How to Spend a Perfect Day in Paris, France

Throughout their childhood within the suburbs of Paris, Kimberley and Anne-Cécile Blanchot, the sisters who preserve their fingers on the heartbeat of journey and design developments for his or her public relations agency August 28 Studio, knew that Sundays had been for “lazing round and preparing for the week forward,” particularly as a result of a lot of the town was closed on Sundays.

Nonetheless, Paris has a lot to supply on quieter days, particularly if the climate’s good—and the Blanchots are the best guides. From bakeries, stylish outlets, and crêperies to the perfect resort to guide, listed here are all their insider suggestions for an ideal Sunday Funday.

Possibility 1: Breakfast in Montmartre and procuring within the Marais

Once we’re each on the town collectively (Anne-Cécile relies in New York and Kimberley in Paris now), we like to remain or meet up at Hôtel Rochechouart; it’s so Parisian, with a design that feels each trendy and retro. It’s on the foothills of Montmartre, so very near so many wonderful outlets, bakeries, and eating places. We’ll in all probability begin the day with a croissant or brioche from Le Pain Retrouvé or Mamiche; if we actually need to indulge, we’ll get a pistachio babka from Babka Zana.

When the climate permits, we do most of Paris on foot; it’s the easiest way to soak all of it in. Our first strolling possibility is to remain on Rive Droite and proceed heading east towards the Marais and Bastille neighborhoods. We’ll make our method over to Jardin du Palais Royal for a cappuccino (for AC) and matcha (for Kimberley) from Café Kitsuné. We prefer to settle into one of many inexperienced chairs surrounding the fountain for a catch-up if we’re collectively or tuck into learn if we’re solo.

Because it’s Sunday, we’ll head to Gramme, a very tiny “café-cantine” that serves actually easy, good meals that adjustments day by day primarily based on what’s in season and accessible. (Typically it’s a bahn-mi canine, typically an unbelievable chocolate pear cake.) Then we’ll stroll the meal off . . . until we spot Glaces Bachir for atcha, a conventional Lebanese ice cream taste that blends milk and orange blossom with crushed pistachios on prime. We additionally love Maison Aleph for his or her little pastry “nests” (they name them nests—we didn’t make that up!). It’s a crunchy angel-hair pastry confection topped with cream and confit. The caramel salted butter with bourbon vanilla is heaven—good factor we’re strolling about 20,000 steps on this itinerary.

Picture by Premier Picture/Shutterstock

In any other case, we’ll save ourselves for tea time at Le Loir dans la Theière (maybe extra appropriate on a colder day) for his or her house-made muffins and pies; their lemon meringue tart and savory tarts are legendary.

Fortunately, many shops within the Marais are open on Sundays. Ysé is a French lingerie model that makes delicate and sustainable lingerie in Europe; in addition they have an unbelievable assortment of bathing fits for the summer season that we like to browse. That is additionally the neighborhood the place numerous the rising French manufacturers arrange store, so it’s price taking the time to walk round (flâner in French). Magnanni sells very high-quality leather-based footwear made in Spain—their loafers are particularly good.

Whereas we’re within the space, we would go to the Musée Picasso, housed in a Seventeenth-century constructing; it has greater than 5,000 items from Picasso’s personal artwork assortment and archives and funky displays year-round. Then, go all the way in which to idea retailer Merci or name forward to guide a go to to the Saint-Lazare workshop whereas within the ninth—it’s price perusing their assortment of equipment, prints, stationary (nice items). It’s really the good atelier in Paris (although could also be laborious to rearrange on a Sunday so would possibly want to save lots of that one for a weekday).

As we close to the tip of our Rive Droite expedition, we land in Bastille and have a number of different necessary stops. First, Frappe, a brand new boulangerie by couple Thomas Padovani and Solenn Le Squer. Thomas is an excellent pal (he and Kimberley met whereas working for Alain Ducasse in New York) and the whole lot from his bread to his pastries is scrumptious. We have now a really tender spot for the honey brioche—the honey is sourced immediately from his hometown in Corsica. And talking of Ducasse, close by is his authentic chocolate manufacture, Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse, the place you’ll be able to see the way it all will get made whereas stocking up on items for household and associates and your self (our advice: the non conché bar).

Picture by Susan Montgomery/Shutterstock

Possibility 2: Rive Gauche, Musée Rodin, and different southside journey

Our second possibility is to cross the Seine and head to Rive Gauche for some southside adventures. We’ll swing by espresso store Noir for our respective morning drinks (cappuccino and matcha, bien sûr) earlier than going into Le Bon Marché to take a look at present collaborations. The world’s first division retailer is at all times showcasing rising designers, so it’s actually enjoyable to browse the distinctive items. We additionally prefer to peruse the youngsters’s degree and get a pair knickknacks for our children.

Sundays are good for museum hopping and we love Musée Rodin. It’s set on the grounds of a wide ranging hôtel particulier, close to Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower. The landscaped gardens, sculptures, and structure make for a very enjoyable Parisian escape. After, we’d head to Italian restaurant Marcello, which has a stunning terrace, or Sauvage, the place they do trustworthy French cooking with nice wines. As soon as lunch is completed, we’ll hand around in the Jardin du Luxembourg for a bit, and maybe seize a day pastry and tea from Treize Bakery, earlier than making our method again throughout the Seine.

Alongside the way in which, we’ll cease by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, which at all times has cool exhibitions; its newest pays homage to graphic artist Étienne Robial with a retrospective working November 10–June 11, 2023.

If we’re feeling Fancy (with a capital F, sure) we’ll do apéro at Loulou within the Tuileries gardens. By now the day might be coming to an finish, so we’ll plan to get cleaned up and perhaps seize a drink on the Rochechouart rooftop earlier than dinner. On Saturday nights we might have oysters subsequent door at Citrons & Huitres however one other good spot close by, open on Sundays, is Café Compagnon for the hyper easy and seasonal French fare, just like the home made smoked salmon. Right here, the proprietor makes his personal wine, and low blends. Desserts are killer, too, and boy do we now have a candy tooth, in the event you haven’t already observed.