A Wander Guide: Paris
a guide to the city of love ❤️
*POST UPDATED NOVEMBER 2025.
Paris owns my heart. It’s the one city that keeps dragging me back time & time again. This past October was my sixth time visiting, and still it amazes me that a city so smooth & polished can at the same time be so rough & rugged around the edges. It seems to contradict itself, and it is this contradiction that keeps me going back for more. To me, it is the ideal of beauty. I could never tire of walking the grand boulevards, or exploring the winding little streets of the Marais, hoping to catch a peek of an older Paris. And so, I thought I could create this little Paris travel guide to show you how to follow in my well-worn Parisian footsteps! Shall we?
This was Boyfriend’s first time visiting Paris, and I wanted it to be absolutely perfect. The first few times I visited the city I didn’t quite understand what all the fuss was about. Having since then become a near-Francophile, it was important to me that Boyfriend love the city as much as I now do. So, I meticulously planned our trip. I read countless guide books, travel guides, blogs, everything. I cornered colleagues & friends who had any inside knowledge on the city. Thankfully, it all paid off.
Below is a detailed list of recommendations for food, drink, accommodation, and that little bit of culture.
Enjoy!
where to stay
Le Marais // our favourite neighbourhood in the city! Spread across the 3rd and 4th arrondissements, the Marais is gorgeous: cobblestones, hidden courtyards, winding streets lined with picture perfect facades, and many a fantastic cafe, restaurant, and bar. We fell in love with the quirky-yet-casual feel of the area, and will likely stay in the same area next time we visit. We stayed in an AirBnB this time, but there are plenty of reasonably priced hotels in the area too! Hotel Americain was our home for one night due to flight cancellations, and it was perfect! 3-stars, no fuss, clean rooms, and conveniently located next to a killer patisserie! Would recommend.
where to get coffee & pastries
Boot Café // we went for the adorable blue storefront, but we stayed for the amazing coffee. Surprisingly, this ended up being our favourite coffee spot in the city — their silky smooth cortado was a particular highlight! — so we actually ended up coming back a handful of times throughout our trip; it was always wonderful! Would recommend. Address: 19 Rue du Pont aux Choux, 75003 Paris
Du Pain des Idees // home to some of the best pastries in Paris, this was definitely worth the queue! We were in line for maybe 20-minutes — but we both agreed it was worth it and we’d do it again. We nabbed a few different pastries, but our favourite was the green-as-can-be pistachio escargot. A must-visit. Address: 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010 Paris
Angelina // Boyfriend had heard whispers of Angelina’s legendary hot chocolate before we planned our trip, so of course we had to check it out. Seated in one of the most beautiful tea rooms I’ve ever seen, we enjoyed our drinks with a beautifully flaky pain au chocolat. Honestly, the hot chocolate didn’t do it for us — it was far too rich and heavy — and the prices felt unjustifiably high. Definitely worth visiting once, but there are other places I’d rather visit twice. Address: 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
where to eat breakfast & brunch
Holybelly // our favourite brunch spot of the trip! Over the course of our two visits here — yes, we went back two days in a row #noshame — we confirmed two things. 1: the sausage patty & hash browns are by far the best items on the menu, but, 2: if you must go off-piste, the famous pancake stack is a very close second. The filter coffee is also surprisingly good! A must-visit. Address: 5 Rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010 Paris
Fragments Cafe // Boyfriend was skeptical about trying this Instagram find; he thought it would be just another hipster place serving expensive coffee & avocado toast — and he was 100% right. However! Said avocado toast was surprisingly flavourful — slightly onion-y and more spicy than expected! — which really set it apart from the norm. Address: 76 Rue des Tournelles, 75003 Paris
*2022 UPDATE: sadly, now closed.
where to eat lunch
Burger Joint // Boyfriend has decided that we must find a great burger place in every city we visit, and, I’m pleased to report, this was that place in Paris! The patty was cooked perfectly medium-rare, there were pickles and American cheese, and the bun was delightfully squishy. Next time we hope to hit Le Camion Qui Fume, which is apparently even better! Address: 22 Rue Rambuteau, 75003 Paris
where to eat dinner
Frenchie Bar à Vins // the restaurant of my dreams! Think: informal, communal tables with bar stools, no reservations, small dishes and plates meant for sharing, and maybe only enough space for 30 or so diners. In other words: ideal! As per the restaurant recommendation, we shared a few plates: a brioche + braised beef oxtail dish, a lamb ragu with pappardelle, and a smoked pork loin with beans + chorizo. Everything was impeccable! A must-visit. Address: 6 Rue du Nil, 75002 Paris
Ellsworth // such a fantastic little restaurant! All the reviews online rave about the buttermilk fried chicken, and wow were they right! Perfectly crisped and deliciously juicy, we ordered a second portion right after finishing our first! We also enjoyed a wonderfully imaginative oxtail dish that was covered in some sort of cheesy espuma and crunchy potato chips? It sounded weird to us too, but it was so good! For dessert, we shared a portion of their ricotta donuts with sage & blackberry sorbet, which was so! delicious! A must-visit. Address: 34 Rue de Richelieu, 75001 Paris
Robert et Louise // I don’t remember how we heard about this spot, but it ended up being one of our favourite Paris experiences — everything was fantastic! The restaurant was loud, bustling, and filled to the brim with locals. The owner — who, btdubz, sits just inside the door with a giant ledger covered in scribbles — pointed us to two seats at the end of a communal table right beside the open fire where they cook everything, so we were treated to dinner and a show! To eat, we shared a boudin noir for starters and a côte de boeuf with a side of crispy potatoes for mains, and everything was absolutely delicious! We didn’t have room for dessert, but I’m sure they’re also delicious! A definite must-visit. Address: 64 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003 Paris
Au Bourguignon du Marais // a really very good beef bourguignon spot. Served in little individual cast-iron dishes — Staub, no less! — we practically licked our bowls clean! When in Paris, right? Address: 52 Rue François Miron, 75004 Paris
where to drink
Les Etages // the word ‘unassuming’ is almost too bold a word to describe this spot. It’s so unassuming that we actually thought it was an abandoned building, until we happened to see a couple going in and we decided to check it out. And thank goodness, because it was so cute inside! Peeling plaster and exposed brick walls, cozy armchairs, mismatching glasses, quirky lampshades, and hipster-chic bartenders. We were so enamored with the place that we ended up staying for three Aperol spritz’! Address: 35 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75004 Paris
*2022 UPDATE: sadly, now closed.
Au Petit fer à Cheval // admittedly, Boyfriend had to drag me in here. This little horseshoe shaped bar is something of an institution in the Marais — but I was more than a little put off by the ‘gentleman only’ vibe to the place. I enjoyed our drink there, but, honestly, it’s not somewhere I would return to. Address: 30 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75004 Paris
LIZARD // an accidental find, but one we really enjoyed! Initially, we stopped in here for a couple of beers at the bar, but we liked the chilled out vibe of the place so much that we returned again the next day for a couple of old fashioneds. Address: 18 Rue du Bourg Tibourg, 75004 Paris
Le Clown Bar // this spot was recommended to us by my wine-connoisseur boss, so you know it’s going to be good! Dating back to 1902, when we stopped by here for a drink one day after lunch, it felt like we’d stepped back in time. It has a lovely old-world feel, with quirky clown tiles on the walls, and cool zinc bar, etc. We didn’t eat here this trip, but apparently the food is also wonderful. A must-visit. Address: 114 Rue Amelot, 75011 Paris
what to do
paid attractions
Louvre // did you even visit Paris if you didn’t hit the Louvre? Debatable. That said, after visiting several times previously, I decided this would be the Parisian adventure in which I didn’t visit the Louvre. Boyfriend, however, put his foot down and told me that he couldn’t leave Paris without seeing the Mona Lisa, and so we went! My fave piece in the museum will forever be Caravaggio’s Death of a Virgin — it has all the beauty of the Mona Lisa & none of the crowds. A must-visit. Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
free attractions
Atelier Brancusi // one of the most underrated museums in Paris & also one of my favourites. Literally right in front of the Centre Pompidou, Brancusi’s atelier gives a little peek inside the mind of the artist. You get to see some of his works, the materials he used, his tools, and his living quarters. A must-visit. Address: Place Georges Pompidou, 75004 Paris
Shakespeare & Co. // stepping through the door here is almost like stepping into an alternate world: comically topsy-turvy, books crammed into every conceivable nook & cranny, inspirational quotes scrawled across little mirrors hidden all over the place, a piano squished amidst the chaos just begging to be played, etc. You get the picture. A must-visit. Address: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris
Place des Vosges // the oldest planned square in the city, and arguably the most beautiful! After a nice leisurely stroll around the square, we set up camp on a bench in the shade and watched the world go by for a while. It was delightful! Address: Pl. des Vosges, 75004 Paris
Galerie Vivienne // one of the city’s beautiful covered archways, lined with gorgeous bookshops, restaurants, and quirky one-of-a-kind sellers. This archway also connects up to some of the other passages throughout the city, so you can extend your walk through a couple if you are so inclined. Address: 5 Rue de la Banque, 75002 Paris
Wander along the Seine // the banks of the Seine are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Why not follow in the footsteps of the locals by grabbing a baguette and a bottle of fizz and stop for an impromptu picnic along the waterfront? Idyllic! A must-visit.
And there we have it, friends: A Wander Guide, Paris. I hope you enjoyed! Have you been to the city of love? I’d love to hear your thoughts — hit me up using the comment box below!
Hugs,
Vicki xo
*Date of trip: 13th - 16th October, 2017*
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