As Audrey Hepburn said herself, ‘Paris is always a good idea.’ But many of the people who visit the City of Light seem to have the same idea about how to take it in. Considering it is drenched in history, has provided inspiration for so many of the greatest artists, poets, storytellers and designers, and is subject to a constant, revolving door of trend-setters and taste-makers aiming to create different experiences and open new doors, it’s a wonder anyone could have the same experience twice.
And it’s for this reason that anyone visiting Paris should have a good think about what sort of immersion they have designs on. For the fashion crowd can explore the city like an editor would during show season, an artist can take in an astonishing menu of visual feats through the ages, a gastronome has all manner of delectations to pursue and, for a bon vivant, there’s an abundance of the finest wine and champagne in the world.
For those in search of a few ways to upgrade their trip from standard to splendid, this guide will give you 10 tips for a luxurious Parisian mini-break.
Fine Tune the Tunnel
Hopping on the Eurostar from St Pancras is so delightfully easy that it barely feels like leaving the country. But trust us when we say, upgrading your ticket to Standard Premier or Business Premier is so worth the extra pennies. Seats that are wide enough to comfortably accommodate a few extra chouquettes, a meal served with a white linen serviette, tiny reading lights in your arm rests, an abundance of coat hooks and peace, glorious peace. It surely beats the risk of being clambered on by somebody else’s children and a sad sandwich from a station stall. Take this as your sign to bump up the bougie for your channel crossing and book now.
Stay at The Peninsula
The Peninsula Group represents some of the most incredibly lavish hotels in the world, and the Peninsula Paris might just be the best one of all of them. Just a short amble down from the Arc De Triomphe, bell boys in pristine white will usher you in through the magnificent building’s grand facade doors, to a chasmal atrium of silk-upholstered tall-backed chairs and ‘Dancing Leaves’ - an astonishing hanging installation suspended from the ceiling which comprises of 800 individual handblown crystal leaves from glass artisans at Lasvit, inspired by the trees lining Avenue Kléber, where the hotel is situated.
The 200 rooms, of which 93 are suites, are no less impressive, showcasing historically exquisite French taste, but with subtle, contemporary updates like tablets to control every aspect of your rooms including the curtains, and techy toilets which will keep you warm, clean and perfumed. Little touches like a bell jar of fresh macarons, or a daily delivery of madeleines and a personal turn-down service make this the sort of hotel fit for royalty.
Not only is the Peninsula one of the only metropolitan hotels to have a pool, but at 20m in length, it’s also one of the biggest in the city. And then, there’s the restaurant…
The Peninsula Paris is a 5* hotel, located at 19 Avenue Kléber, Paris. Rooms start at £1,646.
L'Oiseau Blanc
There are only fifteen restaurants in Paris to have been accorded the coveted two Michelin-star rating. And L’Oiseau Blanc is one of them. So you’ll be part of a rare community of fine diners to have experienced the privilege of a repast at this level.
Nestled in the eaves of the roof of the Peninsula hotel, L’Oiseau Blanc is an establishment dedicated to French pioneers of aviation and the first attempts at trans-atlantic flight. And as you peer out of the restaurant’s generous glass windows, you’ll spot a replica of one of the aircraft, hanging from the building’s rooftop, giving the impression that it might be mid-journey, charting a course for a spin around the Eiffel Tower (also in view from your dinner table).
The food itself is, of course, a feat of gastronomic excellence. Chef David Bizet’s signature dishes include an amuse bouche of creamy corn infused with a parmesan ice cream, squid ink lacquered sweetbreads, rhubarb roast pigeon and an incredible dessert of madagascar chocolate praline, injected with frosted caper sorbet and topped with little curls of smoked gavotte biscuit delicately cupping dollops of caviar. A revelation.
Pop By Printemps
As we experience a downturn for grand department stores - with New Bond Street’s Fenwick’s to close after a 130 year tenure and uncertain times for House of Fraser - heading to one of these shopping meccas feels more rare a right of passage than ever. And Printemps is to Paris what Selfridges is to London. Famous for housing luxury brands like Chanel, Moncler, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy and Balmain, as well as other more boutique offerings, it’s worth wandering through its halls for the experience alone.
Elevate Your Circular Fashion
In 2023, buying new isn’t always the best way to go. With concern for the impact of fashion on the planet mounting, the most fabulous way to shop might be second hand. And trust us when we tell you, Paris has some of the most incredible vintage stores in Europe. You needn’t worry about your chances of picking up a treasured piece of Chanel or Vuitton, with enough savvy browsing at some of the following places… Nuovo Paris, in Rue de Turenne, is probably the most famous, with luminaries like Rosalia spotted there this year. In this second-store each and every item is chosen with the utmost care, in the hope that it stocks only things which are unique and deeply covetable.
Pretty Box is by appointment only, so make sure you secure your slot ahead of the trip to avoid disappointment. Slotted quietly in Rue de Saintonge in le Marais, you might even find a queue outside, which probably tells you how much it’s worth the forward-planning.
Elevastor and Merci are both concept stores, housing everything from interior design and stationary through to vintage clothes. Others to consider too are Chez Snow Bunny and Thanx God I’m A VIP. And who knows, you might come home with the retro Givenchy dress of dreams.
Masters or White Cube
With such an impressive roster of art galleries on offer, the choice feels overwhelming. But for those who’ve already frequented the staples - the Mona Lisa? Been there done that - there are off-the-beaten-track displays to add to your list. Gallery Perrotin, for example, is frequented by collectors and enthusiasts, hoping to score a vibrant original for their penthouse walls.
Gallery Magda Danysz is dedicated to large-scale, striking work from up-and-coming artists and Fluctuart offers a little gimmicky, perhaps, but cute all-the-same experience of looking at contemporary works by street artists like Banksy and Invader while technically floating on the Seine.
Lunch at GiGi
If you’re not satisfied that you’ve spent enough time dining with an Eiffel Tower view, may we suggest you have another go at it while lunching chez Gigi Paris.
An Italian eatery, yes, but still inescapably French in the delivery and the view. A rooftop terrace that overlooks both the Théâtre des Champs Élysées and the iron tower, there are Parisian ingredients wherever you look, from the laid-back charm, to the live music.
Sip on prosecco from the bellini bar while you bask in the summer weather in the outdoor rooftop seating, or huddle together over one of the impressive amber marble tables in the interior, chowing down on lobster paccheri. Book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Venture to Canal Saint Martin
Much like Londoners, the Parisians are always on the hunt for the new ‘cool’. A place that has risen in the trend stakes as Shoreditch or Hackney once did. Or in this case, as Canal Saint Martin is currently doing.
Coined ‘BoBo’ by those that frequent the area - a colloquial term meaning bourgeois-bohemian - this little endroit is situated just north of the already incredibly popular Le Marais. A canal-side collection of lively streets, lined with chestnut trees and joined together via iron footbridges over the water. It is hopping with small, independent cafés, like Chambre des Oiseaux on Rue Bichat, full of antique furniture and old knick-knacks, as well as yes, more vintage fare at places like Frivoli, on Rue Beaurepaire.
Le Syndicat
There is an abundance of places to go for a chic aperitif. Listen to the likes of LCD Soundsystem at Le Trianon on boulevard Rochechouart, for example, an old music hall lovingly restored by Julien Labrousse, the brains behind Canal St Martin hipster hangout, Hotel du Nord. Or if you're in the mood for late night dancing, David Lynch's Silencio, inspired by the creepy nightclub in Mulholland Drive and developed in collaboration with local electro club-land maestros, Social Club, is something of a scene.
But if you’re one of those people eternally searching for a cool bar that feels luxe but also off the beaten track, hip without being so happening that everyone knows about it, then you should really consider a visit to Le Syndicat. The entrance is one that you risk missing, disguised deliberately as an old shop with poster bills and lots of graffiti - the keep the allure of secrecy and the air of a speakeasy. And inside the experience is truly Parisian, with the focus purely on spirits and liqueurs that derive from France.
LV DREAM - The Vuitton Exhibition
And finally, if you want to ensure that your trip hits peak luxury, you have to stop by LV Dream, the Louis Vuitton exhibition, while its doors are still open (until November 2023). The French fashion maison has brought together an array of its most iconic partnerships, designed to display just the vastness of the Vuitton universe and the brand’s commitment to investing in the artistic landscape. From furniture to colourful travel trucks, ready-to-wear clothes to perfume, this is an exploration of the Vuitton universe in all its glory.
