Paris Travel Diary

Paris was never on my Travel Bucket List but after visiting the city in 2017 it became one of my favorite European cities. I couldn’t wait to go back to my favorite place. The city is still very beautiful and this time I loved it even more.

The architecture is amazing, there are amazing cafés and restaurants in every corner and Paris is really the heart of Fashion which you can feel. I don’t think there’s another city as inspiring as Paris, fashion wise at least. I tried to see as much as possible, so I can tick off most of the sightseeing spots, because the next time I go to Paris I really want to enjoy the city like I’m living there. But there’s so much to see in Paris, that this is almost impossible. I’m excited for my next trip to Paris already. Here is my Paris Travel Diary! 

Where to stay?

Hotel Opéra Opal

When it comes to hotels the most important thing for me is that it’s clean and centrally located. This hotel is very central, only 2-minute walking distance to Galeries Lafayette for example. The room was quite small but totally fine. The stuff was super friendly and helpful. We never have breakfast at the hotel so I can’t really say much about it. But if you’re in Paris, there’s so much choice that you probably won’t eat at the hotel anyway.

 

Where to eat?

Breakfast

In Paris you won’t have a problem finding something to eat for breakfast. You’ll find baguettes and croissants everywhere. The selection is big and here are my favorite breakfast spots in Paris:

Cédric Grolet

Cédric Grolet is a French pastry chef. He’s the executive pastry chef at Le Meurice in Paris.  He also has his own pastry shop “Cédric Grolet Opéra”. Whenever you go to the store, there’ll most probably be a waiting line. After trying his pastry, I can say that it’s so worth it. All the pastries are directly made in the store and are super fresh. They have a selection of pastries and when you enter the shop, they tell you about each of it. So, you don’t get confused and exactly now what each of the pastry is. That was very nice.

We decided to go for the classic Croissant (which is not basic at all), Pain au Chocolat, Pain au Suisse and Chaussons aux pommes. Honestly everything was so delicious. They don’t only look like art pieces they taste amazing. I never had a croissant like that. My favorite was the croissant and the Pain au Suisse. If you’re in Paris get yourself something from Cédric Grolet and thank me later! You can get your goods to go or have a seat at the store. But I would recommend you make a reservation if it’s possible.

 

Season

Here you will find a great selection of breakfast dishes and it’s also a great place to have lunch or a little snack in between. The breakfast card changed a little since my last visit but I’m sure everything will taste amazing. It’s still one of the most loved places for breakfast in Paris.

Eric Kayser

My favorite bakery in Paris is Eric Kayser. There’s a lot to choose from and it’s great for a quick but delicious breakfast. I love the Pain au Chocolat there and the baguettes are very good. Get yourself your favorite pastries and baguettes and go for a picnic at Jardin des Tuileries.

Sadelle’s at Kith Paris

I wasn’t too sure if I should recommend this place or not but I loved something on the card so much that I decided to share it with you. Sadelle’s is a Café which is in the Kith’s Store and location wise it’s perfect to start your shopping day here. When I saw the gigantic French Toast on Instagram, I knew I had to try it. As you can see on the picture below it’s thick and not like a French Toast I’m normally used to. It was so light and fluffy I loved it. What I didn’t like was, that it was crowded with tourists. I mean totally normal because it’s quite a touristy place. I just wanted to share that in case you don’t like these kind of places.

 

Le Cafe Carrousel

Café Carrousel is on Rue de Rivoli and is the perfect place for people watching. I didn’t have breakfast here, but I tried their hot chocolate and it was very delicious. They have all the classics on the menu and it’s quite a popular place. Also great for having some drinks or a coffee break.

 

Le Nemours

Café Le Nemours is on Place Colette and just a few minutes walk away from Palais Royal and Louvre. This place is also great for people watching and I really loved the vibe here. Very Parisienne. We tried their baguette with chicken and crepe with Nutella and it was very good. Also, a great place for having some drinks in the evening.

Café de Flore 

Of course, there are also some classics like Café de Flore and Lex deux Magots. I think you either love them or hate them. We went to Café de Flore. The vibe is really nice, but I was a bit disappointed when we had to wait 30 minutes for the bill although we told them about three times if we can get the bill, please (in French and in English by the way). The croissants are basic, the coffee is good. Don’t expect an amazing breakfast here. I think it’s only for the vibe, which is cute.

 

Dinner

Big Mamma Group – Ober Mamma, Pink Mamma, Pizzaria Popolare

I love the Big Mamma Group Restaurants. If you are into Italian cuisine, I’m sure you’ll love them too. I had dinner at Ober Mamma when I first visited Paris. We all loved the food, the atmosphere, and the location. It was amazing.

 

This time we went to Pink Mamma (you’ll see this one the most on Instagram) and Pizzeria Popolare. The Menu looks almost identical in all of them, but the vibe is completely different I’d say. Pink Mamma has a few different rooms and some of the rooms are quite small and dark.

Pizzeria Popolare has a completely different vibe. It’s more vibrant and modern but very Italian and loud. I loved this one a lot. It’s one big hall with tables which you share with our guests. Please try the truffle pasta and the Tiramisu. The Pizza was also so delicious.

What I loved the most is that you can handle everything in the restaurants via Smartphone. You can order via Smartphone, and you can even pay the bill via Smartphone. That’s amazing because you don’t have to wait for the bill. I loved that!

Be sure to make a reservation in all Big Mamma Restaurants.

 

Le Relais de l’Entrecôte

One of the most iconic Restaurants in Paris is Le Relais de l’Entrecôte. There’s only one dish on the menu – the Entrecôte with french fries and a delicious sauce. You start with a salad and bread and after you finish your salad you get your main dish. It was really a highlight. The meat is so smooth and delicious, and I loved the sauce. After you finish your first plate, you’ll get a second round so don’t be too full on that day. Don’t forget to order the Profiterole as a dessert because it was amazing.

They don’t except reservations and there’s always a long queue in front of the restaurants. If you don’t want to wait for too long be there 10-15 minutes before the opening hours. The wait is worth it though.

 

Frenchie to Go

If you love fast food but a good one Frenchie to go is a must. Greg Marchand has a french restaurant called Frenchie which is on the other side of the cute alley. After that he opened FTG because he also wanted to make fast food. We had the Reuben Sandwich and the Chicken Burger with fries. Both dishes are very heavy meals, but it was good. Next time I’ll definitely try his restaurant Frenchie.

L‘as du Fallafel

Another favorite of mine is L’as du Fallafel which is also quite a classic spot in Paris. It’s a streetfood so don’t expect too much from the location but the food is wow! It was the best falafel sandwich i had so far. Also, the homemade fries are so delicious. Highly recommend this place. The waiting line for this one is also quite long.

Other restaurants which were on my list but which we had no time to go to this time are LouLou, Costes, Ralph’s, Girafe and CoCo. These are on top of my list for my next Paris trip.

 

Café & Dessert

Café Kitsuné

A Must is Café Kitsuné. You’ll see it everywhere on Instagram, but the coffee is really good, and they do have the prettiest coffee-to-go-cups. I also got myself the tote bag which I wear all the time.

 

Saint Laurent Café

This coffee spot is a must for all fashion lovers. I mean how cool is it to get your coffee-to-go in a Saint Laurent cup? Yes, it’s not a must but if you like these kind of things you’ll love it. Also, the coffee was really good.

 

Popelini

Are you ready for the best sweets I found in Paris? It’s Popellini. Popellini are Choux(s) filled with different crème fillings. Our favorite was the one with lemon and chocolate. It was a dream. I wish I could have one now.

Pierre Hermé

The last time I got Macarons from Pierre Hermé I didn’t love them but this time they tasted so good, and I actually liked them much better than the Ladurée Macarons. Big recommendation if you’re into Macarons.

Angelina Paris

Another classic is Angelina Paris, and you’ll see quite a few of them around Paris. Their desserts are amazing and if you love chocolate, you’ll also love their hot chocolate because it tastes like pudding. Another favorite is the signature pastry “Mont Blanc” with French meringue, whipped cream, and chestnut vermicelli. So good!

 

What to see?

Paris has a lot to offer when it comes to sightseeing and cultural activities. I’m going to share my favorite spots with you.

Museen

Louvre

One of my highlights was visiting the Louvre. We spent almost 4 hours in the museum and if we weren’t too tired, we would have stayed for longer. After all, it is the largest museum in the world. There’s so much to see and everything is so inspiring. So many works of art to discover and the building itself, which was a palace of the French monarchs, is breathtaking.

My favorite room was the Salle des Cariatides which was designed as a ball room und now has a collection of ancient sculptures in it. I also loved the Grande Galerie with the Italian Paintings. You’ll see a lot of art from different periods and different parts of the world. Portraits of Roman Emperors, Galerie des Antiques, Venus de Milo, The Winged Victory of Samothrace and the world’s most famous painting, the Mona Lisa. The last three are also the three most famous female figures in the Louvre. I was very inspired by all the art and the architecture of the museum. Louvre should definitely be a Must on every Bucket List.

Get your tickets online before your visit so you don’t have to wait for too long in the queue.

 

Musée d’Orsay

Musée d’Orsay is an art museum on the Left Bank on the Seine. The building is the former Gare d’Orsay, a railway station. It holds French art, like paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography. This time I was not able to explore it but it’s definitely on my list for the next time.

Musée Rodin

Musée Rodin is great for all art lovers and for those who love painting sculptures. The museum holds primarily artwork from the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. The sculptures and the museum itself is beautiful and definitely worth a visit.

 

La Galerie Dior

This was another highlight of mine. The Galerie Dior at Avenue Montaigne 30 which is the building where House of Dior designed every collection for the last 70 years. Today you can visit the Galerie which is dedicated to Christian Dior and all the designers who followed him like Yves Saint Laurent, John Galliano and Maria Grazia Chiuri.

Every room has a completely different feeling to it and is matched perfectly to the showcased dresses. The decoration, the music, the lighting. Everything was perfectly put together. You’ll get to know a lot about the House of Dior, about Dior himself and about all the collections and the inspiration behind every collection. It was so inspiring. The Galerie Dior also houses the most amazing Dior Store with a big selection and a Dior Café, which you should definitely check out.

 

Other must-see spots in Paris

Other spots you should check out especially if it’s your first time in Paris are Sacré Coeur in Monmartre and Moulin Rouge.

Notre Dame is also a Must-see. I was lucky enough to see it before the big fire, but it is still very pretty and charming.

If the weather is nice and sunny get yourself a croissant and coffee for a breakfast at Jardin du Luxembourg, Jardin des Tuileries or somewhere near the Seine River. These places are also great for a picnic in the evening.

If you want to sit in a cute garden and see the Eiffel Tower you should go to Parc du Champ-de-Mars. Another favorite of mine is Palais Royal. There you’ll find a Café Kitsuné, perfect for a little coffee break. Place Vendome is another Must-See.

The Avenue des Champs Èlysée is one of the most famous streets in Paris and also in the world. It starts at Place de Concorde and ends at Place Charles-de-Gaulle. You’ll also see Arc de Triomphe on this street. Most luxury brands have stores here.

 

Where to shop?

Paris is probably the best city for shopping. It is mine at least. You’ll find a lot of cute boutiques but also all luxury brands have their most beautiful stores and selections here. I also love just to browse and do some window shopping because it’s just so inspiring. The best streets for shopping are Saint Honoré, Avenue Montaigne, and Saint Germain. Don’t forget to explore the Hermès Store in Saint Germain. The interior design is wow!

My favorite Department Stores in Paris are Le Bon Marché, Galeries Lafayette, Printemps and La Samaritaine. Other shops I like to visit are Polène, The Frankie Shop & Maison Kitsuné. I love Le Marais a lot. There are cute boutiques and cafés, and the vibe is just really chill. Another favorite of mine was the Kith Store. If you love sneakers and streetwear, it’s definitely must-see. They also have bear bricks, coffee table books and other collectible items.

 

Where to take pictures with the Eiffel Tower?

There are some great photo spots where you can take pictures with the Eiffel Tower. Here are my favorites:

• Avenue de Camoens
• Rue de l’Université
• Rue de Monttessuy
• Trocadéro (although it’s currently under renovation)
• Parc du Champ-de-Mars

 

I hope you liked my Paris Travel Diary and I hope I could inspire you for your next trip to the city. It was definitely not my last visit, because I love this city too much.