Where to Eat in Paris & Other Musings

If you follow me on Instagram then you know I went to Paris with my mom a couple of weeks ago.  I'm finally getting around to this Paris recap and since I'm so proud that I noted every place we ate, here's my thoughts on where to eat in Paris.  I also have my thoughts on shopping and pictures from my trip.  Hope you enjoy!

Paris Day 1 - Montmarte and Champs Elysee

We arrived super early this morning, but were determined to make the most out of this trip since we only had four full days.  Unfortunately our AirBNB was pretty janky (totally bare boned so definitely not a luxurious experience at all), so that meant we  just dropped off our bags and went off in search of breakfast.Breakfast - Claus, 14-15 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 75001 ParisWe loved this place so much we ate here twice!  There's usually a line (and no list so you literally have to wait in line for a table), but luckily there's a super sister cute bakery / cafe across the street so you can get a snack while you wait.  I had a delicious matcha latte and shared a flaky, yeasty not too sweet brioche roll with my mom while we waited for a table.  The host was very friendly and the food was great.  I'd definitely go back (but I'd be organized enough to make a reservation in advance).Photo Tour - MontmarteNow this was sooo fun.  I booked an AirBNB experience and it was a walking tour / photo lesson in Montmarte.  I've had a DSLR for about a year now, but still don't feel that comfortable shooting in manual mode.  But, the whole point of having a fancy camera is adjusting the settings so you can get those really cool shots.  I had an amazing afternoon walking the streets of Montmarte with another couple and our guide Paulette.  I feel like I learned so much, and most importantly, I gained confidence in my photography skills.  I couldn't recommend this more!Dinner - La Lorainne, 2 Place des Ternes, 75008 ParisAs I was walking from our apartment to the metro on my way to the photo tour, I spotted a couple of cute restaurants that were totally packed with Parisians sitting in the outside tables.  I figured that at least one of them had to be good, so when it came time to meet my mom for dinner, I yelped a few and we settled on La Lorainne.  This was a true French brasserie and the food was SO good.  I totally indulged and had foie gras, steak frittes and a Grand Marnier soufflé.  I loved how this was an authentic French restaurant and we could tell that it was a local spot.

Paris Day 2 - La Marais

Today we decided to head over to the Marais.  It's a neighborhood we're both familiar with and there's tons of cute shops.Breakfast - Poilane, 38 Rue Debelleyme, 75003 ParisThis place makes the best pain au chocolat in Paris.  I said it and I mean it.  There are a few locations, and this one has a big table inside that seats about 7-8 people so my mom and I had coffee and tea and ate our pastries.  We both also bought some delicious shortbread cookies for souvenirs.On our way to lunch we just walked and wandered and shopped in every cute shop we saw.We fell in love with Maison Plisson.  It's a small market with the most gorgeous produce, cheeses and prepared food.  Plus it has a restaurant and coffee shop.  We didn't buy anything, but I'd definitely check it out if I had the chance again.Lunch - Paris Hanoi, 74 Rue de Charonne, 75011 ParisWe love Vietnamese food, so when we read about this restaurant we definitely wanted to check it out.  The food was really good, super affordable and the staff was friendly.After lunch we walked around some more and did some serious window shopping...Snack - Rose Bakery Tea Room au Bon Marche, 24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 ParisLe Bon Marche is the best department store in Paris, so y'all know we had to stop there.  It was the first of two trips there so this was actually more of a recognizance mission.  We surveyed and took some notes and would be back later to do some damage.  Anyways, shopping is cardio, so we needed a snack, and stopped at the Rose Bakery location inside the store.  There are also stand alone locations and the food is delicious.  This is another place that we revisited and I'm still craving a piece of the chocolate matcha swirl cake.Dinner - Le Cherche Midi, 22 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006 ParisWe went to this spot because it was a short walk from Le Bon Marche, and it was incredible!  Again, it was a neighborhood spot and reasonably priced.  The menu changes daily and the food was insane.  Super fresh pasta, yummy bread.  We loved it so much that we almost went back but there were other places on our list to try.

Paris Day 3 - Saint-Honoré

Late Breakfast - Claus, 14-15 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 75001 ParisAfter eating at Claus, we drooled over the shoes at Christian Louboutin before heading to Colette.  My mom and I actually ended up buying the same red bottoms, and I was forced to finally accept that I am indeed turning into my mom LOL.After stopping into Colette (they had just gotten in some Glossier so I wanted to check it out), we stared and sniffed at the stunning roses at the flower shop connected to the Hotel Costes.  I mean these pictures don't do it justice.  I wish I could have bottled the smell because the room was literally covered in roses.We of course had to stop by the iconic Chanel boutique and I fell in love with these white and black mules.  I debated and deliberated over them but didn't buy them.  BUT I couldn't stop thinking about them and regretted not getting them SO much.  Yes, they were expensive, but I've seriously been on the hunt for white pumps for years.  So when I got back home, I called the Chanel boutique in SF and a sales person tracked them down for me!! Got em :-)Drink - The Ritz Bar, 15 Place Vendôme, 75001 ParisSeven years ago, I studied abroad in law school in Paris, and when my mom came to visit me, we took a cooking class at the Ritz.  Since then, the hotel has undergone an extensive renovation and my mom definitely wanted to check it out again.  We stopped by the Ritz Bar for a drink and even though the prices were outrageous, it was worth it.Dinner - Frenchie Wine Bar, 5 Rue du Nil, 75002 ParisThis was the best meal we had in Paris.  Frenchie is a Michelin-stared restaurant that has a nightly prix fixe menu that you have to book weeks (if not months) in advance.  We didn't have the benefit of that much planning, so we went to their wine bar instead.  And I'm so glad we did.  We had this dish with duck breast, chickpeas, dates and chilis that was phenomenal.  We got to sit right by the tiny kitchen and it was so impressive to see them prep all the dishes.

Paris Day 4 - Saint Germain & Eiffel Tower

Breakfast - Angelina, 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 ParisAngelina makes the most decadent hot chocolate.  It's basically straight up melted chocolate that you could eat with a spoon if you wanted to.  I could pretty much live off sugar but it was rich even for me.  It's so indulgent to sip some hot chocolate and eat a pastry for breakfast, but when in Paris...After breakfast, we walked across the Seine to one of my mom's favorite stores - Dries Van Noten.  He's known for mixing prints and interesting silhouettes and the boutique is, well, chic as hell.  You feel like you're in a rich bohemian woman's dressing room.  We touched literally everything in the store and tried on a few things and the saleswomen were so sweet and helpful.Lunch - Rose Bakery Tea Room au Bon Marche, 24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 ParisTold you we came here twice.  This time, we had lunch and it was just as good as the first time.{Side note - My mom did a pretty good job snapping this pic, right?}After eating lunch we headed over to the Eiffel Tower to take some pictures.  It was hella crowded but we managed to get some really nice pictures.  Then my mom went back to the apartment and I took one of the river boat cruises on the Seine.  It was a super touristy thing to do but I didn't care!  It was so relaxing to just sit in the sun and cruise along the river.  Plus it was only about an hour so it was a nice little break.[one_half padding="5px 5px 5px 5px"][/one_half][one_half_last padding="5px 5px 5px 5px"][/one_half_last]Dinner - Clamato, 80 Rue de Charonne, 75011 ParisThis was another fantastic restaurant and a great way to end our time in Paris.  When we got to Clamato, there were no tables available (it's pretty small).  Luckily they have a sister wine bar just across the street so we had a glass of wine and some charcuterie there until they called us for our table.  The food was really good and the staff were super friendly.  I honestly think French people get a bad wrap!  We found nothing but nice people, but maybe it was just us ;-) 

Paris Day 5

Breakfast - La Patisserie Cyril Lignac, 2 Rue de Chaillot, 75116 ParisOur flight left this afternoon, so we decided to walk to a patisserie and grab some breakfast and snacks for the road.  Cyril Lignac had so many tempting things, and I don't even remember what we got!  I just know it tasted amazing.

Until next time, Paris.