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Where to EAT, DRINK and SHOP in Paris

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Tumi tote bag (c/o) 

I have serious Paris-envy right now while I’m watching all of the Paris Fashion Week happenings from across the pond in rainy NYC this week. Don’t get me wrong, seeing all of the shows in person was a treat at New York Fashion Week this season, but I’m happy to keep up with the collections via Vogue.com (R.I.P. Style.com. Sigh.).

There’s a part of me that would love to experience the shows as the Parisian locals do. While I’m a New York girl born and raised, I’m a Francophile at heart. There’s a lot of Parisian life that I incorporate into my daily life in the Big Apple, ie fuss-free wash-and-wear hair, flats to run around the city in, shopping local produce from markets, being a wine and cheese snob, etc.

I visited Paris back in May after a fabulous French chateau wedding of my friend Emily, and we stayed in Le Marais, which is the young, fashionable and artsy area of Paris in the most charming AirBnb that I didn’t want to leave.

If you happen to be one of the fortunate people to immerse yourself into the Parisian life soon, these are my stylist picks of what not to miss.


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For lunch, picnic in one of the beautiful parks like Luxembourg Gardens. Stop at the local markets in St. Germain and sample their cheese, grab a baguette from one of the best local cafés, Paul, pick up some jams, grocery store brand mustard (which also makes a fabulous souvenir gift), fresh fruit, some macarons from Laudurée and perhaps a bottle of wine and set up shop among the stylish locals. It’s the most economical way to eat your way through the city.

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My second favorite affordable meal in Paris was so good that we kept going back almost daily. It’s arguable which is the best falafel in Paris, but there’s a reason that L’as Du Fallafel has a line down the block just to get your fix at this fried chickpea and pita goodness. Skip the crowds by getting yours at the take out window and eating on the street if it’s a nice day out.

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photo via Trip Advisor

For dinner, you can’t miss Derriere. Don’t be fooled by its cheeky name—this trendy restaurant disguised as a hip Parisian flat is worth making a reservation for well in advance not only for the experience, but the food was among the best in the city. Request a seat at the bed (pictured above) upstairs or one of the secret rooms. Don’t be afraid to open the armoire in the hallway, which could lead to a whole other experience.

Whatever you do and wherever you eat, make sure to go for dinner at around 8:30pm or later. Trust me on this. Not only is it the Parisian way to eat that late, but restaurants aren’t quite prepared for early birds. We made the mistake of going an hour early before our 8:30pm reservation at one spot. They were empty so we thought nothing of it, but they served us sliced white bread instead of fresh baguettes—which arrived in time from the bakery for the 8:30pm dinner influx of customers.

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For dessert, wander over to Amorino for the best gelato in town and dare I say, the tiramisu gelato was nearly as it was in Italy. Mix a couple of flavors together in your “small” cup (as seen above), and walk off those well worth calories by strolling around Le Marais at night while you eat.


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If you make it to Derriere, then you certainly wouldn’t want to miss the pop-art meets Moroccan themed bar Andy Wahloo. Grab a drink at the bar from the expert mixologists before you’re seated for dinner. Let them whip up something based on your preferences: in my case, the best take on a dark and stormy and the hubby raved it he had the best Manhattan here in Paris. Come back after dinner for DJ’s spinning and dancing.

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You may be sick of the speakeasy bar trend already but hold up a minute; Little Red Door is not your average speakeasy. While it has speakeasy qualities, it’s really a gem in the middle of Le Marais. Friends I was with here compared it to a “less pretentious PDT,” which is quite accurate. Other than the bouncer giving the hubby a hard time in a jokingly way (“Say something in French and I will let you in”), the staff here was so friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable about their mixology. I spent my birthday here and it was such a lovely experience, almost as if I were hanging out in my most stylish friend’s living room.


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Of course you can’t go to Paris without going to a flea market. I made the trek to the biggest and most famous flea market, Clignancourt, also known as Le Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, which was worth seeing, but if you’re looking for a deal, it’s not here. The serious shopper and interior decorator willing to splurge have better luck here. I went on a Saturday morning when it first opens at supposedly at 9am, which I thought would be optimal time as it would be in the States, but I was wrong. Vendors didn’t really start setting up until around 11am.

I actually much preferred the smaller, but still extensive flea market in Le Marais (pictured above) that we stumbled upon with great random finds and affordable treasures like the French dishes I brought home. It turns out this flea or brocante as they call it, at Rue de Bretagne is only open twice a year in early June and late November—definitely worth planning another trip around!

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Join the locals in shopping for and sampling fresh produce, flowers (above), and gifts to bring back home for your foodie friends at Marché le Enfants Rouges in the most fashionable neighborhood. It also happens to be the oldest covered market in the city.

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There are Paris shops that are just about every fashionista’s mecca (Isabel Marant, Colette), but while they’re worth the visit there’s not much the average American will actually be able to afford to shop at. There were a few shops that I stumbled on that pleasantly surprised me…and I shop for a living. Sandro is one of my favorite brands stateside (you can see me wearing it here), but visiting the boutique in Le Marais made me fall in love more. The selection was massive, with both a women’s and men’s store, funky collaborations with Reebok (above) and the friendliest, but not too pushy salespeople. The fact that I fooled one into thinking I was a local because I “dressed like a Parisian” made me love it even more.

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Lords and Fools is hands down the coolest mens shop. Possibly ever. Seriously, some menswear envy from this gal.

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While Le Bon Marche may be the oldest and most famous department store in Paris, or the world for that matter, Le BHV Marais is a department store not to be missed. It has a little something for quite possibly everything you may need. If the zombie apocalypse broke out, I’d totally camp out here. Think one part fashionable cheekiness of Barney’s (case in point above) and one part overwhelmingness of Macy’s Herald Square. There’s every level of designer here, an indoor courtyard restaurant where we sat and watched the French Open over artisan waffles-on-a-stick, and I even did a bit of vintage shopping. You could seriously spend a whole day in this one store.

I’d love to hear your favorite secret local spots in Paris! Leave them in the comments below or on social media. 

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