My kind of Paris

Join me for a weekend in Paris! I'm showing you the best local places and districts that are loved by the Parisians, moods and moments from this wonderful city. Let's start to explore!

The glitz of Paris

I used to live in Brussels many years ago and since it's not far from Paris, I visited this lovely city whenever I could. Every time I'm here, I always go to the Eiffel tower, sit on the grass, read a book and just chill. You can also have a great view of the tower from Trocadero metro station. Dreamy place!

Place Vendome and Champs Elyseés are the ultimate aristocratic places in Paris, that scream luxury: imposing palace-like buildings, designer shops, welcoming atmosphere. When in Paris, I drop by my favorite Sephora shop at Champs Elyseés. The store is huge, you won't be able to resist to buy something new at the beauty department.

At the corner of Place Vendome you will find the most popular macaron shop, Ladurée. It's like stepping into cake wonderland while the rich, sweet smell hits you at the entrance.

Walking along the Seine in the historic center is always such a bliss. The mood is set, you are surrounded by stunning architecture. Grab a drink and enjoy the view!

The Montmartre is the bohemian area with cozy streets. Here you can walk in the footsteps of such famous people like Van Gogh and Picasso. Place du Tertre is the picturesque square where artists sell their goods, I love its vibrant atmosphere, it feels like you are in the middle of an open-air gallery. Visit the white church, the Sacre Coeur, that overlooks the whole city. If you soaked the artistic atmosphere already, start walking down the little streets in order to find some more precious places to discover.

While approaching the down part, you will bump into lots of cool restaurants and not to mention a special Café, where the film, Amélie was filmed. It's called Cafe des Deux Moulins, you will find it at Rue Lepic really close to Moulin Rouge.

It was my first time visiting the Jewish Quarter, Le Marais. Hotel de Ville is housing the city's local administration, right behind this fabulous building you will find the district full of restaurants, local shops and cafés. Stroll the streets and discover the best Falafel places in town!

My favorite part of Le Marais is Place Des Vosges with its pretty fountains, red brick buildings and art galleries. Victor Hugo used to live here, but his house is right now under construction. I discovered some hidden, green gardens with little Cafés. That was the best part of Paris to me.

Eating out like a Parisian - Foodie's playground

I must say that food is everywhere in Paris. During my stay I discovered some really cool places, let me share with you some of the best ones! I started my day with a typical French breakfast at Cafe Les Antiquiares close to Musée d'Orsay. This is all you need on a sunny, spring morning: freshly squeezed orange juice, crispy croissant, bread with butter and coffee. The place brings back the old French atmosphere with its charming, rustic furniture.

There are two great areas where you can have a wide choice of food in the city. Close to Notre Dame you will find the Latin Quarter and the other one is the Jewish District. I picked a restaurant in the Jewish area, Les Philosophes was a classy, local brasserie with French menu offers and great wine selection. I never tried Beef a la Burgundy style (Bœuf Bourgignon) before, paired with French red wine makes a culinary bliss. The juicy beef felt apart so nicely on the plane, it made a perfect match with the steamed vegetables and potatoes. Creme Brulée is the classy desert you cannot miss while you are in Paris.

If you are looking for a nice place with live music for dinner, just behind the Panthéon there are lovely brasseries packed with young Parisians. Les Pipos was recommended by my friend, Orsi, who lives in Paris for a long time now. The place is not fancy or posh, but welcoming and cozy. Food is superb at a reasonable price. I chose duck with potatoes accompanied with Chinon wine from the Loire Valley.

If you are hungry while you are strolling the streets of Montmartre, drop by the little restaurant Le Rendez-Vous Des Amis. After the crowds of tourists it felt great to sit down in a quiet area. Grilled cheese and salad was an light choice for lunch.

For snacks during daytime try the famous crépe with salty or sweet filling, you can buy it nearly every corner. The other French treat is cheese of course. With a nice glass of French wine or champagne you will feel like a Parisian for a day.

Our charming Airbnb flat

With my sister we are big Airbnb fans. We found this little flat close to Le Defense, this is the business district with modern buildings and tons of offices. The place is safe and quiet. The fully refurbished flat was all you could wish for a weekend. Terrace, big living-room, comfy beds and the location was perfect too. You are just a few metro stops away from Champs Elysées.

No wonder why the city is so popular among travelers. If you have the chance, go and explore this stunning place. Be a Parisian for a weekend!