Cheat Sheet: Paris
Top picks for hotels, restaurants, fashion, museums, spas & more
The City of Lights is so alluring that I chose to attend university there, and I never fail to succumb to its eternal magnetism each time I return. To ensure some joie de vivre for your next visit, I've put together a list of Paris highlights, from stylish hotels, hidden gem museums, and chic fashion boutiques to my favorite restaurants and the best spas and hair salons where Parisians go to look as gorgeous as their hometown.
WHERE TO STAY IN PARIS
Hotel Lancaster
8th Arrondissement
After a hectic day on the Champs Élysées, you'll find a perfect hideaway in the nearby Hotel Lancaster. Housed in a 19th-century private mansion, with 57 rooms and suites, this charming and discreet property is ideal for privacy-seekers—no wonder Marlene Dietrich was a frequent guest. It's been a hotel since the 1930s and is brimming with exquisite antiques ... read more about Hotel Lancaster
www.hotel-lancaster.fr | Phone: +33 1 40 76 40 76
7 Rue de Berri | Paris 75008 France
Hotel Plaza Athenée
8th Arrondissement
After a recent renovation, the Plaza Athenée is back in business with a bang. 145 rooms and 43 suites boast warm colors, classic furniture, and views over chestnut trees lining the Avenue Montaigne, the peaceful Cour Jardin, the Montmartre rooftops and Eiffel Tower. If Art Deco style is more your thing, book a room on the top two floors. All bedrooms have modern touches ... read more about Hotel Plaza Athenée
www.plaza-athenee-paris.com | Phone: +33 1 53 67 66 65
25 Avenue Montaigne | Paris France
Hotel Fouquet's Barrière
8th Arrondissement
This refurbished 19th-century building with 107 rooms is one of the new grand dames on the Parisian hotel scene. Perfect for working or playing hard; business travelers will love the scanner, printer, and color copier integrated into the desk, while those with more free time on their hands can chill-out in the internal garden or head to one of the largest indoor swimming pools in Paris. Don't miss ... read more about Hotel Fouquet's Barrière
www.fouquets-barriere.com | Phone: +33 1 40 69 60 00
46 Avenue George V | Paris France
Hotel Bel Ami
6th Arrondissement
Trendy Rive Gauche hotel, superbly located if you love St. Germain. The minimalist, arty feel extends to the (small) 115 rooms with deep earthy tones and subtle lighting. The rooms are bland and I repeat: very small (often the case in Paris) but it's a good base to be on foot and in Parisian style. Love the welcome gift—a box of cookies from my favorite Parisian patisserie, Ladurée ... read more about Hotel Bel Ami
www.hotel-bel-ami.com | Phone: +33 1 42 61 53 53
7-11 Rue St. Benoit | Paris France
Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome
2nd Arrondissement
The Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme is the star of Hyatt's brand of upscale hotels, not only because of its superb location near the boutiques of rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and within walking distance of the Louvre, but also for its sleek and sexy contemporary interiors, a refreshing alternative ... read more about the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme
www.paris.vendome.hyatt.com | Phone: +33 1 5871 1234
5 Rue de la Paix | Paris France
WHERE TO EAT IN PARIS
Restaurant File: Paris
Maison Blanche
Go here for a table with a view. Perched on top of the Theatre des Champs Elysees on Paris's fashion avenue, Maison Blanche is a stylish restaurant with a clientele to match. The all-white space is on two levels—the Baie Vitrée with floor-to-ceiling windows and a dazzling panorama of the city skyline ... read more about Maison Blanche and other top restaurants in Paris
Go here for a table with a view. Perched on top of the Theatre des Champs Elysees on Paris's fashion avenue, Maison Blanche is a stylish restaurant with a clientele to match. The all-white space is on two levels—the Baie Vitrée with floor-to-ceiling windows and a dazzling panorama of the city skyline ... read more about Maison Blanche and other top restaurants in Paris
WHAT TO SEE & DO IN PARIS
Beautiful Hidden Gem Museums
Musée Edith Piaf
They called her "The Little Sparrow," a voice that comes along once in a century, steals hearts with its melancholic resonance and filters into a city's heart and soul. Such was the short but extraordinary life of singer Edith Piaf, dead for more than 40 years, but whose memory lives on in a fascinating museum in Ménilmontant ... read more on the Musée Edith Piaf and other hidden gems in Paris
WHERE TO SHOP IN PARIS
Eight Great Parisian Boutiques
Liste Rouge
8th Arrondissement
Affordable but stylish bespoke shirts—great for the man in a hurry, especially as once you've been measured you can order online. Easy or what? No wonder it's such a celeb favorite. And it's not just shirts; they do cashmere and accessories like cuff links and ... read more about Liste Rouge and other top shopping boutiques in Paris
Florist File: Paris
Les Mille Feuilles
3rd Arrondissement
This floral design shop is worth a visit even if you're not looking to buy a bloom. Owners Pierre and Philippe are as much decorators and artists as they are florists, and the inside of their pretty boutique in the Marais district is full of antiques, objets and, of course, flowers. Expect to see ... read more about Les Mille Feuilles and other great florists in Paris
3rd Arrondissement
This floral design shop is worth a visit even if you're not looking to buy a bloom. Owners Pierre and Philippe are as much decorators and artists as they are florists, and the inside of their pretty boutique in the Marais district is full of antiques, objets and, of course, flowers. Expect to see ... read more about Les Mille Feuilles and other great florists in Paris
Chic Designer Handbags from Catherine Zarzecki Création
Talented handbag designer Catherine Zarzecki blends ornate Rococo flourishes with elegantly austere craftsmanship to create her eye-catching purses and clutches, which she makes for select boutiques, or by custom order. A Paris-based Belgian native, Catherine has spent most of her professional life in the fashion industry and her designs reflect ... read more about Catherine Zarzecki Création
www.catherinezarzecki.com | Phone: +33 1 46 94 76 52
WHERE TO GET PAMPERED IN PARIS
Paris Beauty Experts, Spas & Salons
Hair Stylist: Lucia Iraci
Parisian socialites and celebrities flock to this hair oasis like a moth to a bright flame. Experience the Italian hair coiffeur-extraordinaire work her magic and try her exclusive hair products for ... read more about the Lucia Iraci hair salon and other spa and beauty experts in Paris
Men's Grooming Spas & Barbers: Paris
Men's Day Spa: Nickel
Philippe Dumont is a man's man, but one who thinks men deserve just as many treats as women. So he established Nickel, a straight-talking spa for the boys that tackles everything from "love handle" wraps to "morning after remedy" facials, as well as more intensive treatments ... read more about Nickel men's day spa in Paris
Topics:
Shops, Gifts, Finds
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Wellness & Beauty
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Epicurean
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Travel
Geography: Paris, France
Tags: hotel, restaurant, spa, hair salon, nightlife, mens grooming, shopping, fashion boutique, designer handbag, florist, floral designer
Geography: Paris, France
Tags: hotel, restaurant, spa, hair salon, nightlife, mens grooming, shopping, fashion boutique, designer handbag, florist, floral designer
meri on Nov. 12, 2008