Two weeks ago, my mom and I went to Paris for an early senior trip. When asked what we would be doing on the trip, my answer was commonly, “We are going to shop and eat.” Most people would laugh at this comment, but little did they know I was quite serious. Here is a list of my favorite spots.
Le Bonaparte
After getting off the plane, my mom and I went to our hotel and then strolled over to Le Bonaparte, a bistro with views of an abbey church. I got a croque monsieur, and it was DELICIOUS. The sandwich was made differently than a grilled cheese in America with ham between the bread and the cheese on top. I rate that lunch 9/10.
L’Avenue
On the second day, we went on a “Tuk Tuk” tour, which is basically a golf cart. We went around for 2 hours on the Tuk Tuk, and after that we were quite cold. We ended up on Avenue Montaigne, and my mom and I went early to our lunch reservation at L’Avenue. L’Avenue had the coolest vibe, and you could tell that everyone there was extremely stylish, it was definitely the place to be seen. We got coffee, tea, and bread with jam and butter. Even though it was a simple order, it was delicious. There are just some things that the French do better! L’Avenue was a 10/10, and we ended up back here for lunch on the fourth day, and the lunch was fabulous as expected.
The Ritz.
We had planned this to be a lunch, but when we got there we quickly realized that this was a tea where we would be eating desserts for lunch. The desserts were great, but I was not in the mood for desserts, since I had not eaten lunch. The Ritz was a 7/10.
Les Deux Magots
Since we had only had desserts, my mom and I decided to stop at Les Deux Magots, a place in the St. Germain area, which has been open since 1884. At Les Deux Magots we ordered escargot and french fries. Now, I know that most people HATE escargot, but it is simply a food that I love. The atmosphere there was so fun and quaint, and I felt like a real Parisian. Les Deux Magots was a 10/10, and we ended up here two more times over the next five days.
Creperie St. Germain
When I first got to Paris, I noticed this cute crepe stand right by my hotel and decided to check it out. At Creperie St. Germain I was unsure what to order, so I asked the gaggle of kids in front of me what to get. This was clearly their Friday after-school treat, so I trusted their opinion. I got a “sucre et citron” crepe and it was 10/10. I ended up going back here every day and ordering something different each time. Out of the five types of crepes I ordered, my favorite was the “speculoos” flavor, which is Biscoff cookie flavored.
Girafe
I have always heard about Girafe from my parents. When they went to Paris for my mom’s 40th birthday, they went to Girafe for her birthday dinner. Girafe is in view of the Eiffel Tower, and it has an amazing atmosphere. It is inside of the Cité de l’Architecture, and the interiors are so well done. We ordered the salmon with creme fraiche and blinis to start. It was some of the best salmon I have ever had. For our entrées, my mom and I both got the sole Meunière which means it has a simple sauce of lemon, parsley and butter. The fish was perfectly seasoned and cooked with some of the best soles I have ever had. Overall Girafe was one of my favorite dinners we went to, and I highly recommend it.
LouLou
LouLou is inside of the Le Musée des Arts Décoratifs and is a well-known spot for celebrities and fashion designers. It has views of the Eiffel Tower and is right by the Louvre and the surrounding gardens. We were seated in the upstairs section, which I would recommend if you prefer a brighter, more formal atmosphere. The food was delicious, and it was all Italian, which was a nice switch from all the fantastic French food we had been eating. The best thing we ate there was the tomato risotto. It was light, buttery, and some of the best risotto I have ever had. I highly recommend Lou Lou for a fun, upscale dinner.
The Smiths Bakery
One of my favorite influencers, Lilly Sisto, was in Paris a week before I arrived, and she is a foodie like me, so I trust her food recommendations like they came from the Bible. She never leads me wrong. She recommended this small bakery in St. Germain, The Smiths Bakery. I stopped in on our third day to get a palmier cookie, a cookie made from puff pastry, a laminated dough similar to the dough used for croissants, but without yeast. It is covered in sugar and may be the best thing I ate while in France. I ended up going back to The Smiths Bakery again two days later to get a few palmiers for the plane. I would insist that people go to The Smiths Bakery when they go to Paris. It is a place you cannot miss.
Gigi
We went to Gigi on the last night, and it was the perfect “closing dinner.” It is a sibling restaurant to LouLou and Girafe, so it had very similar vibes to those two restaurants. We had a great view of the Eiffel Tower from our table, and we could see it sparkle when it sparkled for 5 minutes. It was Italian food, which I love, so I thought it all was delicious. If you go to Gigi, you MUST order the aubergine alla parmigiana. It is eggplant cooked with mozzarella and tomato sauce. It was some of the best food I have ever had. I highly recommend Gigi.
Overall, I ate very well while in Paris. I think the Parisians truly are some of the best cooks, and I understand why they pride themselves so much on their food. I hope you try all (or some) of these spots if you go to Paris.
