Mighty Oaks from Acorns

Louis Vuitton logo on dark background.

From whalebone corsets and horse harnesses, and from steamer trunks and ballet slippers, some of today’s most renowned names in fashion and accessories started as small artisan shops. Here is an inside look at how they bloomed into the household names we know today. CADOLLE – REPETTO – HERMÈS – CHANEL – LOUIS VUITTON The…

Read More

Hotel Millesime, 6me

A logo of the hotel millesime paris.

A wonderful location on the quiet Rue Jacob, close to all the major goings-on in the St-Germain quarter. Spacious rooms by Left Bank standards, and while its most recent furnishing redo is a little too “Modern†to my taste, it still ranks as a solid contender for best overall 3*** boutique hotel in St-Germain. It’s…

Read More

Hotel D’Aubusson, 6me

A sign for the hotel d ' aubusson

This former convent is one of the very best boutique hotels on the Left Bank, if not in the entire city. Consistently high reviews justify its fairly steep rates. Uniform quality from one chamber to the next is a rarity in Left Bank hotels, where decor and room size often vary greatly throughout a hotel.…

Read More

Seb’on, 18th arr.

A black building with white curtains and a red wall.

62 rue d’Orsel, 75018 / +33 1 42 59 74 32 A few blocks from Abbesses Metro station in Montmartre, Sebastian and his wife preside over one of my favorite tiny family-run restaurants. It takes its name from a rhyming pun on Seb’s name & the phrase “C’est Bon†(It’s good). Trained under the top…

Read More

Chez Monsieur, 8th arr.

A sign that says " chez monsieur ".

Chez Monsieur (Royal Madeleine) 11, rue du Chevalier Saint-George 75008/+33 (0)1 42 60 14 36 On a side street just east of the Madeleine Church, this is a bistro for grown-ups – Understated and sophisticated with old-school service that is attentive and effortless. A wonderful wine list and the best Blanquette de Veau (Veal Stew)…

Read More

Le Coup Chou. 5th arr.

A wooden door with some green plants growing on it

11 Rue de Lanneau, 75005 / 33 1 46 33 68 69 In the heart of the Latin Quarter near the Sorbonne and the Pantheon, this is one of the most historic and romantic restaurants on the Left Bank. Since opening nearly 60 years ago in a house that dates from the early 1600s, Le…

Read More

Brasserie de l’Isle St-Louis, 4th arr.

A group of people sitting at tables outside of a restaurant.

55 Quai de Bourbon, 75004 / 33 (0)1 4354 0259 It’s hard to be impartial about this; my home away from home in Paris for more than 40 years. A neighborhood institution enjoying an outstanding location on the western tip of Ile-Saint-Louis, the Brasserie offers one of the city’s best terraces in sunny weather and…

Read More

Auberge Nicolas Flamel, 3rd arr.

A sign hanging from the side of a building.

51 Rue de Montmorency, 75003 33 1 42 71 77 78 On a medieval street in the upper Marais stands the oldest surviving house in Paris (1407). Within this historic setting, Chef Alan Geaam serves a top-flight menu of modern dishes with gourmet presentations. His five-course tasting menu is the star of the show and…

Read More