Ah Paris, the city of love. While everyone dreams of how lovely it can be, sometimes it doesn’t live up to all their expectations while other times it gives them something unexpected. After all, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. In Japan, there is a term coined as “Paris Syndrome”, which is a sense of disappointment experienced by tourists when visiting the city, who feel that it was not what they had expected.
But for those who are hopelessly in love with the city–I am here to tell you how you can experience the best of it, even if you’re there only for 48 short hours. With this list, you can make it your cup of tea or rather your cup of hot chocolate 😉
When visiting the city, stay at the Place Vendome, St. Honore or St. Germain areas to be in the really nice localities of Paris but not as touristy. These are really prime areas which are quiet yet hustling and bustling, and not too far away from the action!
Pro tip: Uber is a great way to get around Paris.
Day 1
Angelina for Breakfast
Angelina is the French Tea Room of your dreams! It is an 120-years-old gourmet adventure with the likes of Coco Chanel and many others prominent faces being frequent visitors. This place is absolutely decadent! I would go as far as to say that the exploration of Paris would be nothing without tasting the mythical hot chocolate of the House, and of course, accompanied by their french pastries.
La Bon Marché
This is no ordinary department store. It is a must visit for anyone who goes to Paris and wants to see unique collection and experience the marvellous services they offer including personal shopping and concierge services. Here you can find the most chic, exclusive collection in all of Paris. Including all the top luxury brands, they also have lesser-known newer brands and have an a wide section of epicerie. They also have delicious food by restaurants and also a chance to buy gourmet ingredients for your next culinary adventure back home. Whether you want buy something or not, the department store is a place of wonder with breathtaking art pieces and architecture.
Musée de l'Orangerie
Located in the heart of Paris, facing the Seine in the Jardin des Tuileries, the Musée de l’Orangerie is an art museum housing Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. Claude Monet had chosen L’Orangerie to become a museum and house his Water Lilies series paintings on wood, as seen in the picture above. Beautiful, isn’t it?
The Jardin des Tuileries is a gorgeous garden facing the Concorde and the Arc de Troimphe. It is the perfect spot to take a stroll around or picnic and is usually not too crowded as it is a large expanse of land.
Kinugawa
Hotel Costes
L'avenue
They havetwo locations in Paris, both stunning and both yum. It is for anyone looking to indulge in Japanese fine cuisine and is described best as an Izakaya (informal Japanese bar that serves alcoholic drinks and snacks) with a contemporary twist. It has elegant architecture and a really warm, luxe vibe.
This hotel and the restaurant in it has to be my all-time favourite in Paris! My trip is not complete without me visiting this lavish, opulent and luxurious setting. They have a beautiful courtyard area which you can choose if you want to dine al fresco. The atmosphere of this place is just magic, where you feel like you’re in the times of the Great Gatsby. Graceful statues, verdant plants and subtle lighting carry you away to a magical glamorous world.
This place has an amazing atmosphere and is in a really nice locality of Paris. It has very great vibe with the view of the Eiffel Tower. I personally love the terrace and love to people watch with my best friend. Many prominent faces can be seen dining around here or walking around passing by.
I would choose either restaurant for dinner and head over to Hotel Costes for the coolest nightcap.
DAY 2
24 hours in, take a walk around your neightbourhood in the morning and find a Parisienne cafe for breakfast after exploring a little. There are many cute cafes tucked away in the many streets of Paris. To have a sneak peak into how the French live, you must do breakfast the Parisienne way–a seat outdoors, people watching at your neighbourhood cafe with a croissant, orange juice and black coffee!
The Centre Pompidou
After a delicious French breakfast, I would head over to the Centre Pompidou–known as The National Museum of Modern Art. It is literally a work of art inside and out! This is a place where all disciplines can meet and where artists can converse with the public. It is a venue like no other: a centre for art and culture capable of housing both the National Museum of Modern and
Contemporary Art, with an international dimension, a large public library (the future BPI), a centre for industrial creation and a centre for musical research and creation (Ircam), all together in one and the same building situated in the heart of the capital. The museum is going into heavy renovations and will remain closed 2023-2027.
La Société
Diep
La Société is the place to be. Nice food, better service, amazing crowd and super chic Parisian eatery with a New York feel to it. The who’s who of the world are always paying a visit to this upscale restaurant. This is absolutely the right place to slip into your amazing couture outfits without feeling OTT.
I can’t generally stop thinking about Asian food whether I am in France or Italy and so we decided to try this place out. The restaurant is nicely decorated, low lighting, staff is polite and food was YUM! If you’re an Asian food fanatic like me, Diep is a must try.
So, we come to the end of our 48 hours.
Paris really is remarkable and no matter how many times I go there, there’s one thing without which my trip is incomplete (and this is a hopelessly romantic one). I have to go see the Eiffel Tower’s shimmering lights at night! There is something just really enchanting about it. Paris, however, really delivers when you’re in the right company, be it your significant other or a group of friends. And, of course, you must have a good itinerary and book in advance the restaurants as well as the excursions you wish to go on. This is a key element on maximising your trip there as getting last minute reservations is difficult in most places. To be in the loop about more chic places to visit in Paris, follow AiSPi on Instagram.
Written by Parishi Shah Jogani
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