Meghan & Peter

A compilation of Meghan & Peter's favorites along with top recommendations from our planner, photographer, and hair/makeup stylist (the true Paris experts!). 

Lunch - Café Charlot, Cafe de l’Esplanade, Les Deux Magots, La Boudoir, Le Petit Marche, Telescope Café, Café Perle, Ellsworth, Le Comptoir du Relais, Wild & the Moon, La Buvette, Chez Casimir, Le Pantruche, La Guingette d’Angèle, The Hoxton, Le Petit Vendôme, Candelaria, Shiso (good burgers!)

Dinner - Maison Lautrec, Alcazar, Loulou, Girafe, Frenchie Bar a Vins, Marzo, Chateaubriand, Le Dauphin, Septime, Le Servan, Le Camondo, Verjus, Semilla, La Stresa, Cinq-Mars, Da Graziella, Aux Deux Amis

Anytime - The Hoxton, Café Charlot, Chez Julien, Les Deux Magots, Glou, Hotel Costes, Providence Hotel, Caffè Stern, Les Chouettes

Bakeries & Coffee Spots - Du Pain et des Idees, Ptit Greg (best crepes), La Paulette, Poilâne, Ob-La-Di, Patisserie Yann Couvreur, Aux Deux Amis

Scene Spots - Hotel Costes (for the people watching!), Bar Hemingway, George V hotel, Les Ambassadeurs, Bar Joséphine, Black Bar du Montana, Davé, Chez Castel

Speakeasy Vibes - Le Tres Particulier (speakeasy inside Hotel Particulier in Montmartre), Moonshiner, Lulu White, Le Syndicat

Good For Any Occasion - Hoxton Hotel, Le Bar at L'Hotel, Peninsula Hotel Rooftop, Alcazar, Candelaria, Experimental Cocktail Club, Septime La Cave (best wine bar), Nuba (great views of the Seine), Verjus Wine Bar, Little Red Door, La Mary Celeste, Hotel Amour, Ballroom du Beef Club, Maison Lautrec, Lone Palm, Bisou, Danico, CopperBay, Le 1802, Le Perchoir, Faust

Party Spots - La Java, Concrete, Monseigneur, La Kiss Room, Badaboum, Silencio, Eko, Le Baron, and Raspoutine (not my expertise, but those are ones I've heard of)

The shopping in Paris is out of this world and just by walking through the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th, you'll come across it all, but below are some favorites I've marked over the years that for the most part are authentic Parisian shops. Le Marais is a lot like Soho in NYC -- busy and touristy, but fantastic shopping! 

Fashion - Sessùn, Merci in Oberkamf area, Fauré Le Page,
Le Bon Marche (kind of like the Bergdorf Goodman of Paris), Sézane, Claudie Pierlot, Oxyde, Anaim, ElevenParis, Emile Lafaurie (men), La Chatelaine,  Noël, Montaigne Market, Moss, Stéphane Ashpool, PGL by Pigalle, Spree,  Aisso, Papiers Peints, The Broken Arm, RA Paris, L'Eclaireur

Good Fashion Streets or Areas - Rue de Sevigne in Le Marais for contemporary outlet stores/sales (i.e., Maje, Sandro, etc.) and the Left Bank is a shopping mecca for contemporary fashion. Montmartre is also definitely worth checking out! 

Home Decor - Fleux in Le Marais, Les Pepites, Compagnie Francaise de l'orient et e la Chine, Printemps l'homme, Portiron, NouiToosh, Lindell & Co., Old & New (very cool hand-painted objet and skulls here), Muriel Grateau, Astier de Villatte, Jamini Design, La Redoute, Coincidence

Beauty - La Boutique Paris Berlin, Nose (apothecary-like Fragrance shop), Maison Francis Kurkdjian (also a perfumery)

Flea Markets & Vintage - Flea markets at Saint-Ouen for antiques (the best are Marché Serpette and Malik flea market), Marché aux Puces de Vanves, Free'P'Star in Le Marais, Marche d’Aligre (flea Market meets Farmers Market), Terroirs d’Avenir is a collection of market shops on Rue du Nil—the most gorgeous produce stand, butcher, fish monger, and little bakery

I recommend checking on Goop Guides or downloading the Goop app for a consistently updated list of great shops to check out when in Paris: goop.com/destination/france/paris-shops/

New Exhibitions 

Van Gogh Lumiere Exhibition - you can book online in English and the tickets are $29; this ends on Dec. 31st!

Toulouse Lautrec at Grand Palais - exhibition runs through January 27th

Degas at the Opera Musee D'Orsay - exhibition runs through January 20th

Parks and Gardens 

Place des Vosges - beautiful park/garden in Le Marais is the oldest planned square in Paris...I always pick up wine + baguette/cheese and spend a couple hours reading in this park. It's incredibly peaceful!

Parc des Buttes Chaumont - this is in the 19th, and I'd reco biking over one day and exploring...its like the Central Park of Paris, and "where the true parisians hang out"--super cool view over the city, and a bar/drink setup called Pavilion Puebla

Les Enfants Rouges - oldest street market in Paris, delicious food ranging across all from Israeli to Thai 

Square Saint-Gilles du Grand Veneur - completely hidden park, looks like you can't go in, but you can

Luxembourg Gardens & Tuileries - both are a must especially in the Fall when the colors are so vibrant! 

Seine River - I'd highly recommend just picking up a falafel one night for dinner + wine and eating it by the Seine river...there is nothing like the energy out there at night!

Museums  - Paris is overwhelming...if it's your first time visiting, I'd reco just choosing a couple to checkout while you're there based on your art style preference. My go-tos are below:

Musee D'Orsay - lots of impressionism/Monet and expressionism/Van Gosh

Musée Rodin - I originally wanted to have our ceremony here! The museum and surrounding gorgeous sculpture gardens are primarily dedicated to the works of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin

Musée Jacquemart-André - private museum located at 158 Boulevard Haussmann in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The museum was created from the private home of Édouard André and Nélie Jacquemart to display the art they collected during their lives

Musée de l'Orangerie - art gallery of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings located in the west corner of the Tuileries Gardens next to the Place de la Concorde in Paris

Picasso Museum - located in Le Marais and recently renovated

Monuments/Cultural Landmarks

Sacre Couer - even if you aren't religious, this is worth going to simply for the view overlooking Paris 

Père Lachaise Cemetery - largest cemetery and Paris where you can visit the graves of Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Gertrude Stein, to name a few

For more ideas on what to explore in Paris, check out Goop guides: goop.com/destination/france/paris-activities/

Important to know - a blowout or blow-dry is synonymous to a French "le brushing" - that is what they call it in Paris. A haircut is called "une coupe" and a shampoo is "le shampooing". Note tipping is not necessary in Paris salons, so you just pay for the service. When they wash your hair you will be asked if you want les soins, which sounds like "swan" (they are asking if you want to use conditioner). This will cost extra but keep in mind what you save on the tip can be spent on conditioner. 

Hair Salons

Dessange $$ - chain salon that has amazing customer reviews and known for excellent service (I'd compare it maybe to the Dry Bar franchise in the U.S.); they have numerous locations, can do Dry Bar style blow-outs or even updos if you're into that. Best of all, you can book online! List of salon locations can be found at https://salon.dessange.com/en/

David Mallet hôtel particulier salon $$$$ - locations in both the 1st and 2nd arrondissements (this is a pricier option, but the ultimate French blowdry experience; be sure to book the head massage if you go here!)

Studio Marisol $$$ - hair salon in 4th arrond. (Le Marais)

Camille Albane $$ - multiple locations including in 1st arrond. (close to ceremony) and 6th arrond. (near Rehearsal Dinner); list of salon locations can be found at salon.camillealbane.com/en/

Messieurs Dames $$ - located in 4th Arrond./Le Marais - no-frills, no-fuss salon, with talented hair stylists and a cool vibe

Herbert Bauer $$$ - salon in 2nd Arrond. that offers a great head massage, plus amazing service and stylists

L’Humaine Comédie in Paris $$$ - hair salon in 2nd 

Raphaël Perrier $$$ - hair salon in 8th arrond. (close to wedding reception)

Living Room Salon $ - hair salon in 11th arrond. (one of the more reasonably priced options!)

Medley Coiffure $$ - hair salon in 4th arrond. (Le Marais) 

Workout

Dynamo $$ - cycling chain with the same high-vibe community feel as SoulCycle

L'Usine $ - this is a "Club de Sport" where you can pay 50euro for a full day access pass

Kshanti Yoga $$ - great yoga spot in 6th arrond!

Le Tigre Yoga Club $$ - vinyasa or pilates 

Spas & Nail Salons

The Spa My Blend at the Royal Monceau $$$ - located in 8th Arrond. (Clarins Spa)

Nuxe $$$ - amazing facials with multiple locatiosn in 1st, 8th, and 16th Arrondissements

Joëlle Ciocco $$$$ - one of the best facial experiences in Paris located in 8th arrond.

Jean-Pierre Esthetique $$$ - another great facial spot in the 8th

Darphin $$$ - located in 1st arrond. near the ceremony

Biologique Recherche $$ - great facial spot in 8th arrond. near reception

Ban Sabai $$ - best Thai style massages in the city!! Multiple locations can be found here www.bansabai.fr/

Maison Guerlain $$$$ - ultimate indulging experience for a spa day located in 8th arrond.

Simone $$$ - with Simone’s app, you can have someone come to your home to do your nails!

Le Bon Marché Kure Bazaar Nail Bar $$ - if you're looking for a quick mani, this is an excellent option and also located within Le Bon Marche, one of the chicest department stores ever in the 7th arrond.

Manucurist $$ - nail salon in 10th arrond.

The Nail Kitchen $$ - located on the beauty floor of BHV’s Marais outpost

Dupin Nail Bar $$ - nail salon in 6th arrond. where you can easily book an appointment via Yelp!

Good to know before you go

1. Bring converters to charge your phones, electronics, blow dryers, etc. The cheapest and easiest option is to purchase one on Amazon before you go. 

2. If you need to take out money while over there then use an ATM with a debit card and not a bank. Also, some credit cards wave transfer fees so it could be helpful to look into that beforehand.

3. If you or someone you are traveling with has Verizon then you are in luck because Verizon Travel Pass is incredible and your phone will work as usual for $10/day. It will automatically activate without needing to notify Verizon. 

4. The customs and security lines at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport are known for being exceptionally long. They shouldn't be as bad this time of year; however, if you absolutely hate lines there are ways to get around this. First, if you have status with your airline, i.e., Sky Priority with Delta, there is a separate customs and security line for Sky Priority travelers. Make sure to get in that line vs. the standard customs line when you arrive to CDG. Another option is to book a service with My Private Transfer which grants access to express / VIP security lines. 

5. Keep an eye on your things (as always, in any big city).  In crowded settings like the metro and Sacre-Coeur always keep your purse close, phone out of your back pocket, and stay aware of your surroundings. 

6. Walk as much as you can when in Paris - mainly because it's beautiful and it's the best way to see the city, but also because Paris is like New York. Typically taking an uber or cab will be stop-and-go and if google maps says it's a 20min drive, it'll like be 30 due to cross town traffic. The good news is we will be here during quiet season so hopefully no one has to deal with a long car ride when going from one place to another in Paris!

7.  What to wear when exploring the city - we recommend wearing a pair of sneakers during the day! Sneakers can go with everything and anything in Paris and will keep you comfortable all day long. 

8. Uber is the easiest way to get from CDG airport to your hotel/AirBnB and this is what we'd recommend. Or, you can ask your hotel to arrange a car service which will only cost a little bit more. 

The city of Paris is divided into different arrondissements (neighborhoods). These arrondissements currently go from 1-20. They are designed sort of as the “shell of a snail” if you look at Paris on a map – they start from the city center and slowly goes outwards in circles (like the shell of a snail). They also refer to it as the "crown".

When you look at a Paris address, you will see a postal code, for example 75006. The arrondissement the address is located in, can be see by looking at the last two numbers of the postal code. So, in the example above, the address would be somewhere in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. Once you get a hang of this and learn your arrondissements and where they are located. You will see street signs on every corner of a building to mark where you are located.

Our favorites are the 3rd/4th (known as Le Marais), the 6th, 7th, and 8th! All are worth exploring and magical in their own way :) 

Do I need to speak French?

No, but your efforts matter. It is important to initiate in French to show you are trying and they are likely to switch immediately to English. Even if you can't speak it well! We have rarely run into a situation where we could not communicate.

Bonjour - "Hello" - a combination of the words bon (“good”) and jour (“day”). In the evening, you could also say bonsoir (“good evening”).

S'il vous plaît - “Please” - when asking for something in French – e.g. asking a stranger for directions or asking to see a menu in a restaurant, you should start with “Bonjour. S'il vous plaît...” It literally means “Hello, please…”, which would sound a bit strange in English, but it's the normal way to start a polite request in French.

Oui (pronounced wee) - "Yes" - Two essential words to learn in any language are “yes” and “no”. In French, “yes” is oui and “no” is non.

Oui (pronounced way) - "Ya", a more casual yes

Comment allez-vous? - "How are you?" - Another, more informal way to say “how are you?” is ça va? This phrase is extremely common – when in France you'll likely hear it several times per day. If someone asks you “ça va?”, you can respond with a simple “ça va bien” – “it's going well”.

Excusez-moi – “Excuse me” - to get someone's attention or ask someone to move out of your way, etc.

Pardon - "Sorry"

Je ne comprends pas - "I don't understand"

Je voudrais - "I would like"

Je ne peux pas manger… – “I can’t eat…”

la viande – meatle soja – soy
les produits laitiers – dairy products
le poisson – fish
les œufs – eggs
les fruits de mer – shell fish
le gluten – gluten
les noix – nuts
les cacahuètes – peanuts

Merci beaucoup – “Thanks a lot”

Au revoir - "Goodbye"

À bientôt - "See You Soon"

Bonsoir - "Good Evening"

Je m’appelle...- "My name is"

Parlez-vous anglais? - "Do you speak English?"