The City of Light should be renamed the ‘City of Those Who Take Time to Enjoy’. A dose of Paris is not only good for the soul of an urbanite Los Angeleno, but highly recommended.
Here are some ‘joie de vivre’ (translation: Hearty or carefree enjoyment of life.) experiences I wanted to share from my recent trip to Paris, so that in the bustle of trying to see all the typical sights like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, you can also unwind or tantalize your palate just like a Parisian native. Avoir un grand voyage et apprécier!
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Paris is a city where you can find supermodels unabashedly sitting down to a gooey chocolate éclair at Fauchon’s café or suit clad professionals unhurriedly taking a civilized three course (with wine, no question) lunch break. Another illustration of unapologetic enjoyment is when even a millimeter of sun pierces the ever-present cloudy sky in the middle of the work week, the parks are all legs and arms of Parisians sprawled out like cats enjoying the warmth. By example, they teach the American, ever under a burden of deadlines and obligations, to enjoy the simple pleasures of life as a birthright without guilt or explanation.
Parisians in a local park relaxing on a work day!
Where to Stay
We’ve discovered Hotel La Trémoille to begin your Parisian experience – a 19th century residence renovated into a modern hotel catering to your every need located in the chic, haute couture district, the ‘Golden Triangle’ (the area between the famous Champs Elysées and the Seine). The hotel is fashioned in a Louis XV meets 1930’s style with carved woodwork and rich tapestries. The 80 rooms and 13 suites are intimate yet breathtaking as you enter, each decorated individually yet in harmony with each other using hues of tawny, violet, gray, and white, with use of silks, synthetic furs, and mohair. The sophisticated black and chrome bathrooms invite you to take advantage of their Molton Brown toiletries.
Breakfast delivered to your private hatch.
My favorite feature of the room was the ‘hatch’ so that I don’t have to worry about combing my bed head before room service gets there. Just fill out your breakfast requests from fresh baked croissants to eggs with hot chocolate or coffee and it will be delivered to you in a private compartment in your room.
Speaking of food, the hotel’s restaurant, Louis², was formerly named after Louis II, the Sire de La Trémoille, a grand Renaissance knight and ambassador for the hotel. Today, Louis² has a more up-to-date touch, whilst reaffirming its links with the past just as the hotel decor does. Chef Yann Frohn fuses elegant service of the past with the bold and creative cuisine of modern times. The 1930’s glamorous decor, highlighted by geometric designs of the cornices and mouldings, leather banquets and touches of purple orchids only enhance the dining experience. And if you just want a place to relax and recharge, La Tremoille’s cozy lounge and library is perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail.
Hotel Tremoille's spa.
Their spa is cozy and offers everything you might want from massage, to facials, to manicures. They also offer an exercise room and two incredibly inspiring meeting rooms with stunning views of Paris.
Hotel de La Tremoille 14 rue de la Trémoille Tel. : +33 (0)1 56 52 14 00
Click HERE for Spring specials and reservations.
Top Local Eats
La Baron Bouge – On the east side of Paris in the 12th district, this neighborhood wine bar is jammed with locals drinking wine poured directly from barrels and happily slurping oysters. La Baron Bouge is great place to have a joie de virve moment after visiting the Marché d’Aligre, one of Paris’ most beautiful and extensive farmer’s markets.
Le Baron Bouge. 1 rue Théophile-Roussel. Tel: 01 43 43 14 32. Metro: Ledru-Rollin. Closed Sun/Mon.
Le Baratin – Taking about three metro lines from the center of Paris to get there, this family-owned bistro is for the true foodie seeker. Rumor has it Le Baratin is where the famous Paris chefs go to eat after their shift. Get ready for a menu with eclectic yet simple French dishes like veal brain to squid stew. And make sure you check out the kitchen that is the size of a walk-in closet that owner and self-taught cook Rachel masterfully feeds the two-roomed restaurant out of. The wine selections equal the quality of the well-crafted food. Call ahead for dinner reservations at least a day or two in advance or try out their bargain lunch menu for 15 euros.
Le Baratin. 3 rue Jouye Rouve. Phone : 01 43 49 39 70, Metro : Pyrennées.
Café de Flore – Ok, so this one is very touristy with its reputation of being an artist and intellectual watering hole since the 19th century. But, I recommend enjoying it like philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre did – go early (avoiding the crowds) for breakfast, sit on the terrace, and take coffee and a croissant (already laid out for you in clear boxes on the tables) and allow the history of the place to inspire your thoughts with lofty creativity. Opens at 7 am daily.
Cafe de Flore. 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Tel: 01 45 48 55 26. Metro: Saint-Germain
La Pâtisserie des rêves –The recently opened Pastry Shop of Dreams (literal translation) looks like an art gallery for pastries. It is the trendy place to get a cake from the new king of pastries, Chef Phillipe Conticini. Try the Paris-Brest, Saint-Honore, Tarte Tatin and all three versions of his lemon tart. The to-go cloth napkins emblazoned with his salmon-colored abstract logo are almost as impressive as the pastries!
La Pâtisserie des rêves. 93 rue du Bac. Tel: 01.42.84.00.82. Metro: rue du Bac
Beyond Couture Shopping
Paris, known as the fashion capital of the world, has some of the best flagship stores of designers to visit, but we’d like to highlight a few shops off the beaten path to find incredible clothes, shoes and food for gifts!
Anatomica – Not used to all the walking and your feet are killing you? Anatomica carries top-quality shoes for men and women that are not only seriously stylish but are anatomically correct. (No Louboutin’s in here!) Pierre and his staff are militant about fitting you with the perfect size so just submit to their extensive measuring. They also carry an assortment of stunning clothing finds for men…. handmade sweaters from Scotland, hand-dyed scarves from Japan, and a few rare items still made in USA. Every item they carry has been well researched with a story of its own – don’t be shy to ask, the staff at Anatomica are extremely well-educated about their garments and shoes and happy to help.
Anatomica – 14 rue du Bourg Tibourg, Tel: 01 42 74 10 20 Metro: Hotel de Ville www.anatomica.fr
Mariage Frères – After you’ve scored shoes, the elegant Mariage Frères tea salon is just a few doors down from Anatomica. Mariage Frères offers an encyclopedia-like menu of tea selections, a tea sommelier of sorts who tastes each tea to make sure its brewed perfectly and exquisitely delicate cakes and pastries. Their tea boutique offers great gift ideas of all thing tea beautifully packaged. Try their Bourbon jam.
Mariage Fres 30 rue du Bourg-Tibourg, Tel. 01 42 72 28 11 Metro: Hotel de Ville
Collette – Collette is the definition of uber-trendiness selling designer clothing, art books, jewelry, makeup and even Toto toilets. Check it out their water bar downstairs and definitely take advantage of their WC here!
Collette 213 Rue Saint-Honore Tel: 01 55 35 33 90 Metro: Tuileries
Ryst-Dupeyron – Founded in 1905, this charming store has a quality wine but its spirit collection is the best in the city. Pull up a chair and begin your armagnac, port or liqueur education as they are happy to let you sample. This is a great place to buy a cadeau (gift) of Armagnac or Port for someone as they will label a vintage from almost any year with a personalized message and box it up in sophisticated burgundy paper.
An exuberant customer wanting another taste!
Ryst-Dupeyron 79 Rue du Bac Tel: 0145488093 Metro: Rue du Bac
Bon Marche Grand Epicerie – This supermarket is like Disneyland to a foodie like me. I gleefully skip through the aisles trying not to drool over the endless gourmet delights. Buy your food gifts here like Christine Ferrer confitures or Maison de Truffe’s truffle salt. Across the street is the fashion Bon Marche (the Barney’s of Paris) – also a great place to explore.
Bon Marche 38 Rue de Sèvres 01 44 39 81 00 Subway: Vaneau
Going Out in Paris
Prescription Cocktail Club – This new speakeasy serves up expertly engineered cocktails of over 300 different spirits. Prescription, filled with devastatingly hip patrons, is an excellent place to start an evening or even round one off as its open weekends till 4 am. The owners’ other bars – Le Curio and Experimental Cocktail Club are also worth a visit.
Prescription Cocktail Club. 23 Rue Mazarine. Tel: 01-45-08-88-09 Metro: Mabilllon, Odéon, Saint-Michel
Social Club – The hypnotic black interior and neon lighting will get you in the mood to get your groove on. Star DJ’s make regular appearances here and the music is eclectic enough so everyone’s happy. And that what their striving for as their mission at Social Club is, “One calling for the Social Club is the inclusion of styles, genres, and thus the public.”
Social Club. 142 Rue Montmarte. 01 43 35 25 48 Metro: Bourse or Grand Boulevards
Bus Palladium – A cult 60’s venue, the velvet-covered Bus Palladium stands the test of time an attitude that embraces every style. Each room has a separate theme and décor allowing you to party as your inner interior designer dictates.
Bus Palladium 6 Rue Fontaine 01 45 26 80 35 Metro: Pigalle
Here’s to your Paris exploration – may it be magical and full of joie de vivre moments!
Click HERE to view artist Marc Valesella’s Still Standing series on the Eiffel Tower.
Wow, this article has made me want to pack my bags right now.