Spring is a lovely time to visit Paris and thanks for Bank Holidays! Not too long and not too short just enough time to get over the channel for a well overdue visit. Having visited many time before this trip was about enjoying Paris like the Parisians relaxing and just walk leisurely around and walk we did!I However, this adventure started with a bit of work beforehand.
There’s something magical about Paris. I always wanted to live there, but somehow that hasn’t happen… yet! I arrived on Thursday night and I got lost going to a business meeting on Friday morning. If that happened to me in London I would be completely beside myself, but in Paris it didn’t seem to matter… Getting lost around Canal Saint Martin… it’s a 4.5 km long canal that connects the Canal de l’Ourcq to the river Seine and runs underground between Bastille and République. It was the backdrop for the film “Amélie”, a bohemian neighbourhood that’s been slowly gentrified. The nightlife is lively, it’s the place to see and be seen.
My first meeting took me to Holybelly a small and hip cafe I came across on Instagram. Excellent coffee while waiting for my client and a good chat by the door with a lovely Parisian man who gave me some tips of other cafes to go in Paris. The service, well it was okay, if I am complete honest I was disappointed with the attitude. The place was busy, I understand, but asking your customers to wait by the door when there was space to sit, put me off. As soon as my Parisian client arrived we moved on to another place, unfortunately we didn’t want to stay for food. Good coffee though… and wifi!
Holybelly
19 Rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010
Walking a bit more… we were back by the Saint Martin Canal. We arrived at Chez Prune, a true bohemian Parisian cafe, bar, restaurant still keeping the original deco and atmosphere. We had an adequate red wine and massive steak au poivre, good portions, total bill EU$ 40.00, moderate priced and nice food. Service with a smile. I was told the place is good stop in the evening for drinks a quick bite and then move on to the lively nightlife in the area. Recommended.
Chez Prune
36,rue Beaurepaire, 75010
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| lunch time in Paris |
After that on the way to the next meeting I stopped at The Craft for a post-lunch coffee. My Parisian friend recommended this place. A small, modern deco and well formed cafe near by Chez Prune. and Holybelly. It’s essentially a really cool Internet cafe, behind the bar there’s a long station where creative freelancers come to work. Delicious coffee and service. They sell cakes, sandwiches, pastries and wifi.
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| it’s a modern world… |
The Craft
24 rue des Vinaigriers
75010 Paris
By now I was springing along the streets, fuelled by coffee. My next meeting took place at my other client’s offices in Saint Maur. After that I went to La Bague de Kenza just across the road. I had an Algerian fresh mint tea and a delicious almond pastry in this informal tea house with a takeaway deli next door. They have other branches around Paris. Bill came to EU$9. The shear amount of savouries and sweet pastries to choose from it’s mind boggling. They all looked amazing…
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| fresh mint tea and pastry |
La Bague de Kenza
106, Saint Maur
Paris
Now that all the meetings were out the way it was time to walk around Paris. I headed to
Rue Montorgueil – a foodie paradise in the 1st and 2nd arrondissement, full of eateries, food related shops, delis, restaurants and cafes. I always want to go and I finally had a chance. Metro: Saint Denis and Les Halles . Here are some of the highlights, there are too many and so little time…
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| très chic tea shop |
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| La Fromagerie – I bought a box with 18 different cheeses – best purchase ever! |
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| beautiful flowers |
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| Eric Kaiser – artisan baker, fantastic cakes and pastries |
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| Ice cream time, dark chocolate, velvety and intense at Delizie Follie |
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| The oldest artisan chocolaterie in Paris |
Moving on to another good taste foodie paradise: Le Grand Epicerie Magazin, located at the ground floor of Le Bon Marché, Paris’s oldest department store, where its bakery, patisserie, butcher’s, charcuterie and cheese sections are divided by countries and some by brand. In my view it’s a very chic whole foods – Fabulous! highly recommended.
Le Grand Epicerie Magazin
38 Rue de Sèvres, 75007
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| Le Grand Epicerie Magazin Just before heading home… a little indulgency at the InterContinental Le Grand 2 Rue Scribe, 75009 – metro: Opera a glass of champagne in luxurious surroundings a great way to relax after a busy day 
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Now was time to head home in Saint Maur, where I was staying and plan the next day…
