Who dosen’t daydream about Parisian rooftops, walks along the Seine and starting each day with a croissant avec beurre et confiture? 🥐 Recently, I spent 7 days in this beautiful capital and despite the heatwave, it all felt as if I was walking on pink clouds the entire trip; Apricot & pistachio tarts, milky sunsets, new slip dresses and escaping the heat under some tall trees by the lake. I’ve now curated a list, featuring some of the best veggie spots, vintage spots and dreamy sports in the city - for those of you who are lucky enough to be mapping out an upcoming trip or are fantasizing about it, like me…

Favorite spots to eat

➖For that parisienne feel: Café de Flore. This café first opened its doors in the 1880’s, making it one of the oldest coffee houses in Paris. Since then, a number of famous writers and philosophers have sat down by the forest green tables and sipped their classic cup of coffee. Although the prices are a bit stiff, it’s worth a visit (or two). You’ll find french treats like flaky croissants and pain au chocolat, as well as fresh lemon juice and their signature Flore hot chocolate. Our waiter promised us the best hot chocolate in Paris, and he was certainly not wrong. If I managed to drink a hot beverage during the Paris heatwave, you know if had to be something special about it.

➖For drinks and sweets: Cafe des Deux Moulins. Alexa, que “La Valse d’Amélie” please… If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably watched Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain a hundred times already. But did you know that you can actually visit the small café, where Amélie works as a waiter in the film? If you want to stop for some refreshments or sweets, like crêpe and french toast, while enjoying a part of french cinematic history, this is the spot for you. And in true Amélie spirit, you can order créme brûlée and enjoy cracking the top layer with a teaspoon.

➖For lunch: Madarine & Capucine. This concept store has an all vegan menu, and offers homemade candles, tea, green plants and bouquets of dried flowers. It’s the cutest little café, tucked away between a few fashion boutiques. The food was one of a kind, with rouleaux de printemps with mint and strawberry, and green smoothies of the day.

➖For dinner: PNY burger. A burger spot with some delicious veggie options, that they seem to have put a lot of thought into. Too often I find myself in a non-vegan restaurant with some non-vegan friends, and have to pick the only vegan thing on the menu, where it truly seems like the chef just thought - vegan = whatever vegetables you can find. But if you’re craving something tasty and salty Paris New York burger is perfect, whether you want takeaway or enjoy the meal in their restaurant. It was actually first recommended to us from our Airbnb host, which said that their burgers was her go-to.

➖For a low-cost dinner: Chez Nanchang. A tiny restaurant with authentic Chinese food. Rich flavors and good value for your money. Also works as a good spot to grab some quick lunch.

Favorite spots to shop

➖Vanves flea market. Vanves flea market is a true gem. It’s one of the lesser known marché aux puces in the city, meaning that you avoid larger crowds of tourists and pickpockets. At the same time, Paris is bigger than most city, which means that you’ll still find yourself in the midst of a large market, surrounded with tonnes of antiques and other treasures, from porcelain figures to an antique vinyl player.

➖Miista. Absolutely beautiful and sustainable heels and sandals, in gorgeous colors and unique styles. All handmade in Spain. Purchasing shoes online is always risky, and Paris is one of the few cities where you can actually try on their shoes before you buy them! The only downside is that you might fall in love with just too many pairs (and your wallet will not appreciate it).

➖Mad vintage. One of my absolute favorites, making it perfect that they have several locations around the city - each with a slight variation in “style and vibe”. They offer a truly great selection of hight quality vintage and interesting design.

➖Episode vintage. Lots of lovely vintage and second-hand to lovely prices. It’s hard to find the way out of the store when you discover something new and pretty everywhere you look. I was on my way to the checkout 3 times before I was actually ready to leave this vintage paradise. Bonus points for the adorable pink and floral chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Hit me up please if you’re in the market for selling something similar;)

➖Kilo shop. You might have to spend a bit more time searching for the perfect pieces, but when you find them, it will be worth it. A hot pink beret, black Levis, a 70’s sheer blouse… You just have to be willing to have some dedication and maybe not put this shop as the last thing on your to-do list for the day. You need some energy and some time, but you will not regret it in the end.

Museums

➖Musée d’Orsay. Located in the former Gare d’Orsay, a railway station built between 1898 and 1900, this museum is something you just can’t miss. You’ll discover an abundance of mainly French art from the same time line, including the largest collection of impressionist paintings in the world. Monet, Renoir, Gaugain, Van Gogh, the list goes on… Right now, they also have an exhibition which is called “Reframing the Black Model”, where you get to learn about the history of black models and artists throughout history. This is a part of our art history (and present) that is very much under-represented, and therefore I believe that anyone could learn something new and useful from this exhibition.

➖Le palais de Versailles. If you can handle standing in line (imagine the longest line possible, now double it - and well, that still doesn’t cover the line to entering Versailles), you’ll discover so much beauty: tall paintings, a garden that looks like the labyrinth in a fairytale, golden statues and hundreds of chandeliers. I certainly don’t regret my visit, but I will say that you should come prepared. If it’s supposed to be scorching sun, put on sunscreen with a high factor and bring an umbrella or a fan. The line is on the outside of the building and you want to avoid getting sunburnt in the process. Arriving early will spare you of some waiting, but regardless, you should be prepared to not only butter yourself with sunscreen but also a heavy layer of patience.

➖Musée de l'Orangerie. Ever wondered where you can find Monet’s eight large oil-on-canvas murals “The Water Lilies - The Clouds”? Well, you’ve guessed it. In this art gallery filled with works by Matisse, Rousseau and Picasso you will find this famous beauty being displayed in two oval rooms. What makes the experience even better is the fact that the museum used to be an orangerie.

➖Le palais de Tokyo. Paris is full of history and famous art, but to explore more temporary art, Le palais de Tokyo is the place to go. Tip: The museum also has its own magazine names Palais / which features articles based on a new central artistic theme for each edition.

Parks

➖To relax in the grass: Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. Bring your lunch and a bottle of wine and simply sit in the grass and enjoy the view for a while. Perfect place to catch a breath in the middle of a busy city.

➖For the architecture: Le jardin du Luxembourg. A park that will wow you with all it’s beautiful architecture and sculptures - in many ways acting as a free outdoor museum. However, if you are looking for a place to lay down in the grass for an afternoon nap, you might want to reconsider, as many of the grass areas are not accessible. There are some chairs and benches + a cute café located inside the park, but know that it will probably get a bit crowded on the few patches of grass where you’re allowed to sit down.

Areas

➖ For shopping: Les Halles. Great shopping area for vintage and concept stores. You’ll find several of the shops mentioned above by simply walking around this area.

➖To live: Charonne. A more quiet part of Paris that is still quite central for pretty much any part of the city. You’ll also find some great restaurants and bars in the area, but it’s not as busy as other parts of Paris.

➖For fun: 6th arrondissement. A very central part of Paris. Here you’ll find Café de Flore, Jardin du Luxembourg and the Louvre are all just a bus-stop away. Lot’s of interesting restaurants and stores in the area. Definitely worth setting off some time to explore the area.

Other/ Touristy

➖Galeries Lafayette.

➖Notre Dame. See the ongoing reconstruction of the cathedral while sipping on soda on the Seine.

➖Cimetière du Père Lachaise.

➖Printemps Rooftop café.

➖The pride parade. This is only a once-a-year kind of thing, but if you’re visiting Paris in June, make sure to check out if the Pride parade is scheduled while you’re there. Do some research before you leave and maybe you’ll find another event to take part in, like a yoga festival or a concert you like?

➖Montmartre art market.

A piece of: Paris, France