Trip Overview
Picture this: my mom and I decide to take a week long trip to Paris in December. Spoiler: IT WAS MAGICAL. This was my second time to Paris. My first time I was there for two days, and it was not nearly enough time. I thought a week was the perfect length! I’m sharing all the details on our trip below: which hotel we stayed at, where we ate, activities we booked, and my favorite Paris souvenirs. Disclaimer: I am not a travel expert – definitely do your own research, but I will say I loved our trip:
Where We Stayed
Maison Astor Hotel | 8th Arrondissement
I absolutely loved the Maison Astor Hotel! It was pretty reasonably priced, and it was in a great location. This hotel is part of the Hilton Hotel family. Also, the room we had was HUGE compared to my first visit to Paris. We were able to get two twin beds too! I would definitely stay here again:
Where We Ate
Breakfast/Lunch
We were basically living on croissants and pan au chocolat the entire trip! Here are some spots to add to your list:
- Maison Louvard – I will dream of their cookie croissant
- Ritz Paris – If you’re in town during the holidays, try the hot chocolate
- Maison Fleuret – We made these croissants during our baking class (more details below)
- Mamiche – The ham sandwich was delicious!!
- Carette – Go for the famous hot chocolate, but the breakfast was great too!
- La Maison d’Isabelle – Voted best croissant in Paris in 2018
- French Bastards – More yummy croissants & pan au chocolat, duh!
Dinner
I would highly recommend all of the restaurants below. Most are French, but there is one Italian restaurant that was phenomenal. We made reservations at each.
Le CasseNoix | French | 15th Arrondissement
Note: Le CasseNoix is a Michelin Guide restaurant, so you know it’s good! They have a 3 course, rotating menu for 44 euros. It’s also walking distance to the Eiffel Tower. This is a repeat restaurant for me:
Le Comptoir de L’Artoise | Italian | 8th Arrondissement
Bistrot Des Tournelles | French | 4th Arrondissement
Chez Julien | French | 4th Arrondissement
Le Bon Georges | French | 9th Arrondissement
Things To Do
Croissant Making Class
A croissant making class in Paris was #1 on my list of Paris activities, and it did not disappoint! I have a new appreciation for the effort that goes into making a croissant and pan au chocolat (LOL). We booked through Maison Fleuret, and the instructor was great! We received both recipes via email. She also gave us a list of her favorite Paris recommendations at the end of class. It was so fun and informative! Highly recommend:
French Wine and Cheese Tasting
This French wine and cheese tasting in Paris was my favorite thing we did. I booked with Secret Wine Door, and I LOVED IT. The instructor/owner was great – super informative, answered all of our questions, and fun! We tried 5 different wines and 1 champagne. Each was paired with a French cheese PLUS he had bottomless baguettes flowing (LOL). If you take one thing from this post, book this tasting:
Shop Shop Shop – My Fav Paris Souvenirs
Paris is obviously an incredible city for shopping!!! If you asked me to round up my favorite souvenirs from Paris:
French Butter from La Grande Épicerie de Paris
I’m sure there are so many places to shop for French butter in Paris, but we went to La Grande Épicerie. They had an entire wall dedicated to French butter!!!! Between my mom and I, we brought nearly 15 butters home to the states and had no issues. Here’s how we successfully traveled with the butter:
- Grab an insulated bag – they’re located right next to the butter
- Get your butter vacuum sealed at La Grande Épicerie after checkout
- Ask your hotel to freeze the butter until you checkout
- Upon checkout, place the frozen butter in the insulated bag and place in your carry on
- Done! That’s all we did, and it all arrived in perfect condition!
Le Labo‘s Paris Exclusive Fragrance
I try to buy a new fragrance on big trips so I can always remember my travels when I wear the perfume. I knew I wanted to stop by a Le Labo to try Vanille 44 in Paris. This fragrance is a city exclusive – aka you can only buy it in Paris. I’m super picky when it comes to vanilla perfume, so I wasn’t sure if I’d like it….. BUT I LOVE IT. It is not a gourmand vanilla, nor is it super sweet. It’s woody and just a beautiful fragrance! Definitely go check it out next time you’re in Paris. It was so fun watching them make it too:
Visit a Local Needlepoint Store in Paris
I got into needlepoint right before my trip to Paris, and I thought a needlepoint project was such a good souvenir! I visited Annie Bouquet and got a project for me and a friend to do together:
Shop At La Route Des Indes for Salt, Pepper, & Seasonings
I don’t hear anyone talk about Route Des Indes, but I visit every time I’m in Paris. It’s located in Galeries Lafayette, and it’s such a great souvenir for someone who loves to cook. They have so many salts, peppers, and seasonings to choose from, and the workers are so helpful:
Visit Officine Universelle Buly
Officine Universelle Buly is a great place for custom souvenirs for you or a loved one. They have beautiful hairbrushes you can get engraved!! They also have these fun scented matches. Other items in store: perfume, engraved lip balm, body care, candles, etc. You’ve probably seen this store on TikTok! I grabbed some gifts here for myself and a friend:
Seine River Boat Tour
If you want the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower – book a Seine River Cruise. We booked with Bateaux Parisiens through GetYourGuide. We did the night cruise then walked over to Le CasseNoix (mentioned above) for dinner.
Christmas Markets / Christmas Lights
If you’re lucky enough to be in Paris during Christmas, you’ll get to see the Christmas magic in the city. The city is decked out with Christmas lights, and there are so many Christmas markets in Paris to choose from. This is your sign to roam around Paris and get lost in the holiday spirit.
