Introduction
Once the home of cutting-edge art then accused by some of resting on its laurels, Paris has recently been reasserting its cultural authority with the reopening of the Palais de Tokyo and Musée Picasso, and the emergence of a raft of new restaurants and producer-driven food outlets. It almost makes you forget the frustration of dealing with the city's public institutions.
More from Paris PDF VersionEssentials
- Be polite. Even though Parisians might seem rude at times, a little 'bonjour', 's’il vous plait' and 'merci' goes a long way.
- Neo-bistro is as popular as ever. Try Bruno Doucet’s restaurant, La Régalade Saint-Honoré, 123, rue de Saint-Honoré +33 1 4221 9240.
- Get a perfect old-school shave at Alain Maitre Barbier, 8 rue St Claude, +33 1 4277 5580.
- A l’Etoile d’Or is the best sweet shop in town. 30 rue Pierre Fontaine, +33 1 4874 5955.
- Check out La Gaîté Lyrique, a digital arts centre from the future, for exhibitions, conferences and concerts. 3 bis rue Papin +33 1 5301 5200.
Two-hour tour
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Musée du quai Branly
37 quai Branly
+33 1 5661 7000
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La Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine
1 place du Trocadéro
+33 1 5851 5200
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Musée d'Art Moderne
11 avenue du Président Wilson
+33 1 5367 4000
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Hotels
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Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris
37 avenue Hoche
+33 1 4299 8800
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L'Hotel Collectionneur
51-57 rue de Courcelles
+33 1 5836 6700
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Le Bristol
112 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
+33 1 5343 4300
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Dining
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Du Pain et Des Idées
34 rue Yves Toudic
+33 1 4240 4452
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Le Comptoir du Relais
9 carrefour de l'Odéon
+33 1 4427 0797
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Atelier de Joël Robuchon
5 rue de Montalembert
+33 1 4222 5656
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Kunitoraya Villedo
5 rue Villedo
+33 1 4703 0774
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Passage 53
53 passage des Panoramas
+33 1 4233 0435
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La Maison de l'Aubrac
37 rue Marbeuf
+33 1 4359 0514
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L'Arc
12 rue de Presbourg
+33 1 4500 7870
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Le Camélia
Mandarin Oriental, 251 rue Saint-Honoré
+33 1 7098 7400
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Coutume Café
47 rue de Babylone
+33 1 4427 0797
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Septime
80 rue de Charonne
+33 1 4367 3829
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Le Carmen
34 rue Duperré
+33 1 4526 5000
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Agapé
51 rue Jouffroy-d'Abbans
+33 1 4227 2018
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Kooka Boora
62 rue des Martyrs
+33 1 5692 1241
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Frenchie Bar à Vins
5-6 rue du Nil
+33 1 4039 9619
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Thou Mieux
79 rue Saint-Dominique
+33 1 4705 4975
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Reading
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Ofr bookshop
20 rue Dupetit-Thouars (Carreau du Temple)
+33 1 4245 7288
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Shopping
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Perfumes and laundry liquid from Maison Francis Kurkdjian
5 rue d'Alger
+33 1 4260 0707
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Miniature wooden cooking utensils and sharp clothes from Bon Ton
5 boulevard des Filles du Calvaire
+33 1 4272 3469
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Paper laptop bags, fashion, furniture and food from Merci
111 boulevard Beaumarchais
+33 1 4277 0033
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Shoes from French Trotters
30 rue de Charonne
+33 1 4700 8435
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Transport
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Vélib — Avoid traffic congestion and hop on a hire bike.
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Limousine/car
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Chabé Limousines
+ 33 1 4120 9510
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Fitness
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Klay Club
4 bis rue Saint-Sauveur
+33 1 4026 0000
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Good running route — Start from the Eiffel Tower and run along the Seine towards Les Invalides, cross over Pont Alexandre III and head to the Louvre. Run around Ile de la Cité and Ile Saint Louis, then head back to the Eiffel Tower on the Left Bank past the Musée d’Orsay.