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When in Paris…

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Over the years trips to Paris have moved on from school trips where people used to kiss on the backseat of the coach and vomit on the front, to work visits, weekends away with Mark (see above pictures where we look about 12) and holidays with friends. I can probably still count my travels to the city on one hand, but in more recent years I’ve managed to successfully navigate the Metro, be able to locate myself on the map and scout out some really cool places that I definitely wasn’t cool enough to be in. Seeing as I find myself in the city of love as I type, this weekend I thought I’d share my own little abridged guidebook of shops, bars, restaurants and landmarks that I’ve stumbled into thanks to my own guidebook research or because I needed the toilet, that are well worth a look-in next time you come to visit…

PLACES TO LOOK AT PRETTY THINGS:

Effiel Tower, Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 – because it would be rude not to, right? If you can stomach it, head to the top for an amazing, if slightly windy, view.

Sacre Coeur, 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 – a great place to sit and people watch for a few hours, again with a great view. Well worth the cardio workout to get up there.

There are many more to add to this list, but for fear of making this into a dissertation-length post I’ll move on… 

PLACES TO EAT/DRINK:

Angelina, 226 Rue Rivoli, 75001 – if you’ve got a sweet tooth like moi then this is basically heaven for you. A great spot for lunch or a slice of cake; I highly recommend the hot chocolate which basically is melted chocolate in a cup.

Cafe Pinson, 6 Rue du Forez, 75003 – this über healthy vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free cafe was a find on my most recent trip over here and with Pinterest-able interiors and food so fresh, I’ll definitely be returning.

Hotel du Nord, 102 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010 – Mark and I ended up here on the night of my 21st Birthday after spotting it in a guidebook. With our French seriously lacking, to this day I still don’t know exactly what I ordered and ate that night, but whatever it was it was lovely. A real Parisian gem. 

Hôtel Costes, 239-241 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 – If you’re splashing out then a room in this hotel is well worth booking (side note: everyone in there basically looks like or is a model). It’s known though for it’s courtyard bar and restaurant. I say order the steak – it was one of the best I’ve ever had.

PLACES TO SHOP:

City Pharma, 26 Rue du Four, 75006 – the Queen of French pharmacies. Arm yourself with a basket and prepare to sharpen your elbows as this place is a tight squeeze, but absolutely packed to the rafters with skincare goodness. 

Collette, 213 Rue Saint Honoré, 75001 – this is like the Parisian, more modern version of Libertys. A concept department store that’s pretty massive and easy to loose yourself in for a few hours. 

Le Marche Saint Germain, 4/6 Rue Lobineau, 75006 – a great food market where the stall holders basically feed you as you go round. Meat, cheese, fruit, veg – the lot. Enter hungry and leave full.

Sephora, 70-72 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 – ah common’ you knew this would be here. The flagship store, it’s huge and usually packed, but still worth a wander. Check out the own brand stuff, Make Up For Ever and Marc Jacobs and I’ll put a bet on the fact that you don’t leave empty handed… 

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