A Paris City Guide

This post comes from our UK PR Manager Lisa! Follow along with her on Instagram @freepeopleuk


Paris, oh Paris. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t love this beautiful city. While plenty of other cities tend to split opinions – people either love them or hate them – Paris captures everyone’s hearts! A short train ride away from my home in London, I am lucky that it is practically on my doorstep. However, when you get off the Eurostar at Gard du Nore, it’s like you are stepping in to a completely differently world, in another time.

To celebrate the launch of our two new shopping spaces in the French capital, within Galeries Lafayette and Le BHV Marais, I had the opportunity to hang out with some super cool Paris babes who were very excited to be able to shop Free People in their fabulous city. Here they share their secret tips on what makes Paris so special to them….

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Daphne, Mode in The City

My favorite neighborhood in Paris is Montmartre. It may sound cliché but I just love getting lost in the cute cobbled streets of the area. I always stumble upon the cutest streets (Villa Léandre is my favorite) and shops. In the summertime, try brunch at L’Hotêl Particulier (23 rue Junot), you can eat outside and the location is gorgeous, a true haven right in the heart of Montmartre! Heads up, you do have to book in advance to be sure to get a table.

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Audrey, Be Frassy

I love Cafe Pinson for organic veggie lunches, nestled in the Marais – it’s the perfect weekend spot and ideal between shopping. Buttes Chamont is my favorite park in Paris, skip the Tuileries and head to this fairytale like spot – it’s all the way in the 20eme, but well worth the trek with hilly grass that rolls and stretches seemingly forever. Ideal for the spring and picnics too! Cafe Kitsune is my favorite coffee stop, I especially like their matcha – plus they are located in the Palais Royal, one of the most beautiful spots in the city.

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Haleigh, Making Magique

Porte de Vanves Flea Market in the south of Paris is one of my favorite places for treasure hunting. It’s such a great flea market to pick up a one of a kind souvenir like beautiful old leather books, antique jewelry, precious little teacups, or a beautiful old painting. It’s open every Saturday and Sunday. Merci is a great store to get a taste of what it’s like to live la vie bobo in Paris, that is to say to be “bohemian bourgeois.” This spectacular store is located at the edge of the Marais and has the most amazing kitchen supplies, furniture, clothes, a beautiful paper section, linens, food and more. They even have several cafés within it and a little garden to marvel at, once inside it feels like you’re in someone’s gorgeous home and you never want to leave! And Aux Merveilleux de Fred is a must try for a sweet treat!

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Marion, Fringe and Frange

My favorite place in Paris is in the 16th arrondissement. It’s the Serres d’Auteuil, a magical place, both romantic and exotic at the same time. It’s perfect to enjoy a sunny afternoon and feeling out of time under the gigantic palm trees. For a delicious dinner, I recommend L’Acajou, where you will have French products cooked by a young and talented chef. For a shopping session and a drink with a view, I’m a big fan of the Haussmann Boulevard. You can go on top of the stores, where you will have the best view of the city of love.

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Louise, Miss Pandora

For me, the best thing about Paris is the beautiful muséums, and my favorites are the house-muséums. They are unique and non-tourist-centric, perfect if you’re looking for a different experience in the city, more personal: Musée Gustave Moreau, Musee de la Vie Romantique, Musée Jean-Jacques Henner, and Musée Maxim’s. They’re all incredibly beautiful withXIXth century decor, and offer a one-of a kind experience in an elegant atmosphere. Perfect if you’re looking for a taste of the old Paris! I love to go out in South Pigalle, my favorite partying district! You can start the evening with a drink at Maison Souquet, a former late XIXth century brothel that was redecorated by Jacques Garcia that is now truly magnificent, with an opulent decor. Afterwards, you can go to Le Mansart or le Sans-Souçi, but if you love rock like me your home will be the Pigalle Country Club. It’s a tiny place where the music scene hangs out, everybody knows each other and it always gets wild!

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Valentine, Hello Its Valentine

For great vegetarian food, I head to Bob’s Kitchen at 74 rue des Gravilliers, and Café Ginger from brunch on 9 rue Jacques Coeur, who also do delicious gluten free options. For dinner, La River café, 146 Quai Stalingrad, is really special, and has a great outside terrace. For shopping, the Marais (St Paul metro) is full of vintage thrift shops which I can get lost in for hours.

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Thank you girls, for sharing your special Paris tips with us!

+ Do you have travel recommendations for Paris? Let us know in the comments!

Follow along with Free People UK on Instagram

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8 years ago

Beautiful photos! I’ve never been to Paris – but I’d love to go. I love the history, culture, architecture, and fashion. Thanks for this guide!

Warm Regards,
Alexandra
www. Little Wild Heart .com

Colleen
8 years ago

There are too many incredible places in Paris to choose from!! I really, really love Cordonnerie, the smallest coffee shop in Paris (near Merci used book store mentioned by Haleigh). My absolute favorite part about Paris, though, is Canal St. Martin, the hip little neighborhood right on the river. Comptoir Generale is right off the canal, a museum/concert venue/bar/cafe/boutique dedicated to informing Parisians about the culture of the French colonies!

8 years ago

Breakfast in Paris is wonderful. You will also love shopping there and exploring the beautiful monuments and buildings!

Luna
8 years ago

Oh wow this makes me nostalgic! I’ve been to Paris before and I can totally recommend Haleigh’s tip to visit “Merci” – This shop will blow your mind :) Also, on the first Sunday of each month there are no entry fees at all state museums, so make sure to go at this time if you want to save some bucks :) (and go there early in the morning, you don’t want to stand at the back of a mile-long queue)

8 years ago

Bonjour!

Just yesterday I wrote a post on my blog about 3 tips to explore Paris in a different wat. Instead of the usual tourist-hotspots or go-where-the- locale-go, do something different!

http://www.talksandtreasures.com/reizen/parijs-3-manieren-om-je-citytrip-anders-te-beleven/

Take a look and have fun. It’s a great city!
Maybe use Google Translate

Marie
8 years ago

Pssst: It’s Gare du NorD, Sans Souci (no “ç”) and LE River Cafe! x

8 years ago

Paris is quite a dream of mine. If I ever get the chance to go, I must remember to come back and take a peer at this guide once more. So very lovely…and magical.

http://thoughtdweller.blogspot.com/

8 years ago

Inspiring photos, Im going there next month for a first time, its going to be exciting <3

8 years ago

Love this, all the photos are amazing x
Much Love | Trillu.com

ema
8 years ago

as a former parisian girl i recommend the 9th arrondissement – south pigalle it’s just crazy with the “rue des martyrs” full of cool shops and also “place st georges” where you could stay on a bench just looking around
nearby there ais tue nd de lorette with cool concept store and alors rue henri monier for vintage stuff and secondhand clothes shop
enjoy !!
Emma

Susan Lynn Shifman
8 years ago

I’m planning a trip in June to Paris month. The recommendations are just wonderful. Thank you!