Where to stay
Petit Moulin
Posted by briefcaseboy
Forget the big stuffy international hotels and book yourself into the Christian Lacroix designed Petit Moulin in the Marais. It is a charming little hotel in a 17th-century building that used to be a boulangerie and still has the old signage. There is wireless internet in all the rooms, and you are right in the heart of a trendy district full of design shops and art galleries. Getting into town isn't difficult and the extra minutes spent travelling are well worth it for staying in such an original place, with none of the hollow impersonality of larger hotels.
· petitmoulin. Rooms from €190 a night
Hotel des Academies et des Arts Paris
Posted by Parisien
A three-star hotel in the heart of Paris. Usually when you're looking for art, you would go to a museum or an exhibition - in this case you just head to a hotel! The French street-artist Jerome Mesnager made this place his and had carte blanche to paint his 'white bodies' all over the hotel. Same thing with Sophie de Watrigant and two video artists. It is worth a look!
· 15, rue de la Grande Chaumière, 75006 Paris; +33 1 43 26 66 44; Hotel des Academies. Doubles from €187 a night
Hotel Des Grandes Ecoles
Posted by Lagarde
It isn't always easy to find a room like this reasonably-priced gem in the heart of Hemingway's Latin Quarter (near the rue Mouffetard). Regulars come back again and again for its low-key charm, family atmosphere and (star attraction) the pretty, cobbled courtyard, with breakfast tables outside in summer.
· 75, rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 75005 Paris; +33 1 4326 7923; Hotel Des Grandes Ecoles. Doubles from €113 a night
Hotel des Batignolles
Posted by NicholasMurray
If you want a quiet, characterful but cheap hotel in an atmospheric part of central Paris, the Hotel des Batignolles is hard to beat. This is a rising chic area west of Montmartre where the poet Verlaine grew up and symbolist poet Stéphane Mallarmé lived. It has lots of lovely neighbourhood food shops, bars and restaurants.
The hotel is old-fashioned, un-hip, but quiet and a double room with breakfast costs only €65 a night. It's near the Place de Clichy and Rome metro stations.
· 26, rue des Batignolles, 75017 Paris. + 33 1 4387 7040; Hotel des Batignolles
Gavarni Hotel
Posted by Parisien
Hotel Gavarni is an old-fashioned hotel in the chic 16th arrondissement in Paris. The owner is "green" and he wants his hotel to be the same. That's why organic food is served for breakfast, the water from the showers is recycled, the staff are trained to save detergent and water and so on...
· 5, rue Gavarni, 75016 Paris; +33 1 45 24 52 82; gavarni.com/. Doubles from €160 a night (low season)
Where to eat
Le Chartier
Posted by kristi383
Great French restaurant full of locals and with a great atmosphere. It is massive with two floors and the menu offers many dishes at cheap prices. Great for families travelling on a budget who want to visit a traditional French restaurant. Go early to avoid queues.
· 7, rue Faubourg, Montmartre, Paris; +33 1 47 70 86 29; Restaurant Chartier
Mon Vieil Ami
Posted by mp3cityguides
This is a lovely little bistro in the Île Saint Louis which so many visitors miss. We'd walked all the way from the Place de l'Opera and by the time we reached the island we were starving. Parisian food is very variable but this restaurant has an interesting, imaginative take on the bistrot staples such as confit de canard and boeuf bourguignon. All the food is beautifully prepared and the service is friendly and helpful.
· 69, rue St Louis en l'Ile. 75004 Paris; + 33 1 40 46 01 35; Mon Vieil Ami
Angelina's Tearoom - cakes & coffee à la Coco Chanel
Posted by urbanprincess
I'd recommend a visit to Angelina's tearooms on Rue de Rivoli; it's an ideal place to take your partner or daughter if you want to impress her with the knowledge that Angelina is known to have been frequented by Coco Chanel!
That reason aside, the cakes are fabulous (like little pieces of art and totally delicious). Their signature dessert, chestnut-based Mont Blonc, is a delight. The coffee is great (cafe crème is my personal favourite, although I read about their notoriously rich Chocolat l'Africain) and the beautiful decor makes for a lovely experience.
Ladies, don't leave without visiting the bathroom, which is as lovely as the rest of the place!
· 226, rue de Rivoli, 1er, near the Jardin Tuileries; +33 1 42 60 82 00
Kong restaurant
Posted by Simon Maloney
Kong restaurant is on the roof of the old Samaritaine department store on the rue de Rivoli. With its glass-domed roof you get the most spectacular views of Paris and there's a great bar on the floor below, which is full of Parisian fashionistas.
As a tip you need to ask to be seated on the upper floor to get the best views. For a chic spring/summer afternoon, stroll around the Place des Vosges in the Marais district (Metro St Paul) and enjoy the eclectic boutiques in the surrounding streets.
· 1, rue du Pont Neuf/La Samaritaine, 75001 Paris; +33 1 4039 0900; Kong restaurant
Berthillon ice-cream
Posted by Catherine Fletcher
Any ice-cream lover will tell you that the best cornet in the world is to be found in Italy. Well, they're wrong. The crème de la crème (if you'll pardon the pun) is to be found in chic central Paris.
Berthillon ice-cream, sold at vendors throughout the Île St Louis, is utterly delicious. The wild strawberry flavour is fruity fresh, and the double chocolate is any chocoholic's dream. Forget the glorious architecture of the island; these cones are worth the trip in themselves.
Le Refuge des Fondues
Posted by M Wendling
Check out one of the most entertaining and unusual restaurants in Paris: Le Refuge des Fondues in Montmartre. For €15 you can buy the fondue meal and all the wine you can drink out of a baby bottle (no joke).
· 17, rue des 3 Frères, 75018 Paris; +33 1 42 55 22 65
List of Paris best restaurants
Posted by ParisParis
This website is dedicated to Paris' top restaurants. It's worth a visit, especially for its list of the very top French cuisine restaurants and their worldwide acclaimed chefs (Michelin-starred etc).
Where to go out
Le Crocodile cocktail bar
Posted by WilliamBurghes
The best cocktail bar in the city is between the Pantheon and the Luxembourg Gardens. Cosy, intimate and friendly; this place has it all. The back-street location and unassuming frontage makes it a true local hangout – strictly for those in the know. It opens and shuts late so is perfect for long nights when you don't want to face a noisy dance floor. And with more than 300 cocktails on the list you're sure not to get bored.
· 6, rue Royer-Collard, 75005 Paris; +33 1 43 54 32 37
Lavinia wine bar
Posted by Claire Holden
Lavinia wine bar on Boulevard de la Madeleine is a must for anyone who fancies themselves as a wine buff. You can browse three storeys of wine from around the world (but mostly French, of course) including an incredible selection of champagne magnums and a temperature-controlled fine wine cellar. But the best part is the top floor wine bar where you can choose from a decent selection of wines by the glass or pick any bottle of wine from the store and drink at shop price! And with bottles ranging from under €10 to €22,000 there's something for all budgets.
· 3, boulevard de la Madeleine. 75001 Paris; +33 1 4297 2020; Lavinia
Studio de l'Ermitage
Posted by Jane Booty
To me Studio de l'Ermitage was a mixture of where I imagine locals in the know would go, a whiff of old Paris and a private fantasy all rolled into one laid-back music venue. The night I went there was a bal musette. These take place monthly among an interesting programme of old, new and live music. Some partygoers dressed for the occasion, but if you hadn't you didn't feel out of place. The atmosphere was lively, with a fantastic sense of fun. People of all ages danced together and it was a treat to watch and be part of something reflecting the spirit of Paris. It's in Ménilmontant and easy to access by metro.
· 8, rue de L'Ermitage, 75020 Paris; +33 1 44 62 02 86; studio-ermitage.com
Le Doudingue bar
Posted by BeckyHill
This is a funky little bar in Montmartre. It's got a laid-back atmosphere, lots of comfy cushions, quirky décor and possibly the best mosaic decorated toilet in Paris! Drinks are reasonable for Paris. This place is well worth stopping in at on your way up the back streets to Sacré Coeur. Open 4pm - 2am.
· 24, rue Durantin, 75018 Paris; +33 1 42 54 88 08
Chez Paul's wine bar
Posted by Lucy Whelan
There are lots of secret gems in Paris, but Chez Paul's wine bar and brasserie, near the Bastille, is without a doubt the most Parisian.
This enthralling little place is invariably packed with locals of the bizarrely-dressed cigarette-in-hand variety. Paul himself is normally there behind the well-stocked bar in his thick round lunettes. He might serve you a little grudgingly if you aren't French (something I personally rather treasure), but the food is stunning and you will soak up both the atmosphere and the beautiful wine long into the night.
· 13, rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris; +33 1 47 00 34 57
What to do
Subterranean and skeletal...
Posted by Tinkerbell
The catacombs of Paris were created to house the overflow of municipal cemeteries as the city was expanding and being developed. Visitors can go seven days a week to follow a 1.5-mile trail past the remains of six million former inhabitants. It is remarkable - not for its ghoulishness, once the initial surprise has worn off; it is a place that I find really thought-provoking. An unusual, but worthwhile way to spend a couple of hours.
· Nearest metro stop is Denfert Rochereau; catacombes-de-paris.fr
Paris mosque and Turkish baths
Posted by Ann Seyfang
When you are feeling tired after sightseeing, give yourself a treat and visit the Paris mosque in the Latin Quarter. It was built 1922-26 from pink marble and contains mosaics, wood-carvings and wrought iron brought from Morocco. It covers over a hectare and is worth a visit for the splendour of the building and its artefacts.
However, there is another reason for visiting: the Turkish baths. These are inexpensive to visit and you can enjoy the tranquil environment while having a massage or chilling out in the steam rooms.
The restaurant serves refreshing mint tea and light meals in a delightful courtyard. There are also shops where you can buy those last-minute gifts. There are separate days for men and women to visit the baths.
Guided tours are very reasonably price at €3 (€2 without a guide). Entrance is free for children under seven. You could spend a day here if you are in Paris for a few days, or just a few hours if your time is limited.
· 39, rue Geoffrey St Hilaire, Place du Puits-de-l'Ermite; +33 1 4535 9733
Musee Marmottan
Posted by Sheila Cross
Escape the culture vultures at the Louvre or Musée d' Orsay and head out to the 16th district for the Musée Marmottan. There, in a peaceful mansion, you'll find the largest Monet collection anywhere. See the entire range of his work, culminating in the Giverny Nympheas, displayed in a wonderful circular gallery. Admire works of many other impressionists, including one of the few women, Berthe Morisot, Manet's sister-in-law. Easy to get to (four buses, metro), opposite a delightful park, near good, cheap restaurants - a day out of Paris, in Paris!
· 2, rue Louis-Boilly, 75016 Paris; +33 1 4496 5033; Musee Marmottan
Where to shop
Marché des enfants rouge
Posted by aliwallace
Even though Paris lost its most famous market 'Les Halles', there are still numerous fresh food markets across the city. Rue de Buci always has fresh food displayed as does rue Montorgueil. However this market is particularly worth a visit for a trip down memory lane. You'll find fois gras, tempting charcuterie, fresh seafood and other delights delivered daily from many of France's small provincial towns.
· 39, rue de Bretagne, Metro: Filles-du-Calvaire
Best butter in the world
Posted by Chaumont
You have never tasted anything like the un-pasteurized bliss available in special Paris shops - check "points de vente" on Pascal Beillevaire.com.
Butter is not even mentioned on the website (merely their cheese) so go to the shop best suited to your whereabouts and buy a package or two of beurre cru croquant. Bliss bliss bliss.
Marché aux puces de la Porte de Vanves
Posted by nounou
This market is situated in southern Paris and takes place on Saturdays and Sundays from 7am to around 1.30pm. Lots of Parisian knick-knacks, books, old postcards, jewellery, furniture and much more are for sale.
There is a mix of professional and amateur sellers and, unlike some other markets in Paris which are awash with cheap clothes and tat, this one has a certain charm. The sellers aren't pushy and are happy for you to look around and root through without hovering over your shoulder. Some are completely oblivious to their customers; I passed four men sitting at a table playing cards while people sorted through fabric!
Although officially it finishes at 1.30pm, I would advise going early-ish as many start packing up around noon. All together it's a lovely place to wander on a weekend morning.
· Av Georges-Lafenestre/Av Marc- Sangnier 14e; pucesdevanves.typepad.com. Metro: Porte-de-vanves
Shop at Comptoir du Marais
Posted by Romella Manning-Brown
If, like me, you know that going to Paris means going clothes shopping then here is a treat: mens' and ladies' wear shop Comptoir du Marais. It has two floors packed with stylish but wearable items by young French designers and is unbelievably cheap. The shop has a tearoom and small gallery where you can relax with your bags - inevitably full of clothes you have just bought. Tucked away at the end of rue des Mauvais Garcons (street of the naughty boys) in the heart of gay Paris – this boutique is well-behaved, wallet-pleasing fun.
· 8, rue de Moussy, 75004 Paris; + 33 1 4274 0606; Comptoir du Marais
