World_Traveller_-_May_2019

worldtravellermagazine.com 59

THE LONG WEEKENDLONG WEEKEND

Long considered the epicentre of fashion, art, culture,

gastronomy and romance, the French capital needs no

introduction. From elegant boulevards and world-class

museums to Michelin-starred cuisine and effortlessly

chic locals, the city has an undeniable je ne sais quoi that

beguiles even the most seasoned visitor.

Split by the Seine into two halves – the Right and Left

banks – Paris is further divided into 20 Arrondissements

(districts), each with their own style and atmosphere.

On the Right Bank, the upmarket 1st Arrondissement is

home to iconic sights such as the Louvre and 17th-century

Tuileries Garden, while the Champs-Elysées is the heart of

the exclusive 8th Arrondissement. Spread across the 3rd

and 4th Arrondissements, the Marais is one of the trendiest

neighbourhoods in town.

On the Left Bank lies the elegant 6th and 7th

Arrondissements, where you’ll find historic pavement cafés

and big-hitters like Musée d’Orsay, Musée Rodin and the

Eiffel Tower. The 5th Arrondissement, meanwhile, is home

to the Latin Quarter and the famous Sorbonne University.

And as the city celebrates the 130th anniversary of the

Eiffel Tower and 350 years of the Paris Opera in 2019,

there’s never been a better time to visit. Here’s how to do

Paris in style...

Opposite: Eiffel Tower

© Paris Tourist Office.

This page top to bottom:

Cafe culture © Paris Tourist

Office; Hotel Lutetia

over the city’s rooftops.

Moored on the Left

Bank of the Seine, OFF

Paris Seine is Paris's first

boat hotel and a favourite

with Instagrammers,

thanks to its plunge pool

(complete with inflatable

gold swans). It is home to

58 sleek rooms, but the

buzzy poolside lounge-bar

is the draw.

For those who crave a

more intimate experience,

Maison Armance

recently opened in the 1st

Arrondissement, feels like

your own Parisian pied-

à-terre. There are just 20

rooms with parquet floors

and soothing shades of

dusty pink or duck egg

blue, while the top-floor

lounge has dreamy views

STYLISH SLEEPS

Find the perfect place to sleep

in the French capital

Paris is home to nearly
a dozen ‘palace hotels’ –
ultra high-end properties
whose amenities surpass
those of five-star hotels

• including the Ritz Paris
  and the Peninsula Paris.
  The former is home to 142
  rooms resplendent with
  Louis XV furnishings and
  marble fireplaces, along
  with two Michelin-starred
  restaurants and the world's
  first Chanel spa. The latter,
  meanwhile, is just steps
  from the Champs Elysées
  with 200 sumptuous
  rooms and some of the
  best views in town from
  the top-floor restaurant.
  Hoping to join the
  elite club is the newly
  renovated Hotel Lutetia.
  the only grande dame
  on the Left Bank. The
  historic hotel features 184
  contemporary rooms,
  along with a subterranean
  spa, sun-lit swimming pool
  and brasserie overseen by
  three-Michelin-star chef
  Gérald Passedat.
  A perennial favourite of
  ours is Le Royal Monceau,
  Raffles Paris, which boasts
  stunning suites designed
  by Philippe Starck.

best

bistros

Eat like a Parisian in a cosy

neighbourhood bistro

ASTAIR Opened last

year in the Passage des

Panoramas, this glamorous

yet unpretentious spot

• think rattan chairs, bow-
  tied waiters and a smooth
  jazz soundtrack – boasts
  a menu by three-star chef
  Gilles Goujon. Aim for a
  cosy corner table.
  BENOIT Dating back to
  1912, this one-Michelin-
  starred spot looks
  like the quintessential
  Parisian bistro: crisp
  white tablecloths, red
  velvet chairs and polished
  woodwork. Enjoy classic
  French fare such as
  escargots swimming in
  garlic butter.
  MENSAE This modern
  bistro in the Belleville
  neighbourhood favours
  Scandi style over red-
  checked tablecloths,
  while Korean chef Jun-sik
  Cho’s menu is full of
  twists-on-classics. The
  prix fixé menus offer
  exceptional value.