World_Traveller_-_May_2019

worldtravellermagazine.com 61

THE LONG WEEKEND

ask a local

MARVELLOUS

MARKETS

Trawling for treasures or stocking up on gourmet

goodies in one of Paris’s many markets is a great

way to spend a couple of hours. Founded in 1870,

Marché aux Puces St-Ouen is the largest of the

city’s famed flea markets. Open from Saturday to

Monday, the sprawling market is a must-visit for

art and design lovers, with more than 2,000 stalls

selling antiques, mid-century furniture, paintings

and bric-a-brac. Foodies, meanwhile, should

make a beeline for Marché Bastille. Open from

Thursday to Sunday, there are more than 150

stalls piled high with local produce and seasonal

specialities like truffles. For a quick lunch in

between boutique hopping in the Marais, pop into

Marché des Enfants Rouges (closed Mondays).

Opened in 1615, the covered market has stalls

serving multi-cuisine, ready-to-eat dishes.

Words:

Lara Brunt

Lena

Drevermann,

blogger at

Salut from Paris

(salutfromparis.

com), shares

her top tips

for exploring

the city

“The first piece of advice I'd give to

visitors is to walk as much as you

can (and wear trainers). The Metro

is a great way to get around, but

real Parisian life happens above

ground. From stunning 19th-century

Haussmann architecture and iconic

sidewalk cafés to the latest street

style – to discover the best of Paris,

simply walk.

The Belleville neighbourhood,

meanwhile, is my favourite hidden

gem in the city. The northeastern

district is often overlooked, but

can definitely compete with the

famous Montmartre; the views over

Paris are equally wonderful and the

village style is super cute – without

the crowds. For a memorable meal,

book a table at Afaria, a Basque

Country-influenced restaurant in

the 15th Arrondissement. The tapas

are excellent, but don’t miss their

signature Magret de canard rôti.”

STYLISH

SHOPPING

Nous Founded in 2018

by ex-Colette employees,

this achingly cool

boutique on posh Rue

Cambon specialises in

streetwear, exclusive

watches and high-tech

gadgets. You can also

stock up on limited

edition Adidas trainers.

nous.paris

L’Appartement Sézane

For effortless French-girl

style without breaking

the bank, head to this

millennial pink-hued

showroom in the chic

Grands Boulevards

district. The cult fashion

label is renowned for

its laidback, feminine

aesthetic – think boho

dresses, silk shirts and

rope-soled espadrilles.

sezane.com

Printemps This iconic

department store on

Boulevard Haussmann

is the go-to place for

luxury fashion, Swing

by La Scent Room for

exclusive perfumes, and

don’t miss the new

food hall dedicated to

French gastronomy.

printempsfrance.com

Gang of Earlybirds

Founded by a former

buyer at Lanvin, this hip

boutique in the Marais

stocks the best up-and-

coming international

designers such as

Mara Hoffman and

Simon Miller. The store

features a carefully

curated selection of

women’s ready-to-

wear, accessories

and jewellery.

gangofearlybirds.com

Merci In the same

neighbourhood, this

sprawling three-level

concept store is

housed in a former

factory and boasts

an eclectic edit of

homewares, men’s

and women’s fashion,

beauty products,

stationery and more.

Just look for the

Insta-famous red

Fiat parked out front.

merci-merci.com