Situated on the ground floor of the new boutique Citizen Hotel, Petit Usagi is the tiny new outpost of the Northern Marais eatery, Usagi. Run by Shinsuke Kawahara, the lunch-crowd favorite serves a selection of healthy and simple Japanese options overlooking the trendy Canal Saint Martin.

The bijou yet airy and light-filled space is decorated with lots of blonde wood, cheerful touches of sunny yellow and cobalt blue, and an abundance of mini Japanese lanterns with a bunny motif (usagi means rabbit in Japanese).

Petit Usagi’s speciality is the bento box — which is essentially the Japanese version of a lunch box — providing you with protein, veggies and some kind of grain in one cute little airline-like platter. The simple, healthy bentos come in three incarnations (veggie, meat and fish) and are served with a soup of the day and tea as part of the fixed-price menu (€15-18).

The vegetarian option has tofu balls with peanut sauce and soba noodles with seasonal vegetables, whilst the fish and meat options vary daily but include delights such as salmon with black sesame or chicken curry, both served with rice. To drink, there is a shiso (Japanese basil) infusion, organic ginger infusion or green tea as part of the fixed-priced menu, or Kirin beer or wine by the glass for those on less of a detox vibe.

On the dessert menu: homemade cake, agar agar (Japanese panna cotta) and fruit compotes. The bento boxes can also be ordered for delivery for those living or working in the area, and they are a great fair-weather picnic option for al fresco dining along the canal.

Petit Usagi. Le Citizen Hotel, 96 Quai de Jemmapes, 75010, Paris. 01 83 62 55 50. open Tues-Sun, noon – 4pm.

Related Links:

• Look for more of Kim’s restaurant reviews on I Heart Paris
• Forest Collins (52 Martinis) explores the 15th arrdt on Pret à Voyager
• David Lebovitz visits Septime and loves it. We can’t wait to try it!
• Celebrating Bastille day in NYC? Time Out NY has some French style tips here

Written by Kim Laidlaw Adrey. All images courtesy of Kim Laidlaw Adrey. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

I always know I’m in New York when, on Sunday, everything is buzzing and churning as if it were any other day of the week. Does no one in this city ever rest?! It makes me pine for Sundays in Paris, when the city retreats into its secret corners and everyone does their own thing.

But if you’re new to Paris or simply passing through, Sundays can often beg the question: now what do we do?

Never fear. Though the city’s pulse has slowed, its heart is still beating, and Sundays have their own unique array of activities to be uncovered. Here are a few of our favorite weekend activities.

1. Linger over brunch. Brunch has most definitely become “a thing” in Paris, and there’s no shame in passing your entire day partaking in the act. Check out some of our favorite spots here.

2. Shop in the Marais. While many boutiques (and even the big department stores) are closed on Sunday, you can still get your shopping fix in the Marais. Begin on rue des Franc-Bourgeois and rue Vieille du Temple, and explore from there.

3. Hit the rue des Rosiers. Paris’s Jewish neighborhood is at its most lively on Sundays, when people line up for falafel or pick up the signature sandwiches at the renowned Sacha Finklsztajn bakery.

Rue des Rosiers

4. Relax and recharge. A little pampering is the Parisian’s prerogative, especially on Sunday. Splurge at a hotel spa (those at the George V and the Plaza Athénée don’t look too shabby) or head to a hammam for an earthier experience.

5. See a movie. Hunker down at a little art-house cinema, hang with the cool kids at MK2 Quai de Seine, or retreat to the magical La Pagode for a cinematic escape.

Quai de Seine by Mk2 Cinema

6. Browse the stacks. Indulge your inner bookworm at one of Paris’ historic bookstores.

7. Hit the market. Fuel up for the week at one of the many markets that are open on Sunday. There’s a great energy at Bastille, or you can browse organic products at Raspail or Batignolles.

8. Try a small museum. Most museums are open on Sunday, but the biggies tend to be mobbed. Try going further afield to the Musée Jacquemart-André, the Musée Nissim de Camondo, or one of these picks.

9. Work out. Or “work out.” Or fine, just stroll around, ideally on the Promenade Plantée.

10. Flee the scene. If Paris feels too sleepy, take a day trip to nearby Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte (which predated Versailles), the forest at Fontainebleau, or Monet’s garden in Giverny (open from April through October).

katphotos

And never forget that on Sunday, you are well within your rights to do absolutely nothing, wherever you feel like doing it.

Related links:

• Clever Sunday fun, shopping, culture & beauty options open ‘le dimanche’ from Do it in Paris
• Spa Therapy & the Hammam scene in Paris
• All the spots to go to listen to live music in Paris

Written by Tory Hoen for the HiP Paris Blog. All images, except where noted, by Dave Bloom. Dave Bloom is an American photographer based in Paris. Contact: www.flickr.com/photos/davebloom. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

What is it about Parisian women that always leaves me staring as they ever so briskly pass by, thinking, how do they always manage to look so (for lack of a better word), chic? They appear to be dressed with a casual confidence, never looking out of place and drawing just enough attention. Each detail and accessory is carefully chosen, creating a color palette of distinctive greys, blacks and neutrals, with just a touch of color. Timeless. Elegant. And always classy. This ‘dress-code’ is most creatively displayed in the ‘bobo’ parts of Paris where ‘bourgeois’ meets ‘boheme’. The result is a never-ending fashion show on the streets of the Marais, Saint Germain, and often in between.

Longing for Paris summer fashion – Paris in Pink

What’s their secret? I have a few theories.

Timeless. Parisians are avid shoppers but not necessarily considered consumers. They choose quality over quantity and when the Soldes hit Paris, they spend the time necessary to find that one signature piece to add to their collection, which will naturally work with all the other pieces. Shopping becomes a curatorial experience. Thus, there is no end to the possibilities and no need to follow the latest trends. Rather than mimic a mannequin, a Parisian woman will simply use this model for inspiration.

Elegant. It’s not only do the mesdames of Paris who exude elegance. I am often pushed to take notice of the younger generation, anyone under 18. They too possess that characteristic French air in their attitude and appearance, no doubt inherited by their style conscious mothers, dressed at the age of 11 in Zadig & Voltaire and Petit Bateau. Perhaps an occasional ‘vintage’ scarf borrowed from their  mother’s closet. These young fashion forward minds are already way ahead of the trends. Surely, this look of simple elegance is deeply ingrained in their genes, passed on from the Chanel clad grandmother.

Classic French Fashion – (I Love Sorbet; ParisinPink)

Classy. This I know to be true, and it’s often what sets the French apart from the rest of the world. A Parisian woman always manages to look sexy, yet discreet. Even when gliding to the boulangerie in her Repetto flats. When getting dressed for a night on the town, (often no different than the aforementioned look, with only a change of shoes), she will show a hint of cleavage or a well defined leg, but never both. Why should she? It’s best to leave a little to the imagination and show your class. The French way.

In my nearly 18 months of living in Paris, I have taken many visual notes on ‘the look of a Parisian’, the streets being my school. I will never quite blend in, but I do choose to follow this unwritten code. Perhaps I was Parisian in a past life…

Related links:

• Paris in Pink – so pretty!
• Garance Dore – fashion shots at their best
• Couture Allure – Online vintage fashion shop

Written by Kasia Dietz for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Boat ride on the Seine; photo by Maggie Battista

I’m dreaming of Paris. Again. This happens when I’m in the States.

I just returned from a month-long trip to France. I traveled up and down the south of France, exploring most of Provence while fighting the devious Mistral winds. I spent a fabulous girls weekend in Normandy, sipping cidre and finally visiting Mont Saint Michel. And I drank small cups of espressos and not-so-small glasses of red wine all over our favorite city, Paris. I’m home in cold, rainy New England, missing out on too many fun November events across the pond. Here’s a peek into what I’m missing:

1. I really wanted to learn how to make macarons in Paris, and La Cuisine Paris offers a wonderful class on the subject. I’m living through their wonderful posts on their Facebook page.

Basquiat artwork; photos by mauidw and Eduardo Nasi

2. I adore the artist Basquiat, and spend tons of time in his old stomping grounds, downtown New York City. I was hoping to make it to the new exhibit at the Paris Musee de Art Moderne. The show is on through January 30, 2011, so perhaps you’ll be able to see it and report back?

3. I miss my lazy walks around Paris, the type where I walk and eat and walk and eat, and then eat some more. I have been dying to go on one of the cuisine-inspired walks hosted by the fabulous guides at Context Travel. I did get to hug Lily, Context’s Paris representative, at a meet-up in Paris, but never got to go on one of her walks. Ahh, next time… because that Bobo Palate class looks so fun!

Beaujolais Nouveau; photos by DH and Oncle Tom

4. The Beaujolais Nouveau arrives in a couple weeks. I’ve always celebrated this grand moment, on the third Thursday in November, in the States, but thought it would have been so special to celebrate it, and drink loads of red wine, in the city I so strongly correlate with red wine. I won’t skip the wine, but will miss the momentous moment in Paris.

5. I had hoped to make it up to London on this trip, but the weather (and silly strikes) simply weren’t in my favor. We have a great like-minded group of pals up in London renting some pretty special flats. I was totally hoping to stay with One Fine Stay.

Paris at sunset; photo by RavenFire

6. When I return from trips, I always cart back food and photos. Sometimes the photos are on my camera, sometimes they’re in little portrait books or photo books I gather from galleries or museums. It’s just my luck that the moment I’m back home, the annual photography fair, Paris Photo, is happening. If you go, pick up a photo book for me, please?

7. I love a good Monet exhibit and I’m missing the one at the Grand Palais right now. Make sure to book tickets in advance, as I hear it’s tougher to get into than Frenchie – which is also on my list for my next trip!

I’m a little bit sad about it all, but I have to look at the bright side. First, I got to spend a month in France. (So stop complaining, right?!) Second, perhaps you’re visiting soon and would love to update me on these chic events? Of course, if you need an apartment, you know where to look. (Haven in Paris is featuring some hot special offers with up to 35% off!) Make sure to report back to me on how fun all of this truly was… Perhaps I can live vicariously through YOU this season?

And if you can get into Frenchie, well, don’t tell me that. I’ll be way too jealous!

Frenchie restaurant; photo by Hotel Paris Rive Gauche

Related Links:

• Haven in Paris, for lovely Paris apartments for your visit, and great hot special offers
• La Cuisine Paris, for Paris food classes
• Musee de Art Moderne, for that cool Basquiat exhibit
• Context Travel, a link to all their cuisine classes
• One Fine Stay, our London pals who offer lovely flats up across the pond.
• Paris Photo, the annual photography fair in Paris
• Grand Palais, their website where you can see all current exhibits
• Frenchie, the link to the famed hard-to-get-into restaurant — but don’t go without me!

I have now been lucky enough to live in a couple different parts of this wonderful area, and I have to say, it remains one of my very favorite places to both live and spend my time while in Paris.

Although the streets can fill with tourists (both from other countries and other areas of Paris — jealous of the scene-y café terraces, bars and Sunday shopping), on a rainy afternoon or evening you’ll still find neighborhood cafés spotted with low-key, well-heeled locals reading the paper, sipping a glass of wine, or tapping away at their laptops.

Haven in Paris’ Elzevir apartment, a gem of a one-bedroom that I just know is dying to be graced by my shopping bags and worn out shoes, is located on a quiet street in between the more residential northern Marais and the livelier south Marais. Right smack half-way between the famous Place des Vosges and the rue des Archives’ great terraces, it truly is a haven of designer furniture, open spaces and sophisticated touches.

Perfect for a couple or small family,  the walk-in shower, open living room and quaint view overlooking a neighboring garden truly make you feel as if you are hidden away from the world… It’s just an illusion though — you’re still just a heartbeat from the Seine, the Ile St. Louis and Ile de la Cité, the Pompidou Museum and the mouth-watering Marché des Enfants Rouges. I almost forgot –  Camille, a classic French corner bistrot if I ever saw one, is  just down the block and can’t be beat if you’re looking for a low-key meal.

Book your fabulous stay at Elzevir now – it is still available for certain dates in July and for a large portion of August! Don’t forget to ask about special offers and discounts in all of Haven in Paris wonderful Paris homes. To view all of Haven in Paris’ Marais apartments, click here.

Written by Geneviève Sandifer for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

When it comes to restaurants, I’m not really that demanding. I want the basic ingredients to be seasonal and good. I want the cooking to show restraint: nothing puts me off more than an overly complicated plate. And I want the chef to have a heart that shines through in the food.

Sounds simple, right? Yet these three elements come together more rarely than you might think, even in Paris. That’s why a recent meal at Pramil felt so refreshing.

Rosa Jackson

I had walked past this bistro a few times on my way to my friend Paule‘s place in the fashionable northern Marais, and it seemed to have a nice buzz. I liked the understated elegance of the wood beams and white tablecloths, and the burly chef appeared to take his food seriously. The restaurant hadn’t had a lot of press, but what I did find was positive. So I booked a table for a small group of friends, including Paule and Erica.

The short menu made an intriguing read with dishes like choux pastries filled with foie gras and cauliflower “cake” with pepper jelly. It’s not easy to make cauliflower interesting and this dish succeeded with a texture that was somewhere between a cake and a terrine, and just the right dose of chili to lift the vegetable’s bland sweetness. I could easily have polished off the two big slices if I hadn’t been anticipating the main course.

Erica Berman (and main photo as well)

Salmon rarely appears on my plate these days what with overfishing and other controversies, so when I do get a craving I don’t fight it. Just as our waitress was beautiful without a trace of makeup, this dish made no apologies for its lack of frivolous garnish. A smear of tapenade, lightly crushed Pompadour potatoes topped with butter and parsley: this pale pink fish needed nothing more. (In case you’re wondering about the word Pompadour, it’s a waxy potato variety grown in Picardie which has a Label Rouge guaranteeing its origin.)

I was too wrapped up in the conversation to pay much attention to other people’s plates, but I did notice how Erica’s slow-cooked lamb had collapsed into a delicious mass of shredded meat, its juices sopped up by a broccoli dariole (a kind of flan).

For dessert, chocolate and chili ice cream with passion fruit was no more and no less than what it claimed to be – not especially memorable, but a satisfying ending to a meal that tasted like very good home cooking and seemed reasonably priced at €30 for three courses. The burly chef did the rounds shaking hands, obviously proud to meet happy customers. Now, if only there were a restaurant like this in every French street.

Pramil, 9 rue du Vertbois, 3rd, 01 42 72 03 60.

Check out…

• Rosa’s mouth-watering blog
• Vingt Paris‘ write-up of Pramil
• The Telegraph’s list of Paris’ best neo-bistrots
  
• Tory’s Best  Prix-fixe lunch spots in Paris

Written by Rosa Jackson for her blog, Edible Adventures. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

If you enjoy the Marais and are a history buff or a market troll, you must take the time to discover the oldest market in Paris : le Marché des Enfants Rouges.

First off, a little history to get everyone situated. Marguerite de Navarre, sister of King François the 1^st and mother of King Henri the 4^th (who was the one to end the religious wars that had been bloodying France), was a very well educated, politically engaged and charitable member of the royal family. In 1534 she had an orphanage constructed in what is now the Marais whose little pensioners were dressed in red as a symbol of their status. The orphanage was closed in the beginning of the 17^th century and in 1615 was transformed into a market dubbed the Marché des Enfants Rouges (market of red children) to commemorate the charitable establishment that had occupied the site for almost a century.

Meg Zimbeck

Melissa Ladd

Located off of the Rue de Bretagne in the 3rd arrdt., the market is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8:30am to 1:00pm and from 4:00pm to 7:30pm; Friday and Saturday : from 8:30am to 1:00pm and from 4:00pm to 8:00pm; Sunday : from 8:30am to 2:00pm

Métro Arts et Métiers (line 11 & 3), Temple (line 3), Filles du Calvaire (line 8).

Related links:

• Meg Zimbeck’s excursion
• Le Best of Paris also stopped by
• Our thoughts on what to do if you’re spending the day in the Marais.

Written by Melissa Ladd for HipParis.com. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

It seems somewhat unnecessary to write a post of this nature, given that any part of Paris could be considered an ideal place to loiter. A blind-folded novice could be dropped in any corner of this city and, after a few minutes of wandering, would have no trouble finding a scenic spot in which to spend a few hours. There are almost too many places to park oneself for a morning or afternoon (or, hey, a whole day), which is why I’ve come up with a list of a few standouts that I return to again and again.

Note: I’m assuming that the city’s big gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg, the Tuileries, Bois de Boulogne, and the Bois de Vincennes) are givens. You can’t go wrong at any of them, but as a semi-pro loiterer, I prefer to venture off the beaten path.

Chilled-out loitering—Canal St. Martin. Paris’ low-key canal stretches from Place de la République all the way towards the northern border of the city. People from all walks of life—hipsters, families, total weirdos—hang out along the Canal’s cobbled banks, picnicking and reveling until the wee hours of the night.

Canal St Martin – Erica Berman

Fancy loitering—Place des Vosges. It was love at first sight the moment I discovered this astoundingly beautiful 17th-century square, tucked away in the heart of the bustling Marais. Benches surround the perimeter, but there are swaths of grass where local families and neighborhood cool kids lounge after school and on weekends.

Place des Vosges – Geneviève Sandifer

Super-cool loitering—Palais de Tokyo. On nice evenings, this contemporary art museum’s laid-back terrace is my hands-down favorite spot to take over a table, break out a bottle of wine (buy one at the café inside or bring your own), and scope out the skater kids who practice tricks on the steps down below. Don’t be surprised if you spot an undercover celebrity at the table next to you… famous people like to loiter, too.

Civilized loitering—Parc Monceau. Located in the swanky residential area of the 8th arrondissement, this park will make you feel as though you’ve slipped back into a more refined age. Pack a picnic, pick a bench and start scheming about ways to one day buy one of the six private residences that open onto the park.

Bohemian loitering—Pont des Arts. During the spring and summer, this pedestrian bridge buzzes with artists and musicians who come to paint, take photos, play music, and just sort of emit artsy vibes. It’s an ideal place to mix it up with other (slightly tipsy) Paris dwellers as you catch the sunset over the Seine.

“Outdoorsy” loitering: Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. Belleville’s biggest park might be man-made, but it still feels like the “wildest” place in Paris. Install yourself at the edge of the lake and soak up the neighborhood’s relaxed vibe.

Fontaine des Medicis – Tory Hoen

Super-secret loitering: Fontaine des Médicis. For the record, I can’t believe I’m giving this one up, since I consider it to be my own ultra-private hangout in Paris. But I suppose I can share, as long as we don’t show up on the same day. It’s tucked away in the quiet northeastern corner of the Jardin du Luxembourg. Grab one of the chairs lining the long reflecting pool and watch the resident ducks do their thing. I’m convinced that time stands still here—it’s the ultimate urban escape.

For other ideas, check out:

• Gridskipper’s Guide to Outdoor Drinking Spots
• Little Brown Pen’s series of black and white loitering shots
• Tory Hoen loiters at a chateau

Written by Tory Hoen,  for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Garden of Cluny Museum – Erica Berman  (Erica’s favorite secret Paris lounge spot)

It may be getting warmer, but some April days in Paris still start off pretty icy. But it’s not all bad. April is the last month I can indulge in my monthly treat at the only place you can get truly warm in the Paris winter – the hammam.

Paris has lots of hammams: traditional North African steam baths, not chi-chi hotel spas.  They cost on average €45 per session including massage or exfoliation (gommage) and pastries — and who could fail to be attracted by this combination?  There’s a hammam for every kind of Parisian, but how do you choose? I’m now a hammam veteran, but here’s what happened at my first visit to my favorite, the Hamman de La Grande Mosquée de Paris.

Illustration by Badaude – Click on the image to view larger version

I step off the street through a hidden doorway behind the main entrance and hand over the notes to the cashier at the till in exchange for a handful of colored paper raffle tickets and a mysterious squishy black plastic sachet. I knew this was savon noir. I’ve seen it for sale in big plastic tubs at the marché at the Place des Fêtes in Belleville. What I don’t quite know is what to do with it. Or when. A visit to the hammam might make you warmer, but they certainly don’t hand out an instruction booklet.

My outside eyes take time to adjust to the blue patterns of the Moroccan tiles. Looking up through the steamy light filtering down from the small, domed window in the ceiling, I’m suddenly in fairyland, a Dulac illustration from Sleeping Beauty.

I pass a notice: sabots obligatoires (I go back and exchange my shoes for the plastic flip-flops provided). I follow the clothed clients between four massage tables to the narrow changing room, pack my clothes into a wobbly metal locker and wander back to the main room. Even more like a fairy-tale, there are doors with no signs and no handles. Which one should I pick?

One of them leads to a brightly lit room with a shower and a door back to the changing rooms. Obviously wrong.

The other opens into a darker room with hidden showers behind partitions. Is this where I use the soap? There’s nobody there to ask. The next room is warmer. There’s a high-pressure shower-gun, women giggling as they hose each other down. Then there’s another of the sleepy rooms, dreamier and hotter than the first, with a central platform and booths at the side lined with blue cushions. There are women in small groups; friends, sisters, mothers, grandmothers and daughters.

In the hammam I, refreshingly, discover that not all ‘French Women Don’t Get Fat’. There are all shapes and sizes here, from lissome teenagers to ample grannies, all happily bien dans leurs peaux (comfortable in their skins). Maybe this is the real Frenchwoman’s secret.

There’s one more room, so unbearably hot that if I stand up, my eyeballs almost steam over. I lie down on the ledge framing the freezing plunge pool. Once I get used to the heat, it’s incredibly relaxing.

I still have the (now wet) tickets and the little packet of soap.

I go back through the warm rooms, which now seem much colder. I use the soap just to get rid of it.

I have my tickets for a massage and gommage. The massage table room now seems positively chilly. I go back to the changing room for a book. I pretend to read but I’m wondering how to get my massage.

Then, after about 15 minutes, I notice women who are coming in writing their names on a paper in the corner. It must be the list for massages. I add mine. I notice the list is very long.

There’s a smaller queue for the gommage and I soon find out why. After sandpapering my back with a hard loofah mitt, the masseuse turns me over like a side of meat and attacks my breasts. Then – no, she can’t be –

- yes, she does faces too!

(I’m sure this must be doing me good)

OK, that’s enough. I think I’ll have my mint tea and pastry now (which are delicious…)

What I should have done: a first timer’s guide:

• You exchange your shoes for flip-flops at reception. If you’ve bought a ticket for a massage check if you get a numbered ticket; otherwise you have to book in and add your name to the list.

• Get changed and shower. After you shower, rub the savon noir all over your body. As you go through the steam rooms it soaks in, softening your skin.

• Progress from room to room. There might be buckets in some rooms. Fill them from a tap and splash your skin with cold water. In the hottest room, you can take a plunge in the cold pool, if you dare.

• After you’ve spent between half an hour to 90 mins in the hammam, go and get gommed.  Shower off the remains.

• Then you can lounge and wait for your massage, drinking mint tea.

• After your massage, get dressed and progress to the tea room for more mint tea and pastries or a tagine (full meal).

But which Hammam?

There is a hammam for every Parisian. The Mosquée will suit you if you want to relax in the fairytale atmosphere. It’s the most convivial – go with friends – but the massage and gommage can be a bit halfhearted. The Hammam de Medina Centre in Northern Paris is spotless, bright and businesslike. You get the best, and the toughest, gommage here. Les Bains du Marais is a must-know address for fashionistas and is full of models and fashion editors during fashion week.

Addresses: (Note that most hammams have different hours for men and women, and some have mixed sessions. Remember to check the websites for opening hours):

Hammam de la Mosquée : Entry + gommage : 29 €. 39, rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire (Ve). Tel : 01 43 31 18 14. www.la-mosquee.com

Hammam Medina Centre : Entry + gommage : 39 €. 43-45, rue Petit (XIX e ). Tel: 01 42 02 31 05. www.hammam-medina.com

Les Bains de Marais : Entry + gommage 70 €. 31-33 rue des Blancs Manteaux, Paris, (IVe), Tel : 0144 61 02 02 www .lesbainsdumarais.fr

Other Hammams I haven’t visited:

Hammam Pacha, 17, rue Mayet (VI e ). Entree 35 €. Tel. : 01 43 06 55 55. www.hammampacha.com

Les Bains de Saadia : Entrée + gommage : 34 €. 30, rue des Solitaires (XIXe). Tel. : 01 42 38 61 68. www.lesbainsdesaadia.com

If you liked this, you might be interested in:

• Secrets of Paris’ Top 5 Paris spas
• The low-down on French women’s real beauty secrets
• Paris by Appointment Only dishes on Paris’ best pedicurist

Written by Badaude for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Let’s be honest. Paris may be a foodie mecca, but all that amazing food isn’t a breeze to find. You have to research, ask the locals and scout out those hidden gems (far away from all the tourists). I did a lot of those aforementioned tasks and have produced my first “Paris Foods You Must Eat” list. Expect many more parts to come, but give me some time. I’ve got about two thousand photos to sort through, and many more neighborhoods to explore before I sleep, err, leave!

Growing up along the East Coast, I thought I had had the best seafood in the world. Um, that was until I tasted the scallops and oysters in Paris. Both are far sweeter here, with a lot more character and taste. The above scallops were caramelized and served on a beautiful plate with spring asparagus, carrots, beets and mache at one of my favorite restaurants in Montmartre called Le Miroir (94, rue des Martyrs, 18ème. Tel: 01 46 06 50 73. Metro: Abbesses or Pigalle.) If they are serving scallops the day you dine there, order them.

Perhaps it’s cliche but a visit to Paris would not be complete without tasting Berthillon’s famous ice cream (31 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Ile, 4ème. Tel: 01 43 54 31 61. Metro: Pont Marie). It’s delicious and so very pretty. A huge thank you to my very accommodating hand model who was accosted on the street by a crazy lady (me!).

I have indeed eaten my fair share of falafel while in Paris. Really, I’ve had no better falafel anywhere in the States. Personally, I think it’s the layering of flavors that makes each bite totally scrumptious – veggies, sauces, falafel, veggies, sauces, falafel. My favorite is directly across the street from L’As du Falafel (34, rue des Rosiers, 4ème, Metro: St. Paul), but this famous spot is delicious too.

A huge thank you to my Haven in Paris and Hip Paris colleague, Genevieve, who shared my first falafel with me. What’s that saying? You never forget your first falafel…?

Contrary to what I had heard and read, I have actually found a good espresso here and there across Paris. My favorite shots are accompanied with a little cookie, like here at Cafe des Musées (49 Rue de Turenne, 3ème, Metro: Chemin Vert, Tel: 01 42 72 96 17) or better yet, with a little square of dark chocolate like at Glou (101, rue Vieille du Temple, 18ème. Tel: 01 42 74 44 32. Metro: Saint Sebastien-Froissart or Arts et Metiers). Glou is also one of my favorite spots for lunch. It’s a tad over-priced, but I always have a great meal. I had the most amazing Belon oysters there, I swore I’d return before I fly back home. I better do that soon…

Okay, I didn’t eat this eclair myself but I had to slip this shot in from Le Miroir. It was served at lunch and one of my dining partners gladly ate the entire beautiful dessert, loaded with pineapple and caramel. It’s crusty and caramelized on top – just the way I like it.

One Sunday morning while searching St. Germain for croissants, I stumbled upon La Patisserie des Rêves (93 Rue du Bac, 6eme, Metro: Rue du Bac, Tel: 01 42 84 00 82). It’s expensive (how else do they pay for all those beautiful spotlights on each dessert?) but these little vanilla buns were delicious, dense and not too sweet. Dunk them in coffee and be very pleased with yourself.

Or, you can opt to go low-fi and do the traditional baguette with butter and jam. I probably did this way too often. But it really is just sooo good. This one is from La Terrasse des Archives (51, Rue des Archives, 3eme, Metro: 3eme, Tel : 01 42 72 17 57) in the Marais.

Cafe des Musées is good for more than just a nice little coffee. The fries were thick, salty and a little crunchy. David Lebovitz loves these frites, which compelled me to try them, and they truly are delicious. They were rivaled this past weekend by frites at Bistro Paul Bert, but I don’t have a photo of those, so these will have to do.

One of my favorite foods was happened upon at a colleague’s home. The lemon tart made by her boyfriend was so delicious, and I had to snap this quick photo of all of us grabbing final bites. All this restaurant and shop food is very special, but there’s nothing quite as special as homemade dessert, especially when it’s loaded with lemon juice.

Other Paris food fans:

• Meg Zimbeck
• Spring Paris
• Chocolate & Zucchini

Written by Maggie Battista for Eat Boutique.  Photos Courtesy of Eat Boutique. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.