Happy Thursday pretty friends! Today I am recapping my bestie Paris trip! As you can tell by my very creative name this was my annual trip with my best friend Haley. Since we both live in different states, we make it a point to do one trip per year together. Years ago we promised each other that for our 30th birthdays we would do a big trip and go to Paris. Since we both take our promises very seriously,we made sure to make it happen!
Leaving Robinson behind was not easy but it was something that was important for me to do. He is my number one but I truly believe we need to also take good care of ourselves in order to be the best possible mothers we can be. Also, I think it’s very important to not forget about our friendships- especially those that we deeply treasure.
So here it is- my recap of everything wonderful we did in Paris! There is obviously SO MUCH more you can do but I hope this helps you plan the perfect girls trip to Paris! Most photos were taken by Haley- she is a gifted photographer and editor!
Where We Stayed & Got Around
Since we were staying in Paris for over a week , we wanted to get the full French experience. We found the most beautiful little Airbnb 20 minutes from the Effiel Tower, and two blocks from Champs Élysées. Our hostess was so nice and welcomed us to her adorably quant apartment.
What I loved most about our apartment was it was very central to everything. It was an easy walk to the train stop, which is how we got around all week. It was also in a great spot for delicious restaurants! If you would like our Airbnb’s information, don’t hesitate to email me!
Although Paris is an extremely walkable city, there are times that you will want to give your feet a break and take the metro! Purchasing tickets is easy and affordable. Since Google Maps didn’t work without wifi, Haley and I would screen shot directions to the places we wanted to get to. We got lost A LOT but it was always a fun adventure! After being there for a week we felt that we got the hang of it and started to get around with no problems! Another great option if you’re pinched for time is Uber. Most of our drivers spoke English but even they didnt, they were always super nice!
Where We Ate
Something Haley and I first do when planning a trip is figuring out where we want to eat. We knew we wanted to eat at one Michelin restaurant, an authentic French restaurant and one upscale restaurant. If you followed along my Instagram stories you saw that we ate A LOT of delicious food! If it wasn’t for the 20,000 steps we walked every day I probably would have gained 10+ pounds!
If I had to pick my favorite restaurant that we ate at, it would be Alix et Mika. We actually stumbled into this little restaurant while getting lost in Montmartre! We sat down and were pleasantly surprised with their menu. Our server told us that they were known for their tartare (rare meat) dishes. Both Haley and I love tartare so we each ordered a different dish! I had the beef and she had the veal. It was the best tartare I have ever had!! Both were prepared with truffle aioli, tabasco, chorizo, pommel paille (tiny fries), cornichons (tiny pickles) and capers. Absolutely phenomenal!
Peninsula Hotel Le Lobby Restaurant
This was our “upscale” restaurant choice- Le Lobby Restaurant inside the elegant Peninsula Hotel. This is hands down the most beautiful restaurant I have ever been into! It was as if I was in a movie set! I got the black truffle pasta with ham and Haley got the seared scallops with sea foam. Such a wonderful experience!
For our authentic French restaurant we went to the very popular and highly recommended Relais de l’Entrecôte. It is famously known for their steak and frites. With various locations in Paris, we went to their oldest one that was built in 1959. The restaurant has a typical look of a French brasserie with wood panelling and wall mirrors, closely spaced tables, and bench seating in red upholstery. All the servers are women, dressed in black uniforms with white or yellow aprons, and no male staff are visible. When you sit down the waitress immediately asks you what you want to drink and how would you like your steak cooked! The steak is served with a special sauce that is phenomenal!! I cannot recommend this restaurant enough!
Café de Flore is one of the oldest coffeehouses in Paris. Located at the corner of Boulevard Saint-Germain and Rue Saint-Benoît, in Saint-Germain-des-Prés (the “Rodeo Drive” of Paris!) in the 6th arrondissement, it is celebrated for its famous clientele. It has the BEST quiche I have ever tried!! Make sure you add this famous restaurant to your itinerary.
Angelina is a famous tea house located at 226 Rue de Rivoli in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. They also have location in Versailles with a much shorter wait time! Angelina is known primarily for its almost pudding-like hot chocolate and for its Mont Blanc dessert.
Ladurée is a famous French luxury bakery and sweets maker house that was created in 1862. It is one of the world’s best-known premier sellers of the double-decker macaron, fifteen thousand of which are sold every day! This is another must visit while you are in Paris! We recommend going for breakfast (less people there) or dropping in for dessert!
What We Did
If I can recommend one thing for you to get when planning your Paris trip its the Paris Pass. This pass is your all-in-one comprehensive sightseeing package and that will save you time, money and stress. It provides you with everything you need to discover Paris from free entry, to fast track entry and useful information along the way! It gives you access to a two-decker tour bus that allows you to see all the best Paris attractions in one day! We loved our Paris pass and cannot recommend it enough. You can buy yours HERE!
Eiffel Tower
It goes without saying that you have to visit the Eiffel Tower when visiting Paris. The Eiffel Tower is more magnificent than you could ever imagine! There are various ways you can see the famous tower but I highly recommend getting up close and personal. At night the tower sparkles every hour on the hour for 10 minutes, and it’s quite magical to watch.
Sacré-Cœur
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, commonly known as Sacré-Cœur Basilica and often simply Sacré-Cœur, is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Paris, France. Like the Effiel Tower, it is exquisite! This was also our favorite neighborhood in Paris- you feel like you left the city and got transported to a 19th century French village.
The Palace of Versailles, or simply Versailles, is a royal château in Versailles in the Île-de-France region of France. It is now open as a museum and is a very popular tourist attraction. We recommend taking the train there and blocking off a whole day to visit. There are plenty of restaurants on and around the property so you can make it into a fun trip!
Notre-Dame de Paris is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. The cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, and it is among the largest and best-known church buildings in the Catholic Church in France, and in the world. Haley and I really loved walking around the little streets surrounding Notre Dame. It was a great place to shop and find unique souvenirs!
The Louvre Museum is the world’s largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris, France. A central landmark of the city, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the city’s 1st arrondissement. Believe it or not Haley and I sadly did not get a chance to make it inside. It’s definitely on our list of places to visit next time!
I hope that you have a wonderful time in Paris!
Xo,
…….An exquisite time for two exquisite girls…..”Paris is always a good idea!”
Beautiful photos!! Looks like you guys had a wonderful time!