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| Trang and I in front of the Eiffel Tower |
Paris, the city of love. Filled with beautiful stores and great desserts. When I was presented with the opportunity to go and visit my friend from my university, Trang, how could I say no? She is studying abroad there for an entire year, so I wanted to visit her to see her before I graduate in May. I had come 'home' to Manchester, England to visit my parents for Thanksgiving and took a few days to travel to Paris.
It was a short, but intense trip. I left last Monday (11/24/14) and came back Wednesday (11/26/14). It was great though, we basically ate and wandered around Paris. I wanted to hit up all of the classic french things: macarons, crepes, croissants, french onion soup etc. as well as the sites like the eiffel tower, champs-élysées, arc de triomphe and the notre dame...and of course shop!!
Restaurants:
Chez Julien/$$$/16 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis 75010 Paris
I went out to Chez Julien with Trang and her parents the first night I was in Paris. It is a petit, adorable restaurant which is a perfect example of well prepared French food. I had the duckand crème brûlée and was VERY satisfied. I definitely recommend it. It feels very french - but they definitely spoke English (the waiter warned me when I was going to order something I really did not want). Its small and was full even on a Monday though so definitely book ahead (http://www.julienparis.com/en/)Ladurée/$$/75 avenue des Champs Elysées 75008 Paris
Classic French bakery where Trang and I went for Tea and MACARONS. I have had a late (but aggressive) introduction with macarons and was incredibly excited to come here. It is adorable, go. It is also a restaurant and bakery and has copious amounts of other deserts. They also do to go! I brought back 6 macarons for my parents and I to try at home (although I am pretty sure they gave me the wrong bag) but they are incredible no matter the flavor (https://www.laduree.com/en_gb/)
Macarons with Trang at Ladurée
Going Out:
I have been to Paris previously, but when I was younger so I had never been out. It was so fun to have Trang take me out to some great places.
Prescription Cocktail Club/$$/23 rue de Mazarine
We went here on Monday, it was a cool little cocktail bar, perhaps too cool for itself - I couldn't see a sign when we walked in and you had to ask the man at the door to let you in. It was worth it though, their menu was filled with unique cocktails of the moment. Everything was combos I had never tried before. Drinks were 15 euros, I think that is not overwhelming for Paris standards, although I am not sure. It was open till 2 on a Monday I am sure later on other days of the week (http://www.prescriptioncocktailclub.com/)Chez Papillon/$$$/49 rue de Panthieu
This was our Tuesday destination. It was actually a pretty funny story where originally wanted to go to a club called 'Titty Twister'. But apparently this was closed on Tuesdays :( and we were recommended a place called 'Origins' by a hip yet old French man. This place was impossible to find and after a quick couple attempts to go to the strip club (unclear....) we ended up at Chez Papillon. They club went up on a Tuesday. 20 euros got you in the door and one rail drink at the bar. Honestly though it was the kind of place where most people got tables. Like a movie, our other friend from Hopkins was joking that she didn't know how to make friends with tables and suddenly this American guy (from LA but graduating from Cornell soon) came and invited us to hang. Perks of being a girl (but really, we did hear that him and his friends had to pay 300 euros each for the table so...) (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chez-Papillon-Le-Week-End/239144332875314)
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| Out in Paris with Trang and Mary |
Eurostar / http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en
The price of getting to Paris from Manchester was around the same price flying and taking the train. It is slightly longer taking the train, but instead of arriving outside the city - you go from London St. Pancreas to Paris' Gare du Nord so it is easier to get around faster in Paris. The train is a great, easy option to consider.
