to start saving your favourite pieces.The Travel Edit: Paris
WHERE TO WEAR · THE TRAVEL EDIT
Paris rewards the well packed. Stay near the Tuileries or on Avenue Montaigne, eat in Saint-Germain and the Marais, drink where the bartender knows your order by the second round, and pack pieces that handle cobblestones by day and a candlelit bistro by night.
Heading to Paris? In a place so deeply saturated in culture and history, it is easy to feel overwhelmed with options when visiting the French capital. From best-loved restaurants and cafes to newly opened gems, read our editor’s top recommendations to make your next trip to the French capital feel captivating and unforgettable.
#1 WHERE TO STAY
Château Voltaire
Nestled a couple of blocks north of the Tuileries, Château Voltaire manages to balance stunning interiors, second-to-none hospitality, and comfort, to become the epitome of Parisian elegance.
Spanning three buildings from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, the Château is rife with Parisian history whilst also maintaining a contemporary look-and-feel. Founder Thierry Gillier collaborated with creative director Franck Durand (Holiday Magazine, Bazaar France), to finely tune and translate a keen eye for fashion into beautifully decorated rooms that make your stay feel tastefully curated and superlative.
Cult-favourite restaurant Brasserie l’Emil in the hotel’s lobby is also a must-try.
La Fantaisie
Stylish, sophisticated, and unpretentious, La Fantaisie is guaranteed to delight and inspire all who enter its thoughtfully designed interiors.
Rescued from near abandonment, the hotel’s garden setting is used as a jumping-off point for the design of the interiors; bright, art deco inspired soft palettes blended with vivid floral prints make the hotel feel like a hidden treasure, lost in time.
Throughout the hotel’s fresh and contemporary spaces, the use of colour, texture, and print complements a cacophony of chintz, a true delight to experience, and a masterful example of fantastical interior design and styling.
Hôtel Plaza Athénée
Situated on the famed Avenue Montaigne, you will know Hôtel Plaza Athénée as soon as you see it, thanks to its bold assertion of scarlet awnings. Conveniently nestled between the Champs-Elysées and the Eiffel Tower, you will not have to travel far to experience the best views, and shopping that Paris has to offer.
There is something mesmerising and magical about walking into the courtyard between buildings at Hôtel Plaza Athénée–green shrubbery envelops the walls, juxtaposed by the bright red awnings on each window. This is an unmissable experience, even if you are not staying for the night; enjoy a coffee from the café in the courtyard in-between boutique hopping.
#2 WHERE TO EAT
Les Éditeurs
Across the Seine in Saint-Germain-des-Prés sits Les Éditeurs; a relaxed and reliably delicious French restaurant that distinguishes itself by its quaint charm and optimal location. Like many restaurants and cafes in Paris, Les Éditeurs has al fresco seating with cane chairs that face outwards allowing you to immerse yourself in the street setting and indulge, not only its cuisine but also observe locals as they swirl around le quartier de l'Odéon.
In an ode to Saint-Germain, the literary heart of Paris, the walls are lined with over 5,000 books–gifts from local publishers–and the room is punctuated with circular red leather chairs that embrace you whilst engulfed in a wash of sophisticated dark wood detailing.
A true staple for a reliably tasty meal and convivial service.
Bistrot Des Tournelles
Located a stone’s throw from one of the city’s most picturesque parks, Place des Vosges, and the Bastille monument, Bistrot Des Tournelles offers classic French fare with a contemporary twist. Highlights include oeufs-mayo, daube à la provençale (a hearty beef stew originating from Southern France), and the classic croque monsieur (expect oodles of grated Comté and Parisian ham).
As you enter the dining room it feels as if you have been invited to the home of a beloved friend –vintage décor, candle-lit, vases of desaturated florals–all of which compliment the home-cooked aesthetic and taste of the food served from the confident and refreshingly short menu.
Du Pain et des Idées
A seriously spectacular specimen of French baking, you will need to mentally prepare yourself to be mind-blown by the artisans boulangers at Du Pain et des Idées. Dating from 1875, the boulangerie has hardcore history baked into it, evidenced by the painted glass ceilings and bevelled mirrors that exude old-world charm.
The pin-wheel shaped chocolate-pistachio escargot is nothing short of life-changing.
Next-door, at Bonjour Jacob you’ll find the most sophisticated edit of fashion magazines and journals to peruse while enjoying a “caf” from the store’s café.
Around the corner, La Table serves pizza on the bakery's own dough, weekdays only.
#3 WHERE TO DRINK
Bar Nouveau
There is something truly special about Bar Nouveau–a newly opened bar/hangout that’s been plucked and transported through time from a past decade. True to its name, the interiors are decorated in the Nouveau style of Hector Guimard, complete with vine-style mirror frames, Riviera-style walls, and hanging chanterelle lights above the intimate U-shaped bar.
Designed to encourage friendly conversation between yourself, the bar-tender, and other patrons, the petite size only adds to the charm of this must-try bar.
While you peruse the six cocktails-length menu, you’ll likely note the noise of a blender in the background; the soundtrack to the creation of the famed ‘Ramos’ cocktail–a definite must-try.
Le Hibou
A couple of metres away from Les Éditeurs, Le Hibou is a classic French restaurant offering an extensive drinks menu with classic cocktails and contemporary gustatory delights. With outdoor seating that looks over a quiet round-about at the edge of the Latin Quarter, you are perfectly situated for a people-watching l'apéritif as twilight drapes itself over the city.
Quirky cocktails–“Paloma Anderson”, “Gin Carey”, “Peachless”–delight and refresh at the end of a long day of sightseeing. The perfect destination for drinks before a dinner out.
#4 WHERE TO VISIT
Marché des Enfants Rouges
Opened in 1615, the Marché des Enfants Rouges is the oldest food market in Paris. Nowadays, it is a bustling, buzzing maze of multicultural and local food vendors selling all kinds of delicious bits-and-bobs, bursting with flavour. Situated off Rue de Bretagne, the market is deceptively unimposing from the street, yet boasts a laid-back, gregarious atmosphere inside; a true delight for the senses and a not-to-be-missed cultural experience. Nearby Café du Marché des Enfants Rouges and Café Charlot are also worth adding to your list of must-try menus.
Musée de l'Orangerie
Home to Claude Monet’s waterlily paintings, Musée de l'Orangerie is situated in the south-west corner of the Tuileries. If you have not got long in Paris, this museum is a great way to view a wide offering of French impressionists and post-impressionists–think Monet, Matisse, Cézanne, Picasso, and Renoir.
The rounded, white galleries that host Monet’s ‘Water Lilies’ are flooded with diffused natural light that make viewing the masterpieces truly immersive and breathtaking.
Paul Bert Serpette
If you’re looking for décor inspiration, Paul Bert Serpette is well-worth a visit.
A treasure trove of vintage furniture and trinkets from near and far, Paul Bert Serpette is a lesson in how to embrace the French ‘art de vivre.’
The market is set-up like a garage sale with roll-down doors that hide hidden gems aplenty. Don’t be misled by the rustic aesthetic of the exterior because each vendor’s space is filled to the brink with rare antiques that you are not likely to find anywhere else in the world.
With over 350 individual antique dealers, you can be sure you will leave the market feeling inspired to re-invigorate your spaces back home with a defining French elegance and ease.
#5 WHAT TO PACK
Paris is a walking city, and the city notices what you walk in. Pack for cobblestones, café terraces and a dinner reservation in the same day, then edit ruthlessly.
Spring and summer (April to September)
VERGE's Acrobat Kennedy Pant is the travel trouser we would pack first: wide, cropped to 7/8 and cut in the Acrobat fabric VERGE describes as "Cool comfort & travel friendly fabrication". Add Sita Murt's Straight Linen Pants in white for long lunches, Lollys Laundry's BlakeLL Midi Dress in Creme Pink, exclusive to The Forme in Australia, for an afternoon in the Tuileries, and Silk Laundry's Bias Cut Pants for dinner. On your feet, ALOHAS' Rosalind Ballet Flats: soft enough for a day on the cobbles, polished enough for the Plaza Athénée courtyard.
Autumn and winter (October to March)
Paris in winter is grey, chic and colder than you think. Swap the linen for VERGE's Homeland Pant in black, wear Sita Murt's Radial Dress under a long coat for dinner, and keep ALOHAS' Rosalind All Studs Ballet Flats for evenings out.
Paris: your questions answered
What should I wear in Paris?
Polished, pared-back pieces in a tight palette: tailored trousers, a midi dress, a good knit and flat shoes you can walk in. Parisians dress for the day they are having, not for the photograph.
What shoes are best for walking in Paris?
Flat, structured leather: ballet flats, loafers or a clean sneaker. Cobblestones and stilettos rarely end well.
When is the best time to visit Paris?
Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) bring mild weather and long days. July and August are warm and busy, and many smaller restaurants close for part of August.
Where should I stay in Paris?
The 1st puts you beside the Tuileries and the Louvre, the 8th on Avenue Montaigne, and the 9th in quieter, residential Paris. Our picks cover all three.
Packing for Paris? Our stylists can build the suitcase with you. Speak with a Stylist, no appointment required, or try any style on at our Darlinghurst Showroom upon request.
Curated by women, for women. Shop now, pay later with Afterpay.
Related reading: How To Wear Wide-Leg Trousers, Five Ways · The Capsule: Twelve Pieces, Two Weeks Away · The Acrobat Guide: Every Fit, Length And Fabric Explained
