A New Yorker’s Guide to Paris
a coolstuff.nyc special feature
Like some of you, we’ve started to dip our toes back into travel the past few months and most recently, we had a wine-laden trip to Paris (love to our gracious host, Sara). Being a New Yorker in a foregin country (which, frankly, means anything outside the five boroughs) isn’t easy. Here’s our petite guide for you little subway creatures.
Ps. a big thanks to 2 Sara Wynn — we wouldn’t know about half of these gems without her <3
First, a few words and phrases to know:
l'Addition
“May I have the bill? I’d like to leave within the next few days.”
Désolé
“I’m sorry” Note: While this is an abstract concept for New Yorkers, it’s an important thing to say sometimes -- even if you don’t mean it.
Combien?
“I would like to know how much this costs, and even though I am asking, I will not understand your answer.”
If you like steak frites at The Odeon, try:
Bouillon Chartier
For: a belle epoque gem with €10 steak frites and a delicious house red
Bouillon Chartier
For: a belle epoque gem with €10 steak frites and a delicious house red

If you like martini’s at JG Melon try:
Harry’s New York Bar
For: a strong drink at the most American place you’ll find in Paris that is still cool
Harry’s New York Bar
For: a strong drink at the most American place you’ll find in Paris that is still cool

If you like fresh baguettes & croissants from Balthazar, try:
Tout Autour du Pain
For: our favorite croissant in Paris (they have won many awards for the best croissant in the city)
Tout Autour du Pain
For: our favorite croissant in Paris (they have won many awards for the best croissant in the city)

If you like unique produce from Alimentari Flaneur, try:
Le Jardin des Délices Maison Azria
For: transportative strawberries and beautifully wrapped oranges
Le Jardin des Délices Maison Azria
For: transportative strawberries and beautifully wrapped oranges

If you like cocktails at Attaboy, try:
Bisou
For: a customized cocktail — just tell them what flavors you like, they’ll whip something at the bar
Bisou
For: a customized cocktail — just tell them what flavors you like, they’ll whip something at the bar

If you like a luxurious meal at Gem, try:
Septime
For: a casual and excellent 7 course meal at the #24 restaurant in the world (& #2 in Paris!)
Septime
For: a casual and excellent 7 course meal at the #24 restaurant in the world (& #2 in Paris!)

If you like browsing for bottles at Wine Therapy, try:
OCTAVE
For: Natural wines and great music in a beautifully designed store
OCTAVE
For: Natural wines and great music in a beautifully designed store

If you like specialty coffee at SEY, try:
I/O Cafe
For: the perfect cortado served al fresco near Paris’ most stylish crowd
I/O Cafe
For: the perfect cortado served al fresco near Paris’ most stylish crowd

If you like morning brekkie at Buvette, try:
Cafe de Flore
For: a popular spot with the right to be — the best scrambled eggs and bacon
Café Crème
For: The perfect café au lait and petit déjeuner
Cafe de Flore
For: a popular spot with the right to be — the best scrambled eggs and bacon
Café Crème
For: The perfect café au lait and petit déjeuner


If you like shopping for art books at Mast, try:
Ofr
For: stacks of well-designed magazines, art books & zines galore
Artzaart
For: crates of art prints that you’ll want to look through forever
Yvonne Lambert
For: probably the best art book shop in Paris
Ofr
For: stacks of well-designed magazines, art books & zines galore
Artzaart
For: crates of art prints that you’ll want to look through forever
Yvonne Lambert
For: probably the best art book shop in Paris



If you like shopping for novels (old & new) at the Strand, try:
Shakespeare & Co.
For: a historic book shop with a secret piano on the top floor
Shakespeare & Co.
For: a historic book shop with a secret piano on the top floor

If you like shopping for buttons & ribbons at M&J Trimming, try:
La Droguerie
For: walls of adornments & colorful beads (pro tip: grab some string and pick up a collection of beads to make your own jewelry in the shop!)
La Droguerie
For: walls of adornments & colorful beads (pro tip: grab some string and pick up a collection of beads to make your own jewelry in the shop!)

If you like shopping for fragrance at Le Labo, try:
Officine Universelle Buly
For: gorgeous interiors, and beautifully wrapped perfumes
Officine Universelle Buly
For: gorgeous interiors, and beautifully wrapped perfumes

If you like shopping for well-designed home goods at Coming Soon, try:
Fluex
For: not one, not two, not three nor four, but FIVE store fronts on the same street of some of the best design-y home goods
Merci
For: two levels of women’s & men’s clothing, home goods, and a little coffee shop to boot
The Conran Shop
For: gawking at Vitra furniture and everything you don’t need but also totally need
Fluex
For: not one, not two, not three nor four, but FIVE store fronts on the same street of some of the best design-y home goods
Merci
For: two levels of women’s & men’s clothing, home goods, and a little coffee shop to boot
The Conran Shop
For: gawking at Vitra furniture and everything you don’t need but also totally need



If you like shopping for paper good at Greenwich Letterpress, try:
Paper Tigre
For: notebooks made in-house, and a lovely selection of stationary
Paper Tigre
For: notebooks made in-house, and a lovely selection of stationary

If you like shopping for quirky hand-painted gifts at John Derian, try:
Marin Montagut
For: hand-made & hand-painted gifts that will make you saw awwwww
Marin Montagut
For: hand-made & hand-painted gifts that will make you saw awwwww
If you like shopping for well-curated packaged food & kitchen ware at Eataly, try:
La Grande Epicerie
For: colorful pasta, gorgeous steak knives & bags and bags of pretty packaged chocolates
La Grande Epicerie
For: colorful pasta, gorgeous steak knives & bags and bags of pretty packaged chocolates

If you like spending a day at the MoMA, try:
Musee d’art Moderne
For: the most low-key museum in Paris, with some of the best Modern Art
The Pompidou
For: Matisse & Kandinsky & rooms of modern-day installation art
Musee d’art Moderne
For: the most low-key museum in Paris, with some of the best Modern Art
The Pompidou
For: Matisse & Kandinsky & rooms of modern-day installation art

