Garmentory Guides: Paris
Ah, Paris. The enchanting streets, the romantic air, the fascinating museums, the baguettes, the shopping! What's not to love about a city with all this and more? Granted, Paris has seemingly endless options when it comes to exploration. We've narrowed down our very favorites. Peruse our list, then pack your bags. Au revoir!
Museums & More
Musée Nissim de Camondo
Pictured above, image via Musée Nissim de Camondo
In search of inspo for your next redecorating project? This might be the place. This historic house has an outstanding collection of late 18th-century French decorative arts, preserved just as its owners left it in the 1930s, down to the needlepoint pillows and elaborate rugs. It's also refreshingly off the beaten path.
Jardin du Luxembourg & Tuileries Garden
Pictured above
Both of these gardens are beautiful year-round and offer plenty of places to relax and watch the world go by. The Luxembourg Garden is a favorite, mainly because of the Grand Bassin duck pond, where you can watch children rent tiny toy sailboats to push around the water.
Restaurants & Bars
Chez Janou
Pictured above
Easily our favorite restaurant in Paris. Order the moules gratinées (mussles au gratin) and the petit chèvre rôti au romarin (goat cheese with herbs). For dessert, they bring out a heaping bowl of chocolate mousse and spoon it onto your plate. If that’s not enough to convince you, we don’t know what is.
Girafe
Splurgy, but for good reason, Girafe offers a refined seafood-focused menu served in the glamorous dining room or stunning terrace that’s nearly on top of the Eiffel Tower. Reservations absolutely necessary.
Clown Bar
Pictured above
The name makes it sound like this place would be weird, but it’s not at all. The interior is decorated with Belle Epoque murals of clowns…but not the scary kind…because the Cirque d’Hiver is nearby; this was once the clown hangout. The place feels very local, almost like a secret hideout from tourists. And the food? Inventive and delicious.
Parcelles
The chou farci (stuffed cabbage) from Parcelles is on the New York Times list of 25 Essential Dishes in Paris, which should be enough of a recommendation. The bistro, set in a building dating back to the early 1900s, is run by a young couple and their creative chef friend. Crowd of locals or in-the-know foodies. Reservations necessary.
Bisou
Millennial pink might be so 2017, but Bisou (the cute cocktail bar painted in the Pepto Bismol shade) isn't going out of style. With a name that means "kiss" in French, the petit cocktail bar doesn't have a menu. Simply chat with the staff about your likes and dislikes, and they'll bring you a drink to suit your fancy.
Quick Eats & Cafés
L’Atlas
Pictured above
Everyone goes to Cafe de Flore in the Latin Quarter, but we prefer to take a picture of Cafe de Flore’s exterior and then walk five minutes to L'Atlas. The food is very good (I love the beef tartare and the escargot), and it’s on a perfect street for people-watching from the outdoor tables.
Miznon
No-fuss restaurant from an acclaimed Israeli chef. Soft, pillowy pitas stuffed with ratatouille, mushrooms, falafel, etc. Order at the counter. Open all day so it’s a great option if you get hungry during the afternoon “siesta” hours.
Café Berry
Pictured above, image via Café Berry on Instagram
On one of our favorite strolling streets in the Marais neighborhood, Café Berry serves up incredible pastries and a delightful brunch menu (almost) all day.
Parisian Designers on Garmentory
A.P.C.
This renowned French brand has had the fashion world hooked ever since their inception in 1987. Clean, sharp lines, simple silhouettes and understated prints are just a few reasons why the world over loves A.P.C. Think quintessential French style with a fresh take on the classics. An acronym for ‘Atelier de Production et de Creation’, it’s a fitting name for a brand that is all about stripping back to the fundamentals of fashion design. A.P.C is seeing to it that we are all better dressed, one military jacket and flawless pair of raw selvedge jeans at a time.
Ba&sh
Two French best friends Barbara and Sharon brought their dream wardrobes to life through the creation of ba&sh in 2003. Now found in more than 400 stores, ba&sh continues to exude Parisian ease with a rock-n-roll boho vibe, blending freedom with a joyful elegance.
isabel marant etoile
Driven by savoir-faire, Isabel has always promoted handmade work. With every collection, she continues the fight to preserve textile crafts, most notably through the endowment fund she launched in 2021. In the same year, the Maison created Isabel Marant Vintage, a digital platform to grant a second life to Isabel Marant pieces, as a concrete solution to support a more sustainable fashion industry.
Lemaire
Christophe Lemaire stepped down from his role as creative director of womenswear at Hermès in 2015 to focus on his namesake label, and the potentially risky career move appears to be paying off. The brand has gained traction both editorially and at retail, offering all the hallmarks of French restraint in fashion design matched with an assiduous understanding of the modern wardrobe. Pieces are fuss-free in decoration, constructed beautifully with all of the hard work hidden behind the scenes (or seams, as it would be), evidenced in fine fabrication and clever but quiet manipulation of functional details.
Coperni
USM Haller and Coperni have announced their new collaboration bringing a pure and innovative approach to fashion retail. A significant development for both companies, as it brings together two renowned brands in the fashion and interior design industries. It will create a unique retail experience that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional, showcasing the latest in fashion and design.
