Paris

Listen, everyone and their mom has been to Paris - I know, because I just went with my mom.

I invited myself and my boyfriend on my parent’s romantic Thanksgiving getaway to Paris because tbh flights and hotels were super affordable from New York. Late fall/winter isn’t exactly the best time weather-wise to go, so that worked in our favor, plus we were flying ON Thanksgiving day, when most Americans are already at their destination for the big meal. So we flew into Charles de Gaulle (aka Roissy), grabbed a ticket for the train, and headed into the city on Thanksgiving day.

Both my parents and us stayed in the Saint Germain neighborhood which ended up being perfect - close enough to Notre Dame to be in the thick of it, but a few blocks deep enough to be surprisingly untouristy. We both stayed at smaller hotels but of course my parent’s blew ours out of the water. Nonetheless, Hôtel Agora Paris Saint Germain was pleasant (and cheap) enough for our needs - tiny tiny rooms, but friendly staff, clean, and in a great location. If you’re looking to go a lil more bougie, my parents were at the close by Hotel Monge which, admittedly, was several steps up from ours.

After a much needed nap (red eyes only get harder when you get older apparently), we hit up some of the sights since this was the bae’s first time in Paris.

The Layette Gallery.

Shakespeare & Company.

View walking down Avenue Montaigne.

The trip was a bit of a whirlwind-long-weekend situation, full of a lot of sightseeing, a lot of food, and a loooot of wine. But a few things stood out as definite contenders to repeat when I’m back.

We hit up Chez Alain Miam Miam for lunch one day and I’m not being dramatic when I say I had the best sandwich I’ve ever had in my entire life - fresh bread (it is Paris after all), insane layers of cheese, meats, avocado, lettuce, and general deliciousness. There’s a location in the market that’s gotten super popular, but we went into the storefront right around the corner and there was no wait for lunch. Do yourself a favor, get one of these sandwiches. The crepe was also amazing if that’s more your jam.

That same night we were wandering down Champs-Élysées then around the corner down the bougie Sex In The City-esq Avenue Montaigne when my mom stumbled upon a sign for a rooftop bar (my mom just really loves rooftop bars) at La Maison Blanche. We decided to check it out and hooooly crap was it the perfect view. They have a rooftop patio that has an unobscured view of the Eiffel Tower in all its sparkling glory. And because it was freezing, we had it to ourselves. That view, plus an overpriced bottle of champagne, made for a memorable night.

Sandwich and crepe from Miam Miam.

My parent’s balcony at Hotel Monge (I know, I’m just fake stuntin’).

View from La Maison de Blanche.

Some other amazing eats included homemade pasta at Le Jardin des Pâtes and some insane braised pig at La Table de Genevieve. If you ask anyone for recommendations in Paris, it will most likely come in the form of food, so feel free to add these to your list if you feel so moved. Definitely try and make reservations when you can - restaurants fill up pretty quick, especially on the weekends, and the staff at the front desk of the hotel were super helpful with this since none of our French were exactly fluent.

Since my parents and I have been to Paris before, we also took a day trip to Luxembourg to see something new - I wrote about that mini trip in a separate post. And if you’re planning your first trip to Paris, don’t you dare skip the Louvre. It’s one of the most incredible and iconic art museums in the world, and one of my personal favorites (and I’ve been to my fair share). Plus, you can watch Beyoncé and Jay Z’s Apeshit video and reenact it.

Ladurée macaroons

Dinner at La Table de Genevieve.

We spent our last few hours of our extended Thanksgiving weekend wandering around and eating, making a stop at the v cute Shakespeare and Company, and taking pics before Ubering to Orly airport to catch our flight. If you can avoid it, don’t fly through Orly - they were the first airport in years that actually stopped my toiletry bag and made me put everything in plastic bags. Plus it’s so tiny that it gets overly crowded, yet there isn’t a lot in terms of restaurants or shops.

Aside from Orly apparently, the rest of Paris is romanticized and beloved for a reason. If you’re planning a trip there for the first time or going back for more, really the best advice I can give you is to slow down. It’s wildly charming and picturesque, and some of the best moments I had there was just walking by the river or grabbing a coffee in a cafe. You’ll quickly realize what all those cheesy print with quotes overlaid onto pictures of Paris monuments were talking about.

Drop some of your favorite things about Paris or any questions you have in the comments!