(1) Frist, croissant. Boulangerie Eric Kayser is a chain with stores all over Paris. Maison Kayser is an authentic artisanal French Boulangerie, meaning that bread and other baked goods are mixed and baked on-site all day long. Croissant, chocolate bread, raisin bread, apple turnover, almond croissant... awaken your taste buds with our pastries and butter buns available in store and online. Each Viennese pastry is prepared by passionate baker craftsmen, using quality products. Grab a quick latte and a croissant before you start your day!
(2) The Louvre. There's not much to say about the Louvre, because there's too much to say about the Louvre. Go for the architecture, go for the art. Whatever drives you - you have to go once. The Louvre is the world's largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris, France. The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built as the Louvre castle in the late 12th to 13th century. Make sure you buy tickets ahead of time. Keep in mind, even if you do have tickets, you will still have to wait in line.
(3) & (4) You most certainly may spend the whole day at the Louvre. But if you‘re just checking out the outside and would rather make your tour a culinary tour... then try to stop by the legendary Angelina or Laduree for lunch. Or even if you end up grabbing lunch at the Louvre, you definitely deserve a sweet treat for enduring the long wait in line and for pushing past all the tourists to get a quick glimpse of the Mona Lisa.
Savor the iconic Angelina hot chocolate and/or their signature Mont-Blanc. Or pick up a macaron from the world famous Laduree. Yes, Laduree is now all over the world... but it really just isn't the same!
(5) Galeries Lafayette is a beautiful building that houses some of the most beautiful things in the world. Unsurprisingly, prices here for French designers are significantly better than they are outside for France. They also have great sales - often more than standalone boutiques. Even if you don't enjoy shopping, definitely come here for the architecture. If helpful, they also have champagne bars set up in the shopping areas. Sit down, relax, and enjoy a glass of Dom Perignon!
Galeries Lafayette also has a separate building (Lafayette Gourmet). A feast for the eyes and the taste buds, this mouth-watering delicatessen offers up simple and gourmet food delights, delicious French produce and specialties from the best food brands around. Foodies will be in heaven here as they get to sample different cuisines and flavours from all four corners of the globe at the different tasting bars. It is a great place for lunch, a snack, or to pick up souvenirs for your food-loving friends back home.
(6) Don't go to Frenchie bar a vins if you refuse to wait for a spot. Also don't go if you're uncomfortable with small spaces or if you are very picky about where you sit. But if those things don't bother at you at all - then DEFINITELY check out Frenchie bar a vins. Located in a small alley, the tiny restaurant doesn't take any reservations. When you go, you have to push through a big crowd of people towards the tiny wine bar, find the hostess (who will look and dress like everyone else in the bar), to add your name to the list. You will have 0 comfort that she actually remembers... but trust me, she does. And then you wait. I highly recommend going with 2-3 friends (more than that would make it hard to get a table) - and make sure they are friends you can spend hours chatting over a bottle (or two) as you stand around closely waiting. Once you get seated - just order. Ask them for their recommendations and order everything. Most dishes are small dishes, so no worries about ordering too much. The whole dining experience is the epitome of the "cool" French hotspot dining. [If you prefer white table cloth dining where you can make a reservation and be calmly seated at a table, I also recommend their higher-end sister restaurant Frenchie, right across the street.]
(7) Paris has some of the coolest bars. They are small, hidden, and with carefully crafted cocktails. The servers are friendly, but not too friendly (it is Paris after all). Experimental Cocktail Club, located right around the corner from Frenchie, is one of these bars. With the improvised decor of an underground bar, Experimental Cocktail Club became the center of the rebirth of Parisian cocktail culture. Offering accessible prices and audacious combinations, quality ingredients, respectful informality and a distinctly French touch.
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