City of Light. City of Love. Paris has several names that try to capture its multiplicity. Fabulously frozen in its centuries-old beauty, Paris is also a vibrant, international destination that’s constantly evolving. So whether you’re a first-time tourist or a longtime resident, there’s always something new or surprising to contrast its classic history.
While any guide to the most visited city in Europe — over 30 million annually — could never be comprehensive, we highlighted some can’t-miss places, from age-old establishments you have to experience at least once to the latest Tiktokkable hotspots. Especially as Paris Fashion Week kicks off today, you’re bound to get inspired by the photo ops at every corner.
What to Do
Galeries Lafayette
The sine qua non of Paris’s grand magasins, Galeries Lafayette is known for its expansive shoe department (the largest in Europe) and delightful Christmas windows. Kids and adults line up every year for the spectacular displays. The department store showcases high street to high-end designers. It is also a beauty lover’s destination, especially since Sunday Riley has a counter on the new floor called “Wellness Galerie.” The entire floor focuses on health, lifestyle, and beauty, where you can get everything from an infrared sauna treatment to mani/pedis to massages. And, of course, don’t miss a mini facial by one of our Sunday Riley experts.
Oh My Cream
France’s alternative beauty concept store, Oh My Cream only stocks clean beauty that passes its transparency test. With products sourced from Paris and the provinces, brand collabs and limited editions, Oh My Cream is where sustainably-minded Frenchwomen go for that je ne sais quoi glow. Naturally, they’ve got Sunday Riley on their IRL and digital shelves.
Officine Universelle Buly 1803
For the most unique and Paris of souvenirs to bring back home, look no further than this French apothecary that’s been around since, yes, 1803. Beautifully packaged soaps, perfumes, and other naturally formulated products are the shop’s signature — as are the raw oils and powders you can buy to make your beauty formulas.
Fondation Louis Vuitton
The Frank Gehry-designed building — famously conceived as a minimal line sketch — takes your breath away. From its sweeping glass curves to its stunning water garden, Fondation Louis Vuitton is worth visiting just for its architecture. Inside is a rotating collection of contemporary art for a profound culture fix. Just outside is the Bois de Boulogne and the Jardin d’Acclimation, an amusement park that Parisian kids beg to go to since Disney’s too much of a trek.
Where to Stay
Cheval Blanc Paris ($$$$)
When LVMH reopened La Samaritaine last year, the department store that’s been around since 1870 and closed in 2010 got a luxurious, Louis Vuitton-worthy facelift. Inside is Paris’s glitziest new palace hotel, Cheval Blanc Paris. In the bullseye of Paris with views over the Seine, the art-laden hotel hosts the city’s chicest rooftop brasserie-cocktail bar, Le Tout-Paris, and an underground Dior spa with 43 treatments and the longest hotel pool (100 ft) in Europe.
Hoy Paris ($$)
Hoy (meaning “today” in Spanish as well as Home Of Yoga) stands out as an eco yoga hotel in the 9th arrondissement, Paris’s bougie-fied red light district. A zen-like sanctuary with rooms that feature a dance bar for stretching and natural air purifiers, Hoy has defined its ethos as green wellness. In addition, guests can take advantage of France’s first infrared-light yoga studio, an innovative Japanese florist, and the hotel’s organic, plant-based restaurant, Mesa.
Hotel de Crillon ($$$$)
One of the city’s grand palace hotels, the 18th-century neoclassic property has a storied past—it’s where Marie Antoinette took her piano lessons—and a starry present: J.Lo and Ben Affleck just spent their honeymoon here. Completely renovated in 2017 by the Rosewood Brand with apartment suites designed by Karl Lagerfeld, Hotel de Crillon is for royals of every stripe.
L’Hotel Paris ($$$)
A 5-star hotel tucked away in the heart of Saint Germain-des-Près, L’Hotel Paris is notable as the world’s first boutique hotel. Oscar Wilde lived and died here and the hotel pays homage to the writer with its opulent cocktail bar, Wilde’s Lounge. There’s also a plunge pool and hammam, available for guests’ private use.
Where to Eat & Drink
Tekès
The culinary team behind Michelin-starred Shabbour and the always buzzy Balagan brings a purely veggie take to their Israeli-inflected cuisine. (No small feat in Paris, where vegetarians can still get the side-eye at the local brasserie). Don’t miss the coal-fired vegetable kebabs and a mushroom-based “chicken liver” (shhh, not actual chicken liver) with their challah bread and garlic laffa pancake.
Early June
A light, airy wine bar and shop in hipster Canal Saint-Martin, Early June offers natural wines and a rotating guest list of traveling, international chefs who serve up small, novel dishes — perfect for sharing on a second date.
Loulou Restaurant
Located in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in the Louvre, Loulou is a see-and-be-seen spot, especially from its terrace that overlooks the Jardins des Tuileries. Stop in after a quick peep at the Mona Lisa for classic Italian food that’s perfectly prepared. Their truffle pizza is gooey and extravagant, generously topped with truffle shavings.
Hotel Costes
Nearly thirty years after opening, Hotel Costes is a supermodels-and-the-rockstars-who-love-them institution. Maybe because of its prime location near Rue Saint-Honoré or its opulent “all things in excess” design aesthetic, Hotel Costes remains a Fashion Week favorite. The shoestring fries are non-negotiable at their courtyard restaurant.
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