🥐 PARIS: In the Summer

Where to catch the best summer energy in Paris

Jul 23, 2024

Ofr bookstore, Photo courtesy of: Uma Chalik

I previously published a comprehensive guide to Paris.

The recommendations here are specific to Paris when it’s warm out. You’ll find the best places to capture the city’s summer energy — secret gardens to linger over skinny cigarettes and wine bars with sidewalk seating that almost guarantees you’ll make friends.

I’d recommend this guide for anyone who is already pretty familiar with the city and visiting for the third, fourth ++ time.

WHERE TO EAT

DINNER

⭐ Jaïs - ($$) A classic French bistro in the 7th with young, lively energy. The tables are on top of each other and the vibe is hectic in the best way. Perfect for a date night or dinner with a friend.
⭐ Clamato - Walk-in only. Experimental seafood-forward dishes that are refreshing. Put your name down early and spend your time waiting at Septime La Cave across the street.
Amagat or Cache - Sister restaurants with a shared, magical courtyard. Amagat (Spanish tapas) is a bit more casual. Cache is more sophisticated — mediterranean food in an industrial setting.
Soces - A warm reminder of my favorite wine bars in Fort Greene. Soces really reminds me of Margot in particular.
Septime - ($$$) Incredible food for the ultimate foodie. It’s hard to get a reservation, but you can often get lucky off the waitlist.
Onii San - (For lunch or dinner) Casual Japanese joint in the 3rd with an amazing wagyu sandwich.

WINE

Deviant - Side-walk seating and great natural wines. I love their website quote:

Sharing is caring plates.
Cocktails that make you go “oooooh”.
Wines that make you go “aaaaah”.
Makes-you-wanna-dance soundtrack.

Folderol - a family-owned ice cream shop and wine bar. This place went viral on Tiktok (against the family’s will) and they completely banned photography in the space 🫢
Septime La Cave - Grab a glass of wine (or 8) and live out your dreams of drinking on a sidewalk stoop. Let the waiters choose your bottles. It’s easy to spend hours, making many friends, here. It’s a particularly popular spot for expats.

LUNCH

⭐ Chez Georges - An old-school, classic French bistro. I will come to Chez Georges on every trip to Paris. I love the people watching (I’ve had lunch next to Will Welch and I’ve observed an eight top of 60-year-old men devour individual Tart Tatin’s here). And there’s something really good about their Lentil Salad.
⭐ Loulou - Come right off the plane, grab a table in the outdoor patio, enjoy a large glass of white wine, and instantly feel the magic of Paris. It’s definitely a tourist destination, but the Eiffel tower views are unbeatable.
⭐ Square du Temple - A garden in the 3rd arr. with a great lawn for a picnic. I lived right across the street and credit this place to some of my best memories in Paris.

Miznon - Not unique to Paris, but the Paris Miznon is too good. The perfect quick lunch in the Marais.
Kaito - Standing handroll bar in the 6th that’s great for a quick, light, and delicious lunch.
Cafe Charlot - Their food isn’t anything to write home about, but this street corner might have the best sunlight seating in the 3rd.

JUST OUTSIDE OF THE CITY

Le Doyenné - A really lovely experience and probably the longest meal I’ve had in my life, though I enjoyed every second of it. If you’ve been to Paris a few times and want to travel outside the city, Le Doyenné is about a 45-minute train ride away. It is a restaurant, guesthouse, and farm set within the historical grounds of the Château de Saint-Vrain.
- Book a reservation for lunch well in advance and be sure to reserve your car transport from the train in advance as well.

THE PLACES I COME BACK TO EVERY TIME

MUSEUMS

Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection
Fondation Louis Vuitton (check before if there’s an exhibition you’re interested in).
Picasso Museum

STORES

⭐ Pretty Box - A treasure chest of vintage Celine, Chanel, Versace, etc. Nicolas, who runs the shop, is epic. Do some digging here - you’ll find the most special vintage pieces you’ve ever seen.
The Broken Arm - maybe my favorite concept store of all.
The Parisian Vintage - great curation of vintage Courrèges, Paco Rabanne, Gaultier.
Boys Don’t Cry - Men’s clothing store with a lot of unisex pieces. They carry an interesting selection of brands like Bode, Second Layer, and James Perse.