Author: Sara McCarty for Context Travel

A native of Philadelphia, Sara currently resides in Paris where she takes her passion for French food and culture very seriously. When not eating fromage and strolling in her neighborhood Montmartre, she works for Context Travel and contributes to Condé Nast Traveler among other travel-related publications. Context is a network of scholars and specialists—in disciplines including archaeology, art history, cuisine, urban planning, history, environmental science, and classics—who, in addition to our normal work as professors and researchers, design and lead in-depth walking seminars for small groups of intellectually curious travelers. The Context vision is to bring together local scholars and specialists with curious travelers to educate and impassion them; to allow them access to places and cultures that might otherwise remain out of site to the casual visitor; to invite them off the tourist track and into the real life of the people, history, and culture that makes these capitals, destinations. Context Travel also offers tours, like a shopping visit to the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen.

We wrote in October with tips for navigating Paris’s Marché aux Puces St-Ouen, specifically where to find the best in oh-so-popular mid-century modern furniture. In this month’s article we’ll highlight where to find luxury designer items of the vintage persuasion (think Chanel). …read more

Hoards of travellers and locals alike flock to Paris’ flea markets in search of antique wares and one-of-a-kind finds, and rightfully so. The Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen is one of our favorite markets and this series will detail some of its top vendors. Today we look inside the best of Mid-century Modern. Enjoy! -… …read more

French desserts would make almost anyone’s mouth start to water. Beautifully lined on bakery shelves, they are a heavenly wonder for sweet-tooths. But in addition to pastries, macarons and mousse au chocolat, France is abundant with sweet regional specialties. Here are some of our favorite artisanal candy shops in Paris. …read more