Best Books on Paris

 Paris, it could be argued, is the one literary genre that will never go out of style. From cookbooks to personal memoirs, guidebooks to historical surveys, if it’s got Paris in the title, you can be sure it has an audience. But having a book about, or set in, Paris doesn’t mean it is destined for greatness. Of the many books published on the subject, only a few will stand the test of time.

Mardi Michels – Kyla Zanardi

The year 2018 was a banner année for Paris inspired texts, with first-time and seasoned authors releasing new books that we are sure you’ll want to return to over and over again. Here are our favorite picks for the 2018 class of books that are dedicated to Douce France and perfect for the Francophile on your Christmas list: 

L’Appart: The Delights and Disasters of Making My Paris Home by David Lebovitz

Paris-based author David Lebovitz’s eighth book, L’Appart: The Delights and Disasters of Making My Paris Home, is not a cookbook though it does contain a few recipes for disaster. Taking on the Sisyphean task of home renovations in Paris, the acclaimed chef and author shares his story of becoming a homeowner in Paris, with all its pitfalls and small victories. Combining humor with the maddening frustrations of trying to get something done in France, Lebovitz creates a world that we both want to live in and also hide under our sheets from. In one word: Paris.

Rebekah Peppler

Apéritif: Cocktail Hour the French Way by Rebekah Peppler

Paris-based food stylist Rebekah Peppler can now add author to her resumé following the publication of her first book, Apéritif: Cocktail Hour the French Way. Combining cultural analysis with cocktail recipes, Peppler introduces readers to the art of the French aperitif, the pre-dinner time set aside for drinks and snacks.

Rebekah Peppler

With over 100 recipes for finger foods and adult beverages, Peppler’s book is both practical and ready to party. The accessible recipes are suitable for any level of home cook or bartender, and they will inspire you to dust off that bottle of Suze that you never knew what to do with! 

Mardi Michels – Kyla Zanardi

In the French Kitchen with Kids: Easy, Everyday Dishes for the Whole Family to Make and Enjoy by Mardi Michels

Younger chefs and their parents will delight in the chance to take on French cooking as a family. Mardi Michels, who has been teaching French cooking to children for nearly a decade, is the perfect chef to convince the reader that seemingly complex recipes are as simple as ABC.

Mardi Michels – Kyla Zanardi

Focusing on creating fun meals for kids using classic French techniques, In the French Kitchen with Kids inspires educational moments of exchange and collaboration in the kitchen. This book makes a perfect gift for the holiday season, when it always seems like a good time to make a batch of cookies.

Clotilde Dusoulier – Nicole Franzen

Tasting Paris: 100 Recipes to Eat Like a Local by Clotilde Dusoulier

Veteran cookbook author Clotilde Dusoulier takes on the flavors of Paris in her sixth book Tasting Paris: 100 Recipes to Eat Like a Local. Combining French classics (croque madame, chausson aux pomme) with influences from abroad (Turkish lamb flatbreads, Armenian byoreks), Clotilde paints a picture of modern-day Paris, in all its gastronomic glory.

Clotilde Dusoulier – Nicole Franzen

The book also provides a brief history of Parisian cuisine as well as profiles on the people and places dictating local Parisian cuisine. The book, which was clearly written by a local who loves her city, is a perfect gift for those who want to blend in, and binge eat, while visiting the French capital.

Clotilde Dusoulier – Nicole Franzen

Paris in Stride: An Insider’s Walking Guide by Jessie Kanelos Weiner and Sarah Moroz

Jessie Kanelos Weiner

Paris in Stride is just like a stroll in Paris: beautiful, poetic, and full of surprises. Author-illustrator Jessie Kanelos Weiner and co-author, Sarah Moroz, have put together the ultimate guide to getting off the beaten path, and hitting your stride, in Paris. From Central Paris to the outskirts of the city, this information-packed book illustrated with Jessie’s dreamy watercolors will take you from the rue de Rivoli to the winding streets of Belleville.

Jessie Kanelos Weiner

First-time visitors will delight in discovering the city using this guide, and longtime Parisians will surely learn something new about their city while flipping through its pages. Insider knowledge combined with attention to what makes Paris iconic results in the perfect book for those who live in Paris, and those who wish they did.

Jessie Kanelos Weiner

Related links

• Read more about the spots in Paris that inspire Jessie Kanelos Weiner and spark her creativity.
• Looking for more gift ideas? Check out our picks of the best French clean beauty products.
• Read about how to have a unique Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Paris.

Written by Emily Dilling for HiP Paris. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, Tuscany, Umbria or Liguria? Check out Haven In. Mention the code: HiPParis18 for special deals and a bottle of champagne with every booking for all HiP Paris readers!