As if the streets of Paris didn’t reveal a perpetual fashion show all year round, twice a year the city turns into a veritable catwalk. Paris Fashion Week takes over the French capital, with long-legged muses parading around Le Marais, galleries turning into showrooms, and museums being transformed into venues where designers present their latest ready-to-wear collections.
In case you’re not among the privileged attendees at the fashion shows, there are plenty of spots to mingle with the stylish set. Here are a few new and in-the-know eateries where you will certainly feel in vogue and maybe even rub elbows with fashionistas themselves.
Le Nemours
A favorite spot for people watching and in proximity of where many fashion shows take place, Le Nemours boasts one of Paris’s most scenic terraces. Stay for a café crème or an early evening apéro following a stroll at picture-perfect Palais-Royal. If you can score a seat that is.
Read our full review of Le Nemours.
Le Fumoir
Nearby restaurant Le Fumoir, a regular haunt to many Rive Gauche Parisians, myself included, serves dinner late into the night, as well as some of the best mojitos in Paris. During the day, the terrace provides the perfect spot to soak up the sun.
Fellow Urbansider Guillaume shares why he loves this great Paris bar and restaurant.
The cozy, club-like atmosphere of Le Fumoir makes it a favorite for the stylish crowd. Photo via Instagram @le_fumoirHaut Marais Neighborhood
The fashionable Haut Marais district is filled with trendy restaurants and inviting cafés. You’ll undoubtedly discover the latest fashions by walking the length of Rue de Bretagne from locals’ favorite Le Progrès to Café Charlot. Stop by either for a vrai local experience.
The latest fashionable address to hit the neighborhood is Malro. A loft-like space featuring marble tables and a winter garden, this chic eatery is helmed by Italian chef Denny Imbroisi. Choose from savory pasta dishes or brick oven pizza while you dine in what feels like a nightclub. Dancing not included.
If it’s stylish libations you’re after, both Candelarìa, an unassuming bar hidden behind a taco stand, and Le Mary Celeste which serves tasty sharing plates, are top spots for some of Paris’s best cocktails.
CopperBay
Another fashion week favorite is CopperBay in the 10th Arrondissement. Although a bit further from all the action, this cocktail bar neighbors the Hotel Providence, a designer boutique hotel that many style mavens call home during Paris Fashion Week.
Read our full review of this cool Paris cocktail bar.
Before mingling with the fashion industry elite at one of these stylish spots, brush up on the history of Paris Fashion Week.
-
Origins of Paris Historical TourEnjoy a small-group historical walking tour in the streets of the Montagne Sainte Genevieve down to the river. -
Pastry Tour of Le MaraisLe Marais is arguably the hippest neighborhood in Paris. While some may say that there are too many fashionistas, bobos, and tourists in the area, the charming cobblestone streets and vibrant atmosphere just can’t be beat. But Le Marais isn’t just about appearances. Local guides Nikki and Frederi…
-
Discover the Goutte d’OrDiscover a side of Paris that most tourists never see. Frederic of TheWaysBeyond takes you on a walking tour you of his old neighborhood, La Goutte d’Or, one of Paris’s most authentic multi-cultural melting pots. Here, Parisians of dozens of different nationalities come together to share their tr…
-
Explore the Bastille NeighborhoodFollow Frederic and Nikki of TheWaysBeyond down the small streets of the Quinze-Vingts, an often-overlooked part of the Bastille neighborhood that’s as interesting as its oddly arithmetic name — quinze-vingts translates to fifteen twenties, or 15 x 20.
-
French Caviar TastingThe caviar you are about to discover is produced in the Dordogne region to the rhythms of the seasons and the life of sturgeons. This product of excellence, based on the valorization of a unique land and on innovative production techniques, is the reflection of impeccable standards. Research inno…
-
Walk Through History in Le MaraisFollow local guides Frederic and Nikki of TheWaysBeyond through the city squares and alleyways of Le Marais as you retrace the history of this iconic Parisian neighborhood. If many today consider Le Marais a must-see on any trip to Paris, it wasn’t always that way. In fact, in the early 20th cent…
-
Discover a Greener Side of ParisLet locals Frederic and Nikki of TheWaysBeyond guide you through the small streets off the Canal Saint-Martin and introduce you to some of the most exciting actors and addresses on Paris’s eco-conscious scene. The Canal Saint Martin neighborhood has always attracted an eclectic crowd, …
-
Stroll Through 19th-Century ParisStep back in time and into the Paris of the 19th century. Learn how the architecture, innovations, and politics of the time shaped the city as you walk its charming streets, explore its covered passages, and shop in one of the world’s first department stores — just as Parisians did then! A…
-
See the Sights Along the SeineSpend a leisurely morning like a true Parisian! Your local guide Sophie will meet you for a sightseeing stroll along the Seine, telling you tales of Paris past as you make your way east to explore a historic area before ending at a popular fresh food market just in time for lunch!
-
Wine & Cheese PairingThis experience is an excellent opportunity for people who want to have a light introduction to French wines and discover how to pair them perfectly with French cheeses. You’ll get all the basic information you need to know about wine in France, including proper terminology, proper wine ta…
More Paris Travel Tips
Join our free Urbansider Club to access personalized recommendations, downloadable guides, and a monthly newsletter with the latest from Paris as well as our new top addresses and experiences. You’ll also be invited to our exclusive Urbansider events in Paris.