The HiP Paris Blog

Visiting Paris for the first time? Been here before and want to explore a new part of town? Live here and want tips for original things to do this weekend? Planning an upcoming trip, or simply a Francophile in need of a regular French fix? No matter who — or where — you are, HiP Paris is your online hub for everything that’s hot right now in the City of Light.

We’ll point you in the right direction and introduce you to off-the-beaten-path places, hip and happening people and events, and experiences you might otherwise overlook. From Paris to New York, San Francisco to Sydney, our readers are a diverse mix, united by their desire to be “in” on what’s happening in Paris. From food and fashion to architecture and culture—we’ve got you covered.

HiP Mission

Don’t get us wrong—we love the Eiffel Tower as much as anyone. But there’s so much more to Paris than its iconic monuments and well-known sites. To us, the best way to experience this city is to dig a little deeper, hunt a little harder and linger a little longer to uncover the secrets that make Paris so utterly irresistible. From film festivals and art exhibits to street style, hot new restaurants and interviews with foodies, artists and innovators, we are constantly taking the pulse of Parisian life… and sharing our discoveries with you!

Things We Love

• Trying new restaurants from up-and-coming chefs and sampling their creative cuisine
• Discovering new and enticing hole-in-the-wall shops, cafes, and bars
• Meeting local artisans—from jewelers and painters to chocolatiers and furniture designers
• Scouring Paris’ open-air markets and cooking up tasty new recipes
• Soaking up Parisian culture—from music festivals to fashion shows
• Shopping the flea markets and hitting up the newest concept stores
• Exploring lesser known Parisian neighborhoods
• Traveling to off-the-beaten-path parts of France & Italy

Paris is our city, and we’re thrilled to share the best of it with you. If there’s a topic you crave (or one that we’ve missed), we would love to hear from you! Please email us at info@haveninparis.com.

The HiP Team

Led by our fearless leader, Erica Berman, the HiP team is composed of world travelers, gourmandes, culture seekers, savvy shoppers, photographers, design junkies, and aimless wanderers. We do our best to unearth insights, tidbits and insider tips that will inspire and inform our readers.

Erica Berman—An American by birth, Erica has called Paris home on-and-off for 17 years.  When in Paris, in addition to running her vacation rental company (Haven in Paris), Erica spends her days scouring the city for anything and everything hip—from restaurants and boutiques to organic markets and artistic events. While she travels frequently to Italy, Brooklyn, Maine and Massachusetts, she is always happy to return to her hilltop home in Montmartre.

Tory Hoen—An avid traveler and writer, Tory is relentless in her search for Paris’ hippest (and most delicious) secrets. Late night, she can be found lounging in various Right Bank hotspots, and by day, you’ll find her doing deals with the green grocers on the rue Mouffetard. Tory splits her time between Paris, New York, and Montreal, but when not in Paris, she’s always scheming about ways to go back.

Geneviève Sandifer— Half-French, half-American and 100% cool, Genevieve is based in New York, but visits Paris (and her family) as often as possible. Geneviève’s finger is always on the pulse of the latest cultural happenings. From insider tips on how to navigate Parisian etiquette to artsy recommendations and restaurant reviews, she knows what’s up and she’s happy to share—if you can keep a secret.

Sarah Raymond—A New Yorker through and through (and longtime Francophile), Sarah takes advantage of her time in Paris by trying as many French cheeses as possible – it’s become her obsession.  Whether in New York or in Paris, you can find her scouring food markets and exploring different neighborhoods, preferably by bicycle. She’s constantly on the lookout for out-of-the-way lunch spots where she can indulge in a leisurely midday meal. When in France…

Guest Bloggers

We regularly invite other Paris experts to contribute to our site as guest bloggers. Stay tuned for their posts on food, fashion, art and hip things to do in and around Paris…


About Haven in Paris

HiP Paris aims to complement our vacation rental company, Haven in Paris. Haven in Paris offers luxury short-term vacation apartment and villa rentals in Paris, Provence and Tuscany. By staying in one of our exceptional handpicked apartments or villas, you benefit from all the services of a luxury hotel, but you gain the space, amenities, privacy and authenticity of your very own “home.” We have scoured France and Italy to find exceptional properties that stand out for their fabulous décor, views, and ideal locations, and we look forward to sharing them with you!