A Day in Paris
I/O Coffee
What better way to start than with specialty coffee? I/O is a tiny shop with limited seating. This is truly a specialty shop and most of their menu is coffee-focused. We got takeout since we had a late start due to Paris traffic. Michael got a dry cappuccino and I got a bottle of kombucha which was exceptionally fermented. It was the strongest kombucha I’ve had.
The French Bastards
Our first stop of the day was Pink Mamma in the 9th district. As we were waiting for Pink Mamma to open we were so hungry, so we decided to walk around and find a bakery to snack on some bread. We stumbled across The French Bastards. We were very intrigued by the name so we decided to check it out.
The inside looked immaculate and the pastries were so hard to choose from. After some careful decisions, we got the pain au chocolat and a walnut brownie. Yes, it’s France so of course the croissants are the best BUT the brownie was perfect. We didn’t know then but this bakery is popular on social media and we were happy to have had an unplanned visit.
Pink Mamma
This Italian restaurant branch is very famous not only for its food but its insta-perfect interior. They have four floors which have different unique layouts and designs. The top floor is the most popular as it’s draped in beautiful greenery.
If you would like to sit on the top floor you have to make a reservation, which can be done up to 3 months in advance. We tried to reserve the top floor but they sold out immediately. Instead, we lined up 45 minutes before opening time because they accept walk-ins, just not to the top floor. Since we were there early we got in quickly but the line grew by the time we left so plan accordingly.
We ordered their iconic truffle pasta and a salad. The pasta was delicious but it didn’t blow my mind. I recommend Pink Mamma, the food was great and the staff was quite kind. However, the top floor is what carries the restaurant in my opinion.
The Louvre
I have been to the Louvre once when I was younger, but at that time I did not have an appreciation for art as I do today. I was really excited to visit again and share the memory with Michael. We reserved our tickets two months in advance because we didn’t want the possibility of it being sold out. We didn’t have a strategy for what we wanted to see so we went straight for the Mona Lisa to enjoy the rest of the museum leisurely.
The Mona Lisa is very good of course, it’s the most famous painting in the world. All of the paintings were great and we loved every area. What feels so special about the Louvre is just how grand and majestic the galleries are. The vaulted ceilings, Renaissance architecture, and intricate details covering every surface really help it live up to the hype.
Paris is just a city of course, and in many ways, it doesn’t meet the impossible standard of beauty many foreigners hold it up to. But the Louvre is one place where you can truly get lost in the romantic magic of Paris.
Michaels Thoughts:
When I was an art student in college I didn’t think I’d ever get to see the Louvre. It happens that one of my favorite pieces of all time, Pandemonium by John Martin, resides here. I love Martin’s ability to create scenes of such inconceivable scale and grandeur. It was amazing to get to see some of my favorite art in person.
We spent around 2 hours looking at as many iconic works as we could. Sadly we didn’t have the time to explore as much as we wanted to. I can’t help but think about Beyoncé’s Apeshit music video which was filmed here. If you are an art lover this can easily be a full-day experience.
Eiffel Tower
Of course, a trip to Paris has to include the famous Eiffel Tower. We decided to visit from two viewpoints. The first one was recommended by our friend, a small street called Rue De L’université where you see a great view of the tower from the side. Luckily when we were there, there weren’t many cars or people. We got the most picturesque photos here because there was no crowd.
We decided to walk towards the front of the tower to get a closer look. Since it was September it was not tourist season, so there weren’t many people. The romantic thought of Paris, my love, and the Eiffel Tower made it the perfect moment. I wish the lawn were green, but I’m sure this will be updated with the upcoming Olympic games.
Ladurée
I didn’t like macarons until I lived in Korea. Maybe I haven’t been to the right places, but America doesn’t seem to know how to make them. After some research, I decided to go to the famous chain Ladurée. We went to the main location but the building was under construction, so they had an outdoor shop which was still beautiful.
There were so many unique flavors and vivid colors it was difficult to choose. We only got 6 macarons as they are pricey, but there wasn’t a flavor we didn’t like. Ladurée is more tourist-focused, so while they might not be the best macarons in the world they were by far the best we have ever had.
This is the last thing we did before the sun went down. As we walked out, we were surprised to see the Arc de Triomphe gracefully towering over the distance. We didn’t think we would have time to see it today, so we were happy to have this beautiful view.
Polidor
I wanted to get some authentic French cuisine before we left Paris. We came across Polidor, this restaurant has been open since 1845. It is one of the oldest bistros in Paris. I ordered the beef bourguignon, one of France’s famous dishes. I remember watching the movie Julie & Julia years ago and seeing that famous dish, knowing one day I would try the real deal. The beef was so soft and melted in my mouth, and anything with potatoes is my best friend.
I recommend making a reservation if you can. We didn’t because we didn’t know if we would have time to eat there, but we were lucky to get a seat. It was the loudest restaurant we had ever been to, people were screaming the entire time. But the energy was so high we had such a great time, the waiter was amazing as well. If you are sensitive to noise this isn’t the place for you, but it was the perfect place to end our day trip.
Final Thoughts
So, is Paris truly the city of love? Well, we certainly loved our day there. Only one day isn’t enough, but we’re so glad we got to see some of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. Hopefully, we will be able to spend more time one day, but even so, we had a day to remember.
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