne Market (57 Avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris, France) – situated in Avenue Montaigne, which offers men and women’s ready to wear, accessories and jewelry and of course I love Colette (213 Rue Saint Honoré, 75001 Paris, France) which I never miss when in Paris; worldwide known and definitely worth stopping by for those of you who enjoy purchasing sophisticated brands. You definitely need to visit their Water Bar!

 

WHERE TO DRINK

A jewel of the historic third arrondissement is Les Bains. It´s an international clubhouse and hotel, which includes as well a restaurant, bar and private lounge. I would definitely recommend this place for a night out. Highlights of the club are the swimming-pools which you can use as well. It is also a venue for live shows, concerts and events.

The luxurious Particulier Montmartre Hotel (Hôtel Particulier Montmartre, 23 Avenue Junot, 75018 Paris, France) bar is a favorite with in-the-know Parisians. Visitors have to jump through quite a few hoops before finally reaching the hotel garden. A trendy bar and club which I love to visit is Raspoutine, located in a former luxury bordello. Highlight of this hotspot is the interior with its red velvet, pink-neoned, Byzantine-style interior. You can enjoy a great dining experience while watching knife throwers and burlesque dancers with red-hot electro-pop mixed by the capital’s best DJs.

WHAT ELSE

Not only known for it’s sence of fashion, Paris has always been home and inspiration for various artists from all around the world. No wonder that the city is filled with amazing museums and insprining galleries. One of the most interesting ones to me is the gallery Van der Straeten featuring modern artists and exibiting contemporary art. Fashion and art always went together, not to mention that fashion itself is a form of art. The Foundation Louis Vuitton (8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, 75116 Paris, France) is representing modern artists from all over the world, supporting their work and giving them a chance to present their work in front of a wider audience. If you are generally interested in art, you should check out the arrondissments Le Marais and Montmartre with it’s little ateliers, galleries and street artists.

I truly admire Monet. Not only because of the beauty of his paintings but also because every time I get to see his art in Vienna I always discover a new, little detail which I haven’t seen before. So naturaly, the Musée de L’Orangerie is one of my favorite ones in Paris. I find the era of Expressionism very intreresting which is why I always try to find time to spend a day in the museum.

 

The amount of gardens and parks in Paris is simply amazing. Jen and I also love to go to the garden of Palais Royal, leave the stress of meetings and shootings behind and simply enjoy ourselves and spend time there regaining some energy.

I simply love spending time in Paris. There is so much more that I could write about and I am thankful that I get the chance of going there often. Paris does indeed have something so unique and special that it always fascinates me anew when I go there. I hope your next trip to Paris will be as amazing as ours. If you know other cool places we should check out, let us know. We are always eager to explore something new in the capital of France.

Lots of Love,

 

Des

 

 

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