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The Flavors of Paris blog is full of insider tips and recommendations to make your Parisian experience easy and authentic. You will learn where to eat with the locals, where the best shopping and the best restaurants are, and how to find boutiques and food markets for the best food shopping in Paris as well as some musings about French culture.
If you are looking for an authentic, local experience during your trip to Paris,
Be sure to book your Flavors of Paris small group tour here!
How To Enjoy A Perfect Spring Day In Paris
Discover The Magic Of Paris In Bloom The long, grey days of winter are fading like a half-remembered dream, and with warm days ahead, the city of Paris is whispering promises of picnics and friendly games of pétanque. We've got the ultimate 'perfect spring day' guide to help you plan the perfect spring day. It's packed with all the must-dos so you can get the most out of Paris in the spring. Start the Day off Right The perfect Parisian spring morning starts with an amazing b
Flavors of Paris Team
Apr 15, 2025
As The Parisians Say. . . I Love You More Than Donuts?
"You see that the couples here are more romantically demonstrative and affectionate in public than us shy Anglos." This has been a confusing articles for me to write. To research this story I spoke to several French friends, both male and female, single and in relationships, and asked them how they celebrate “La Saint Valentin” also known as “fête de l’amour”, or celebration of love. When I posed the subject, they looked at me as if I had asked them if they enjoyed putting ke
Lisa R
Feb 1, 2024
Lost In Transit: Public Transport In Paris
"I may have frightened you a bit with all our public transport misadventures in Paris. But trust me, it's not as daunting as it may seem." Every big city has its own complex public transportation system and Paris is no exception. Although it may seem overwhelming, it’s easy to master… as long as you’re not me (Mona) or Siddharth. It took us a good two weeks to even start feeling like we had a handle on it, from buses to metros to the mysterious RER. Ah, Paris, the city of lov
Lisa Rankin
Aug 1, 2023
10 Of The Best Vintage Shopping And Thrift Stores In Paris
Whether you’re socially conscious or looking for something unique (or both!) vintage stores are some of the best places to go shopping to spruce up your closet. Paris, the fashion capital of the world, is sure to have wonderful secondhand items that will bring you firsthand joy. Le Marais is one of the coolest neighborhoods in Paris being both the historic Jewish quarter and gay district. In addition to finding the best falafel and queer bars in the city, you’ll see an abund
Flavors of Paris Team
Dec 2, 2021
How To Picnic In Paris
The Parisians are crazy about picnicking. Throughout my 10 years living in Paris, I have been on more picnics than I had been on in my entire life before I moved here. On a weekend afternoon or evening, you will see crowds of Parisians with their blankets, food and friends, sprawled on the grass of the many parks and gardens across Paris. During the pandemic in particular, when all the cafes and restaurants have been closed, enjoying some open-air dining has been a welcome re
Lisa R
May 21, 2021
How To Enjoy Jazz In Paris
From small candle-lit caves in the fourth arrondissement to airy cafes in the Saint Germain des Prés, our curated list of French jazz artists will help transport you from home. Check out our recommendations for the best jazz clubs in Paris and our playlist of French musicians, curated by Flavors of Paris’ Lisa Rankin. And if you are open to exploring other avenues of Paris's nightlife, check out our post on our favorite Parisian speakeasies. La Caveau de la Huchette Image
Lisa R
Mar 11, 2021
How To Visit Paris With Kids
Making travel arrangements and creating an itinerary can be an overwhelming experience, let alone planning a trip that will be fun for both children and adults. Weather can be unpredictable, transportation doesn’t always run smoothly, and people aren’t always in a good mood. Despite all the potential travel hiccups that can occur you can still guarantee that you and your family will create lifelong happy memories during your time away. Whether you have babies, toddlers, eleme
Lisa R
Jan 28, 2021
The Best Neighborhoods For A Fulfilling Stay In Paris
Paris comprises a wondrous array of neighborhoods, each with a character, or ‘flavour’ of its own. I often refer to Paris as a city of villages. Although it’s a large and densely populated city—the most densely populated in Europe—when you move out of the areas of high tourist traffic, you really get the feel of the village ambience. Paris is a ‘mixed-use’ city as urban planners would say, meaning that you don’t have large tracts of fast-food restaurants or strip malls and ga
Lisa R
Jun 7, 2020
How To Feel Like Royalty In Loungewear
"Perfume is symbolic of prayer rising to heaven. It is a reminder of the perfume of Eden, of man’s original shape. Perfumery is essentially spiritual, and as such, an expression of hope." One of my favorite things to put on before I step out the door each day is lipstick. I have a vast collection of colors to match my various moods, and even on days that I don’t wear make-up, I need to at least put on a swipe of sheer gloss on my lips. During these weeks of confinement, I hav
Lisa R
May 7, 2020
Lisa's Paris Reading List To Get You Through A Tough Time
My first day of kindergarten was a big surprise and a major disappointment for me. I remember it so clearly because it made such an impact on my psyche. As a wee one, I had a keen interest in learning to read. Now I am dating myself, but the children’s television program, Sesame Street hadn’t been on the air for very long. It launched not long before I was ready to begin school and it really piqued my interest in reading. My four-year-old self couldn’t wait to start school be
Lisa R
Mar 31, 2020
Picasso & The Gestapo
Another guest post by Brendan Howley The first time I spent in Paris was a blustery March, out of season and dour; the city gathered itself for spring, hinted at in the cross-winds rising off the Seine the afternoon I chose to buy a book—any book—from one of the booksellers on the quai des Grands Augustins. After several tries, I found what I was looking for, something unique, eccentrically Parisian: declining two different coffee table books (one on Utrillo and the other on
Lisa R
Mar 7, 2012
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