How to Spend Three Days in Paris, According to a Local

You can get some great coffee and fresh seasonal pastries from this small shop owned by a Japanese couple. I always go for the orange-ricotta pancake and a matcha latte—you can even get a bento box to go, freshly made each day.

Settle in for a farmer’s market-sourced seasonal lunch in a place much loved by locals. The meal reveals itself in three courses: an entrée, a side, and a dessert that changes every day. I still remember a vibrant chorizo, fish, and beans dish I once had here.

Here, you’ll find classic French comfort food done right—exactly what you want for dinner. It holds very true to the French bistrot aesthetic, from the zinc bar to the Parisian bistro tables. The space is small and intimate, but I’ll cross all of Paris to eat their homemade cordon bleu.

This inviting spot has great natural wines by the glass or bottle—I like to go for the Alsace wines, or any option they might have from Jura.

You’ll find the best croissants in Paris, among other great pastries. My go-to? The famous buckwheat and chocolate cookies.

This is one of my favorite spots to wander, breathe, and see Paris from a different angle. I like to walk through in the morning or at sunset, since you get an elevated view of all of Paris.

This effortlessly cool spot changes its lunch menu every day. Diners are surrounded by mirrored walls, and the bar is one of the best seats in the house. The wine list is great, but try the Vermouth cocktail. Food-wise, the menu is influenced by Basque dishes.

JJ Hings is my favorite stop for seasonal ice creams by the Canal St Martin. (My favorites are the sweet corn soft serve or the peach sorbet.) Once you’ve secured your cone, take a walk around the Canal St Martin—you can stroll all the way up to the 19th arrondissement. There are lots of terraces and cafés all along the path, but I recommend taking a break to lie down on the grass at Jardin Villemin or even play a round of ping pong at the public table. There are also cute shops on the Rue de Marseille.

Expect bold, comforting flavors with a punk twist that always deliver unexpected food. The food? Very acidic and spicy, which is rare to find in Paris—we generally cook more rounded flavors. You can also get a shot of margarita with a spicy oyster to kick things off. The music is fun, it has a boisterous vibe, and the staff is super friendly.

This is the perfect way to end the day. There are around 30 seats, you can be at the counter or in the back of the bar. My favorite drink is an orange blossom concoction with rum and milk.

You can grab a true Japanese matcha here, and make sure to pair it with one of the pistachio and chestnut flour cookies. They also make fresh daifuku and mochi—I love getting a strawberry one in the summer.

Head to this spot for one thing: paté en croûte (pâté encompassed in a layer of crusty dough). It’s a great souvenir for your foodie friends, as it was a staple of medieval cuisine in France.

A classic Parisian institution, this is where French President Jacques Chirac would eat—and that’s only the beginning of its guest list (Jean Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Hemingway…). It’s a very famous spot, much in part because of the “garçons de service” in uniform. I like to order Tartare and fries.

This shop is full of beautiful ceramics, made in the heart of Paris for 30 years. Astier de Villatte is a Paris-based brand known for its handmade ceramic tableware, and each piece is crafted using traditional techniques in a small workshop. You’ll also find a curated range of home fragrances, stationery, and objects inspired by art, travel, and French heritage.

Korean fine dining is the headline here. I fell in love with the crab tteok-bokki—they make wood-fired rice cakes with steamed crab meat and crab head sauce, topped with fermented chili paste. Go for the five-course menu if you’re looking for something special.

If cocktails in low-lit rooms are your speed, you’ll linger here late into the night. Cravan is also a cultural space. Blending mixology, design, and publishing—it curates its own magazine dedicated to cocktail culture.