the ups and ups of la vie à paris
in only 3 short months of paradisiacal bliss here in paris (with a few glitches along the way, but hey, we can't expect perfection from apts that are over 400 yrs old!) ... i have been lucky enough to discover amazing people, be immersed in the bubbly culture of 24/7 happy hours, enjoy perfect coffee, delectable desserts and sweet kisses ... and more recently, a quick move from the pictoresque marais district to the artsy chic montorgueil phenom ... quel rêve!
a few fun spots to check out when u decide to hop a plane/train to come visit my new home sweet home, the adorable 2e arrondissement:
souvenir shop @ espace luxury
15 rue léopold bellan 75002 paris
whether it's a jasmine+cigarette scented candle, a striking white tendance oversized watch, or an yves-klein-blue silk dress that you bring back for lucky friends back home, it'll be more than just the thought that counts. go on, spoil yourself too and splurge on a l'il sumtin' ... before passing to the register, ask for a personalized tour of this flagship boutique of this particular hôtel particulier, open to the public since april 23rd '09.
pause-café @ les petits carreaux
17 rue des petits carreaux 75002 paris
here, it's people watching at its best: on the patio of les petits carreaux, situated in the heart of one of paris' very few pedestrian-only little streets. with the sun glowing on your shoulders, you'd swear you were in vieux nice for the afternoon. did i mention the fluffy cappuccinos? un véritable plaisir.
apéro @ café étienne marcel
34 rue étienne marcel 75002
the generous, minty-sweet mojitos will knock you off your feet, but the eve is just beginning ... take it slow, catch up on stories while lounging on the terrasse, bask in the chicissime ambiance of this edgy corner café, brought to you by the famous costes brothers. yes, you heard right: the background music is mixed by stephane pompougnac. tchin-tchin!
dine @ le chocon à l'oreille
15 rue montmartre 75001
even the french locals can't figure out what the name of this resto means, but it doesn't matter because the menu, served by the unique and lovable patricia, will win you over. the secret? fresh ingredients from the daily market at the doorstep of this centuries-old establishment of les halles, where everything is done à l'ancienne. not to miss: the melt-in-your-mouth foie gras pôelé, creatively accompanied by a scoop of homemade mango sorbet. mmm! remember to call ahead, as there less than a dozen tables at this cosy neighborhood favorite.
nuit blanche @ le next
17 rue tiquetonne 75002
what's next? le next, naturally. between dj's spinning till the crack of dawn, cocktails flowing, and the beautifully intelligent crowd, you'll have a hard time convincing yourself to go home. but hey, that's what weekends (or random wednesdays) are all about, right? let loose and enjoy.
nap @ hotel jules
49-51 rue la fayette 75009
this freshly re-done jewel of a boutique property, gracefully managed by internationally renown gla hotels, jules will enchant you from sundown to sunup with its galerie-esque interior, plush linens, intimate lounge --and best of all, cordial & smile-ful service. jules hides a bit past the frontier of the 2e arrondissement, just behind the opéra garnier.
brunch @ eat me
38 rue léopold bellan 75002
french chefs have quite the midas touch ... although the term brunch, a comfy cross between the yumminess of breakfast food and the long lazy hours of lunchtime, is borrowed from american english, the team at eat me have managed to perfect the concept on this side of the atlantic. a great bonus is that eat me's uber healthy zen menu will help kick off your post-hangover detox regimen with taste and style!
for more ideas or to share your thoughts, don't hesitate to contact me at mariyaisayeva @gmail.com ... à bientôt!
