As the expression goes: Paris is always a good idea – especially given it's less than three hours away from London via the Eurostar. Seriously, with fares starting at £39 (each way) there’s no excuse not to visit the French capital for a long weekend.
From checking into boutique hotels and admiring beautiful architecture, to visiting the parks and devouring pastries (along with cocktails and croissants aplenty) here's our tried-and-tested recommendations for how to spend a weekend in Paris...
Where to stay in Paris
Le Marais
Hotel Sookie
If you’re looking to upgrade your wardrobe while in Paris, Le Marais is where you’re going to want to stay. From boutiques to second-hand shops, the Marais is undoubtedly one of the best areas for sorting souvenirs (BIS Boutique, Revoir Vintage and The Frankie Shop are a few personal faves).
And once you’ve shopped until you’ve dropped, Hotel Sookie is the place to rest your head. The hotel is the epitome of retro chic while still feeling modern - and most importantly, super clean. Like most boutique hotels in Paris, there aren't many facilities to speak of, but the café and lounge make a stylish spot for breakfast, coffee and co-working. Though being in a prime location, I would recommend exploring the neighbourhood to make the most of the city’s authentic restaurants and bars.
All in all, Hotel Sookie is great value for money; Solo travellers can expect to pay from €150 (£128) for one room, while a room that sleeps two is priced from €180 (£153).
Find out more here.
17th arrondissement
Hotel Mercedes
One of the biggest arrondissements in Paris is the 17th; it’s a whopping three times the size of the city centre. But why should you stay here? Well, there are few tourist crowds – instead, you’ll find neighborhoods filled with shops, markets, hotels, museums, parks and more. Essentially, here, you can enjoy la vie Parisienne, while still being close to must-see attractions like the Champs-Elysées and Arc de Triomphe.
And if you’re after a hotel to stay at when in the 17th arrondissement, look no further than the Hotel Mercedes. The 1930s Art-Deco building is super exclusive, home to only 37 rooms (and one dreamy duplex suite) and is conveniently located on Avenue de Wagram, approximately a 20-minute walk to the Arc de Triomphe. Plus, it’s only a one-minute walk away from Wagram station. Talk about convenience!
Rooms at Hotel Mercedes start from £125 per night, find out more here.
The neighbourhood of Pigalle
There’s never a dull moment in Pigalle. The former red-light district once had a bad rep for being seedy, but the area is transforming into a popular spot with hipster vibes akin to an East London neighbourhood. Of course, there’s still a flurry of all-night sex shops and strip bars, but there’s now enough clubs and cocktail bars, live music venues and chic boutique hotels to make you realise that you’ve discovered one of the hottest (and liveliest) areas in Paris.
Top tip: While in Pigalle, take a trip down the authentically Parisian Rue des Martyrs, an old neighbourhood market street (a bit like London's Portobello Road). It’s full of cute pâtisseries, boutique shops and cafes, so grab yourself a Nutella crepe and bag some treasure.
Hôtel Rochechouart, Pigalle
Part of the Orso group, this quintessential Parisian hotel has everything you could want from the City of Lights: just a short walk away from the Sacré-Coeur (visible from some rooms), it serves serious old school glamour with an art deco feel running throughout – and has happily affordable room rates. You can practically feel the history of the building pulsing throughout and rumour has it, it's just as popular with celebrities today (Lily Allen recently stayed there) as the site was back in the roaring twenties.
As for the rooms, Paris is known for its intimate bedroom sizes and the classic double rooms at Hotel Rochechouart could certainly be accused of falling into that bracket, but there was still ample space for our suitcases and the cosy vibe made it perfect for switching off after a long day of exploring. All the staff we chatted to were super friendly, speaking an array of languages – so fear not if your French is rusty – and were more than happy to recommend a great local spot for a drink, dance or bite to eat, too.
Elsewhere in the hotel, the restaurant (Maggie's) more than exceeded expectations. But there's more on that below with the rest of our foodie recommendations!
Rooms at Hotel Rochechouart start from £162 per night, find out more here
Le Pigalle Hotel, Pigalle
Also in Pigalle is, err, Le Pigalle – a quirky boutique hotel that’s far from your traditional, stuffy five star. It’s also around the corner from Pigalle station, neighbouring Montmartre and a 5 minute walk from the Moulin-Rouge. From the quirky, liberal artwork to the retro furniture and dreamy marble table tops, this hotel is cooler than we'll ever be.
Each room is oh-so-Instagrammable and feels immensely chic yet cosy – the comfy bed was literally heaven after a long day walking around the city. Expect the home-from-home essentials like your own bedroom has, but far chicer cooler – we’re talking about the unique artwork and books, an iPad, a record player and personal selection of vinyl’s, as well as your own bar with cute pre-bottled cocktails so you can sip on a Manhattan while you get ready for dinner.
Downstairs is home to a cafe and restaurant complete with record library and DJ decks, so expect to experience a laid-back coffee shop vibe in the day and a buzzing atmosphere when the resident DJs start playing their sets at night.
Rooms at Le Pigalle start from £240 per night, find out more here
The 16th arrondissement
Molitor Hôtel & Spa, Boulogne
If you’d rather get out of the hustle and bustle of the main city, Molitor needs to be your top choice – based in the chic 16th arrondissement in the boujee neighbourhood of Boulogne, it's an oasis of peace and quiet, on the doorstep of a huge park (and for tennis fans: right by Roland-Garros).
Originally opened in 1929, Molitor was the most popular swimming baths in Paris. It closed in 1989, but soon became one of the best-kept-secrets of the Parisian underground scene, flocked to by ravers and graffiti artists. Now, after re-opening in 2014 as a hotel, the best bits of all those eras have been embraced.
The Art Deco design is gorgeous and the two full-size swimming pools (one heated outdoor, one indoor) are surrounded by sun loungers and deck chairs. There's even a luxe Clarins spa, Shu Uemura salon and gym to match. But they've also embraced the building's street art roots, with amazing murals, installations and graffiti artwork everywhere you turn. Plus, there's a rooftop bar, amazing restaurant and poolside terrace.
While the huge swimming pools and green views mean you're not on the doorstep of the major landmarks, there's a metro stop just 5 minutes walk away and if you're feeling energetic, you can still walk to the Eiffel Tower in around 45 minutes.
Rooms at Molitor start from £275 per night, find out more here
Opéra
M Social Hotel
Fun modern decor with a vintage twist? Check! A cosy library nook to hide in on a rainy day? Check! Housed in an area that means excellent bars, shops and restaurants are all on your doorstep? Hat trick! Not only is the breakfast offering top notch at the M Social Hotel, but by Parisian standards the rooms are generous in size too (and we found ours to be spotless, might we add). The comfy beds are also perfect for catching a good night's sleep in after a day of culture at the Louvre or shopping in Galeries Lafayette, one of the city's most iconic shopping centres, both of which are an easy walk away.
In addition to it's ideal location, we found all the staff at the M Social Hotel to be polite and friendly, and that the petite lobby bar was ideal for a pre-dinner drink and a spot of people watching... or a game of chess, if you fancy.
Rooms at M Social Paris start from £177 per night, find out more here
Kimpton St Honoré (part of IHG Hotels & Resorts)
FYI, when you daydream about your fantasy trip to Paris, it's likely the Kimpton St Honoré that you're imagining – whether you know it or not. This five-star hotel (also located in Opéra, making it a short walk from everything you'd ever want to see in Paris) is the epitome of French luxury, with super high standards throughout. We loved our room so much we took pictures from every angle to add to our 'dream bedroom' Pinterest board, and found the team working at the Kimpton St Honoré to be some of the nicest people we met in the city – five star service indeed.
On top of that, there's also a sleek gym and spa area, complete with pool and sauna, that guests are welcome to use, along with bikes you can borrow to explore the city on wheels. We're already trying to work out how we can book another visit to this very special hotel (rumour has it they're very good at making a fuss of you if it's your birthday...).
P.S. As a hot tip, we'd advise not going for the breakfast/brunch buffet option as some items on the menu weren't included, and instead just ordering directly what you'd like from the menu. It'll likely work out cheaper.
Rooms at Kimpton St Honoré Paris start from £377 per night, find out more here
Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 7th arrondissement
Le Grand Hôtel Cayré
If we had the money, we’d probably just move into Le Grand Hôtel Cayré permanently. It offers Le Labo toiletries, staff that go above and beyond, and interiors we only wish we could transplant into every room of our own homes. (Actually, good news on that front – you can buy any of the furniture and collector’s items in the hotel’s La Chambre du Collectionneur room, created in collaboration with artist Gilbert Kann). This relatively new opening from the Miiro Hotels group is less than a year old but is surely set to become a Paris staple amongst those in the know, with its passion for art and good times evident from the moment you step into the lobby. It also has a divine restaurant, Annette, and a fun speakeasy cocktail bar on site, L’Officine Bac, too.
The hotel is a real win on the geographical convenience front, situated in the hip neighbourhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the 7th arrondissement, and with a metro stop just a stone’s throw from the front door. This means it’s also ideal if you’re a newbie in Paris and are still trying to gather your bearings.
Pro hack: if you’re able to book a Premium Room, it’s well worth it for the nighttime views of the Eiffel Tower, which you can kick back and watch sparkle from the comfort of your freshly-pressed sheets – or, take a 40-minute stroll to the landmark in the daytime, as it’s well within walking distance of Le Grand Hôtel Cayré.
Given it’s Paris, don’t expect a huge room, but in our opinion this gorgeous option never misses and certainly doesn’t feel lacking in anything. It’s also worth noting that if you arrive ahead of check-in time or have time to kill after handing your room key back in, there’s a Refresh Room available for guests to shower and kick back in for an hour at a time.
Rooms at Le Grand Hôtel Cayré start from £312 per night
Where to eat in Paris
Du Pain et Des Idées
Head to Du Pain et Des Idées for the dreamiest bread and pastries ever. The bakery is a fave among locals and tourists, and if you have one of their melt-in-the-mouth croissants (or 'pistachio snails') you’ll see why.
Buvette
A cozy brunch spot delivering all the carby French classics – our Croque Monsieur was possibly the creamiest, cheesiest thing we've ever eaten. Buvette is a must-visit if you’re in Paris.
Miznon
Serving Israeli food with a French twist, Miznon is the perfect spot to refuel in between sightseeing and shopping. You'll often find a long queue of people outside, but it’s worth the wait for the whole-roasted cauliflower, minty lamb kebab pitas and beef bourguignon. There’s plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, and you can choose to take your pitas away for a stroll along the Seine.
Annette
Look, honestly if we could eat at Annette every day of the week we probably would – in particular the chocolate mousse by Nicolas Berger, a real menu highlight. Annette is all about celebrating traditional French fare and the dining room interiors are everything our Parisian dreams demanded and more: tiny fringed lamps, mismatched paintings (which somehow go together perfectly) and marble tabletops. This is the place to live out your best ‘I’m a French girl now!’ fantasy, be it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Citrons et Huîtres
If you're a seafood and natural wines fan, Citrons et Huîtres oyster bar (situated right around the corner from Hotel Rochechouart, FYI) is the perfect spot for a date night or catch up with a friend. The owners are always happy to recommend a wine to pair with your food and the intimate space is popular with locals and out-of-towners alike.
Maggie's
Want to feel like you're in an old Hollywood movie for the night? Eat at Hotel Rochechouart's restaurant, Maggie's – it boasts classic French fare (for very reasonable prices considering the opulent surroundings) and the dimly lit dining hall, complete with mosaic flooring, makes it feel like anything could happen... and that anyone could be about to walk in mid-starter. A menu highlight? Le fameux gâteau du crêpes, a stack of thin fluffy pancakes drizzled in a creme vanilla custard (€12). Your stomach will thank you for it. We also loved the artichoke with vinaigrette, and please do note that there's an impressive cocktail menu to boot.
Peppe Pizzeria Martyrs
Keen for a pizza fix? (We feel you, it doesn't matter where in the world you are, sometimes you just need a slice of the cheesy stuff). Peppe Pizzeria is the go-to in Paris, adored by the locals – the table next to us leant over to tell us so – and famed for its authenticity.
Where to drink in Paris
Dirty Dick
Pigalle really comes alive at night so it's easy to find a party. We found ourselves wandering across the road to a Tiki bar called Dirty Dick (can you tell it used to be a sex club?), which serves Polynesian-inspired cocktails in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways. It may take ten minutes for your bartender to make it, but it’s 1000% worth it when you see how your Instagram-worthy cocktail is presented. Don’t be surprised if they light your drink on fire!
Moonshiner
Love a tucked away gem? This cocktail bar, well, speakeasy, is hidden away around the back of a pizza restaurant (you have to walk through a 'freezer' to reach it). The staff love to chat through the menu, so make sure you ask for a recommendation before ordering your usual – you might just discover a new favourite.
Bar Les Ambassadeurs
For a special occasion, you’d struggle to find anywhere else in Paris as luxe as Bar Les Ambassadeurs, a cocktail bar tucked inside the impressive Hôtel de Crillon (part of the famed Rosewood Hotels collection). Seriously, it had a long and eager queue vying to get in for a reason. While not cheap – some of the artisanal drinks on the bar’s seasonally changing menu cost more than €30, a glass of wine begins at €19 and fries are €12 – you’re in part paying for the surroundings. And oh my, what decadent surroundings they are *sigh*.
Bar Les Ambassadeurs is all high ceilings adorned with painted murals and heavy chandeliers, mirrored and marbled walls, and gold trimmings – and if you time it right, there’s great live music on offer to boot. It is the perfect place to visit as a treat and if you want to feel like you’ve stepped back in time, to the soaked-in-glamour Paris of the roaring twenties.
L’Officine Bac
Offering privacy and personalisation, this nook of a cocktail bar (a former pharmacy) in Le Grand Hôtel Cayré is small but perfectly formed – with a secret weapon up its sleeve. The mixologists will cheerfully make you any drink you want, on or off the menu. Simply tell them your poison of choice and they’ll get to work on something bespoke, whether it’s a fun twist on a spicy margarita or an extra, extra dirty martini with a surprise new ingredient. The ideal nightcap spot.
What to do in Paris
Paris can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to rinse your bank account. There are a number of ways you can be savvy with your spends to free up some budget for what’s important to you (like wine and cheese).
Museums
Museums are free on the first Sunday of every month, so schedule your trip with that in mind if your aim is to get cultured on a budget. Most attractions also offer student discount but you can save a lot if you buy a Paris Museum Pass too, which offers access to more than 60 museums and attractions. Strapped for money and time? Pick your must-see attractions and visit them first. We recommend sightseeing on a weekday so the crowds are smaller or go first thing in the morning when they open, particularly with hugely popular attractions like The Louvre. It’s worth pre-booking as queues for The Louvre can go on for hours.
Can't get into The Louvre? The Musée des Arts Décoratifs is right around the corner and offers a fascinating look at fashion and furniture over the years.
Get walking
The secret is to walk everywhere! If you’re lucky with the weather, Paris is perfect to explore by foot. We walked around the city for hours, slowly taking in the architecture and shopping (at the Forum Des Halles) in between.
Keen for a walking route? It’s worth dropping by The Louvre before walking through Tuileries Garden and venturing to the two islands in the centre of the Seine: Île de la Cité, and Île Saint-Louis to take in the beauty of the Notre Dame cathedral. From there you can walk to the Pantheon, before heading to the grassy Champ de Mars for a picnic, with the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower.
Don’t forget to head up the steps to the Sacré-Coeur for the most wonderful views of Paris. If you fancy an evening wander, take in the iconic Champs-Élysées at sunset and walk down the grand avenue to the Arc de Triomphe. Paris? Completed it mate.
Le Crazy Horse
Think that catching a burlesque show in Paris means a visit to the Moulin Rouge? Having done both... we'd suggested opting for the just-as-legendary Crazy Horse instead. In our humble opinion, the show felt chicer, more intelligent and was a real highlight of our trip, with every performer offering up something different. Expect cheekiness, to laugh out loud and to urgently want to invest in a colourful cropped bob wig (you'll know what we mean after you've seen the show!).
The venue is known to host legendary guest performers too, ranging from K-pop stars to Dita Von Teese.
Tickets for Crazy Horse start from €75
How to get to Paris
For us, it was all aboard the Eurostar! Which now offers trips from London to Paris starting from £39 (each way). There are multiple trains travelling out of St Pancras to the French capital each day, and the stress of airport security and waiting around is certainly alleviated when you head by train (plus it's kinder to the planet too).
Find out more about getting the Eurostar from London to Paris here
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
Sophie Boyden (she/her) is Cosmopolitan UK's Head of Social, who leads the content creation and social strategy across the brand’s social media platforms - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest and Snapchat. She also occasionally contributes news and features for the website.
