The WMG Bride Guide To: Honeymooning in Paris!
BY The WMG Bride | 11 Oct, 2017 | 1178 views | 8 min read
Call it the city of magic or whimsical charm, Paris might be clichéd but it will forever be the ultimate honeymoon destination of hopeless romantics. With a gorgeous mix of architectural marvels, vintage museums, cafes and bistros, art galleries and more – Paris is a lifetime of an experience, and even more so when you are doing Paris with your beloved one. Let’s explore.
Where to stay:
Budget hotel (less than USD 150/night): Belambra City – Magendie
Belambra City Magendie
This property is just stone-throw away from the celebrated Rue Mouffetard. Moreover, it is two minutes away from the Corvisart metro station. Now, this boutique hotel has a gorgeous terrace, perfect for photo ops! Get breakfast and WiFi included in your package and keep those social media posts coming. The décor is minimalistic, food is great and the best part is that – it is centrally located. If you are planning on renting a car to tour the city, you can have free parking in this hotel too. P.S – popular tourist spots like the Louvre Museum and Opéra Garnier are pretty close by. Park yourselves here, while you indulge in the beauty of Paris’ ancient buildings, breath-taking cathedrals and art and culture in general.
Address: 6 rue Corvisart, 13th arr., 75013 Paris, France
Cost: Around USD 105 per night and upwards.
Mid-range hotel (less than USD 300/night): Hotel Westminster
Hotel Westminster
Located in the heart of Paris, Hotel Westminster sits between Opera and the Place Vendome. Be it vintage feels, antique furnishing or the indulgent massages – this property surely knows how to make honeymooners’ time worthwhile. The hotel is filled with classic artwork, vintage clocks, marble fireplaces and more. The rustic vibe coupled with gourmet eating makes this place a perfect choice! Also, this hotel is just 160 meters away from Opera metro station. So, public transport from here is damn easy. Hop on a train to visit legendary spots like the Eiffel Tower, Bastille and more in a jiffy. Additionally, this hotel is located amidst Paris’ best shopping avenues. Yes, we are talking about big brands here - Hermès, Chanel, Cartier and the likes.
Address: 13, Rue De La Paix, 2nd arr., 75002 Paris, France
Cost: USD 279 per night upwards
Splurge hotels (less than USD 500/night): Residence Charles Floquet
Residence Charles Floquet
Guess what! This hotel is just 50 meters away from the Eiffel Tower. Yes, you can sit in your room and click selfies with the Eiffel Tower in the backdrop! Also, the Army Museum is just 15-20 minutes’ walk away! This property is set in a grand historic building. We are talking about romantic fireplaces, cute balconies attached with the rooms, high ceilings, and uber elegant décor. In fact, they also provide independent, fully-equipped kitchens for guests who like to quip their own meals. Lastly, they provide the most stunning breakfast kits in the mornings. These consists of freshly baked breads, some French pastries, fruit juices and milk!
Address: 8 avenue Charles Floquet, 7th arr., 75007 Paris, France
Cost: USD 435 per night upwards
Quirky Hotels:
Hotel Du Petit Moulin designed by Christian Lacroix
Vice Versa Hotel that is themed on the 7 deadly sins and comes with a cupcake-shaped bed
Where to eat:
Budget restaurant under USD30:
Bouillon Chartier
Also, loving known as just Chartier, this restaurant was opened in 1896. And ever since then Chartier has been a crowd puller for its classy turn-of-the-century dining room, super friendly staff and, most importantly, the low-priced fare. This restaurant can host 300 people at one point in time. Sounds majestic, doesn’t it? The menu has some traditional classics like beef bourguignon, sauerkraut, sea bream and more. Side dishes can cost you less than 3 dollars! And the main course can range between USD 8 to 10. This is one of the most popular eateries amongst locals and tourists.
Address: 7 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris, France
Timings: 11:30 AM to 12 AM
Phone: +33 1 47 70 86 29
Best brunch spot
Image Courtesy: HiP Paris Blog
Like gourmet style on sunshine Sundays? Head to Ellsworth then. From buckwheat waffles to pancakes soaked in maple syrup, and from bake potatoes with cheddar cheese to traditional fried chicken – Ellsworth likes to keep its brunch humble and tasty!
Address: 34 Rue de Richelieu, 75001 Paris, France
Timings: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM and 7 PM to 10:30 PM
Phone: +33 1 42 60 59 66
Best fine dining place
Image Courtesy: sf.mariefranceasia.com
If you desire to experience an authentic French fine dining experience, this is where you should go. People say, the dining experience at this restaurant’s celebrated ‘secret garden’ patio is priceless. Antique opulence is the undertone of this restaurant. Call for some fine wine and go for the set dinner menu. It consists of a non-veg main course (meat or fish, you can choose), a lobster for a starter if you are lucky, and scrumptious desserts for your sweet tooth.
Address: 9 Bis Avenue D'Iéna, 75116 Paris, France
Timings: 12 PM to 2 PM and 7 PM to 9 PM
Phone: +33 1 40 69 27 53
Best bar to hang out
The Experimental Cocktail Club
Image Courtesy: timeout.com
Also, known as ECC, this place is all about original cocktails. Expect live DJs, dancing and good vibes only. This place has a very plush appeal. Think of dark and intimate feels; a secret place down an inconspicuous alleyway; and lavish velvet curtains guarding the place against snooping eyes, while super talented mixologists whip up magic on the bar table.
Address: 37 Rue Saint-Sauveur, 75002 Paris, France
Timings: 7 PM and 4 AM
Phone: +33 1 45 08 88 09
What to do in Paris:
Adventure
See Paris the local way. Get a personalized bike tour with a local guide. Be it night or day, you can set out your preferences and a customized route map will be created for you. Link here.
Entertainment
La Bellevilloise Arts Center hosts amazing gigs, music concerts, theatre performances, poetry reading sessions, dance workshops and more. They also have a very cool café beneath 100-year old olive trees. Did anyone say Sunday brunches? Yes, that’s right! Also, brunch here is often complemented by live jazz performances.
Culture
Image Courtesy: myartguides.com
Set in Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris, this art gallery is often overlooked. Modus Art Gallery defines its concept as an indication point for both contemporary and traditional art in the Marais region. This art gallery houses standalone, unique artworks portraying an array of mixed media, styles, and talents.
Address: Modus Art Gallery, 23 Place des Vosges, Paris, France
Contact: +33 1 42 78 10 10
Relax
Image Courtesy: europeantrips.org
If your idea of relaxation means cuddling up in a cozy bookstore then head to Shakespeare and Company. Often labeled and lovingly associated with the so-called ‘lost generation’, Shakespeare and Company has been intellectually stimulating senses of book lovers since 1920s. Situated in the 5th arrondissement, it has a cute café next door. Walk inside the bookstore and blend with the maze of book passages, bays and reading rooms coupled with countless secret spots perfect for finding your own reading area.
Address: Shakespeare and Company, 37 rue de la Bûcherie, 75005, Paris
Cool Shopping
Image Courtesy: theculturetrip.com
A trip to Paris is incomplete without shopping at a vintage store. And this particular shop is not just any regular vintage clothing store. As the name suggests, the Kilo Shop works on a simple concept. You gather your picks, weigh them and buy them! Anything and everything in the store, be it a pair of jeans, jewellery, fur coats, silk blouses, and more; you name it and they got it! Everything in the store in colour coded according to its worth, and the final bill is a totality of the weight of the items each colour group. Sounds fun? We bet!
Address: Kilo Shop, 125 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris, France
Timings: Open Monday to Saturday from 11:00 AM to 7:45 PM, and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 7:45 PM.
Cool Group activity to do
Jim Haynes, the travel book writer has been hosting a Sunday buffet-style dinner at his atelier. You can call/book a spot and everything is a first-come, first-served basis and he hosts around 60 people at a time. Best thing is that it's free and comes with a touch of culture. You can email to be part of the secret dinner here at jim_haynes@wanadoo.fr or www.jimhaynes.com. He's known as Paris' best-kept secret, y'know.
Secret Spot To Go
If you are an art lover, we bet all the famous art galleries are already part of your honeymoon itinerary. However, why don’t you take a step away from the clichéd and walk the lesser known path to see a more extremist art scene in Paris? Head to 59 Rivoli. This place has been an artists’ squat since the glorious 1800s.
Love-dove thing to do
Visit the Le Mur Des Je T'Aime. Also known as the "I Love You Wall" that has "I love you" written in 311 languages and is a tribute to, love!
Memorable keepsake for honeymooners
Mark your own honeymoon moment by creating your own perfume at the Le Studio Des Parfums located on a quiet street in Le Marais. At the store, the scent counselors initiate you into the fold and you can choose from 150 different notes and you can even choose a name.
Duration: 2 hours; Cost: 140 Euros; Address: 23, Rue du Bourg Tibourg, 75004, Paris.
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