The Best of Paris: Where to Eat, Drink, and Explore

The historic grain exchange has been brilliantly transformed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando into a breathtaking concrete-and-glass temple for contemporary art. The rotating exhibitions from François Pinault’s collection are always thought-provoking, but the building's soaring dome is the real masterpiece.

Richard the Lionheart built this fortress in just two years, and while it's now a ruin, its position high above a dramatic loop in the Seine remains unbeatable. The drive up the D135 offers sweeping, cinematic bends that will make you glad you didn't take the train. Park up and take in the sheer scale of the valley below.

Wind down the windows as you enter the loops of the Seine. This cliffside village, dominated by a medieval keep carved directly into the chalk rock, feels leagues away from the Boulevard Périphérique. Grab a quick espresso at a local café and walk up the covered secret passage to the ramparts for sweeping river views.

Housed in a former hangout for circus performers, this Belle Époque gem features stunning original hand-painted tiles on the ceiling and walls. The kitchen turns out some of the most exciting, technically precise neo-bistro dishes in the city, paired with an incredible list of natural wines.

Tucked behind a 17th-century palace, this is Paris's most elegant public courtyard. Walk through Daniel Buren’s iconic striped columns, then find one of the classic green metal chairs under the lime trees to read or simply watch stylish locals walk their dogs.

Conclude your day in vibrant Belleville at this bustling, art-strewn restaurant on a graffiti-lined alley. The atmosphere is loud, energetic, and completely unpretentious, serving brilliant shareable plates that change daily alongside a stellar selection of natural wines.

Skip the crowded impressionist gift shops of Giverny and head straight to this stunning Anglo-Norman manor. Chef David Gallienne delivers highly creative, artfully plated Normandy dishes in a dining room that balances mid-century design with historic bones. It's the kind of long, wine-adjacent lunch that makes a road trip feel like a true getaway.

Nestled in one of Europe’s largest beech forests, this village is a masterclass in half-timbered Normandy charm. Find a seat outdoors at Café de la Halle under the 17th-century wooden market hall for a cup of local cider or a late-afternoon café crème. It’s the perfect final pause before pointing the bonnet back toward the capital.

This tiny, standing-room-only outpost of the legendary Septime restaurant is the ultimate afternoon pitstop. Squeeze in among the creative neighborhood crowd for a glass of low-intervention Loire Valley white and a plate of simple, perfect salted anchovies.

Start your morning at this minimalist sanctuary where coffee is treated with quiet, near-religious reverence. Skip the heavy hotel breakfasts for a perfectly pulled flat white and a slice of their exceptional seasonal cake. It is a peaceful, unhurried spot to watch the neighborhood wake up.