Guest Post | Paris Mini-Moon from Oh Happy Day
Jordan from Oh Happy Day may be back in San Francisco, but after living in Paris for a year and a half, she is the perfect person to ask for honeymoon tips in (arguably) the world’s most romantic city…
Here is how to have the perfect Paris Honeymoon. I lived in Paris for a year and a half and even spent my honeymoon there, and here are my some of my favorite places and things to eat.
Where to Stay:
Stay in an apartment in the Marais near a Metro stop! Paris hotels are teeny tiny, even the fancy ones. A gorgeous stylish apartment with a view will cost the same as a small boring hotel room.
Planning Your Schedule:
Use the Rick Steves Paris Guide. Ignore the the fact you are taking travel advice from a kind-of-dorky-guy older than your dad. Risk Steves is the best, he nails it every time.
On Your First Day:
Have a picnic on the tip the island at Pont Neuf and take one of the boat tours that leaves from Pont Neuf at dusk. It is touristy but in a good way. It’s a good way to get the lay of the land and there is nothing more romantic than seeing the way the lights dance in the water of the Seine.
How to Pack a Picnic:
Every neighborhood has a market street. Avoid the grocery stores. Go to the Bakery for a “baguette traditional” then go to the cheese store for some cheese Ordering can be overwhelming try starting with a nice slab of “Comte.” Go to the produce stand for some fruit and veggies and then go to the butcher for some charcuterie or “saucisson sec” ask them to slice it up. Grab a nice bottle of wine and you’re set.
The Best Breakfast:
Pain et Chocolat just off Rue Cler. Order the “desjejum complet” for a flawless French breakfast.
All Lovers Must:
Take a walk through the Marais at night and end up at the Seine. Wandering the streets on a beautiful night is the best experience in Paris.
The Best Place to Buy Doodads or Gifts:
BHV (or Bazaar de l’Hotel de Ville) is the best department store. They have my favorite selection of crepe paper and their lighting section is insane.
Best Mode of Transportation:
Metro is the best way to get around. But don’t leave Paris without going on a bike ride with Paris’ City Bike System Velib.
Best Place to Buy a Souvenir:
Artazart has the best selection of art and photography books ever. Bring one home for your coffee table and when guests compliment it you can say…oh that ol’ thing…we picked it up in Paris.
Best Design-y Store in Paris:
Merci. This concept store in the Marais has constantly changing installations and has clothes, home decor and knick knacks at every pricepoint. Don’t forget to go touch all the linens. Also their restaurant is one of my favorite places to grab lunch. The salads are amazing.
Cheap and Easy Meal:
L’As Du Fallafel Falafel on Rue des Rossiers. It’s Lenny Kravitz’s favorite falafel (says it on their sign.) Plus my favorite crepe stand is on this street too. Dessert!
3 Restaurants where you Need Dinner Reservations:
Derriere: A hip restaurant with amazing food.
Le Refuge des Fondues: A casual but really fun tourist stop in Montmartre. It’s fondue with wine served in baby bottles.
Septime: An excellent modern French restaurant.
3 Restaurants where you Don’t Need Dinner Reservations:
Le Relais de Venise, A Parisian institution: They only serve steak frites and an amazing secret green sauce. The line looks long but goes so quick.
Les Cocottes: A modern little French restaurant by chef Christian Constant
La Briciola: A fun and easy pizza restaurant in the Marais.
Ooh la la! Read more about Jordan’s Paris adventures, plus tons of creative and crafty projects and parties, over on Oh Happy Day!
Beautiful post on Paris! I lived there for 2 years and visit as often as I can. Another cheap and easy meal – buy cheeses, salumi, wine and bread from the open market on rue cler and walk over to the champs de mars (lawn under the eiffel tower). We used to do that after our classes got out.
Hi, Love the photos of Paris nut honestly I do not get what is with you Americans and the Refuge des fondus. The food is plain, the restaurant is dirty and the waiters are some of the most ill mannered I experienced in the city (which is per se a record). And still full of US tourist.. I just do not get it.
Was I the only one who read this comment with a fake french accent?!
Bahaha, as soon as I saw, “you Americans,” the French accent stared :) PS. Fondue is just fun.
*started (whoops)
How Romantic !! Who wouldn’t love a mini moon in Paris ?!
[…] Doooes this have to be a honeymoon? How about two best friends who like to travel together?? Paris Mini-Moon […]
We LOVE this!!! Going to spend the rest of the afternoon dreaming of sipping espresso and lemon sugar crepes. Or maybe red wine and a cheese plate…
Love these! Thanks for sharing!
I love love love Paris and this post is making me long to go back more than ever! So jealous you got to spend a year and a half there! I spent 9 months in Berlin and while great i’d trade it in a second for Paris!!
Just back from my first trip wish I’d seen this before although we did see/do some of these. Only thing I’d add is eight days was 4 days too long for me, I grew restless for a breath of fresh air, smog, secondhand smoke, smelly pits ugh. Thank goodness I got it on the Riviera!
Completely agree about staying in a flat versus a hotel. Cheaper, and you really feel connected to the city in a special way. Just had my first trip there, and I’ll be bookmarking this post for my travels back. I love Paris!
super merci beaucoup
anni
here is the correct url
Lovely post. I’m printing it off to save for my next trip.
V
[…] I have had a hankering to go back though lately and discovered a little “how-to” guide for the next trip. It is from Oh Happy Day letting readers know her words of wisdom for the perfect Paris “Mini-Moon”. […]
Paris is my favorite city…and my gypsy wings are fluttering…in anticipation of another visit…thanks
[…] out this post by Oh Happy Day blogger Jordan Ferney did as a guest poster on Snippet & Ink about Paris. Maybe it’s a sign (I believe in them, do you??) that I […]
[…] Paris insider tips. […]
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Thanks for sharing…I absolutely love Paris! I visit at least once a year and love finding new treasures each time……I’ll definitely be visiting the places you recommend
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[…] some of their links: Hither and Thither Travelogues (her posts were super helpful for planning) Paris Mini-Moon from Oh Happy Day Paris Cheat Sheet on Design Scouting Paris Insiders Guide And we didn’t buy any of these this […]
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Nice program! If you would like to stay in a very romantic Hotel for your honeymoon you can try Hotel Napoleon http://www.hotelnapoleonparis.com/fr/media in the 8th district of Paris !
Ahh this makes me miss Paris so much!
Nice program! If you would like to stay in a very romantic Hotel for your honeymoon you can try Hotel Napoleon http://www.hotelnapoleonparis.com/fr/media in the 8th district of Paris !
Me encanta totalmente, quiero ir a Paris a tomar fotos, muchas gracias por compartir.
Fotografo de boda Guadalajara
http://www.fotografobodaguadalajara.com
I did exactly this in August 2017 for our mini-moon – it was incredible! Well recommended and a great write up! :)
Missing Paris these days! Ahhh bring me back!
Awesome! Paris was our Honeymoon, then Amsterdam via train from there. Was such a great place to go. Lovely images, thanks for sharing, brings back memories. :)
amazing pics!
Wonderful!!
Lovely showcase :) Thank you for sharing!!
love these
Amazing photos.
Very nice blog just loved the content I absolutely love Paris! I visit at least once a year and love finding new treasures each time……I’ll definitely be visiting the places you recommend