... And this title is a little misleading, so let me clarify: I've been a Londoner for the past five years, but since I spend at least a week-end a month in my home town, I like to think I've perfected the itinerary for out-of-town friends visiting the city of love for the first time. And the first tip to doing Paris like a Parisian is simple: if anyone calls it the city of love, aggressively roll your eyes at them and proceed to look exasperated for the next 2 hours.
Beyond that, though, here are a few tips to cool places in Paris:
Derriere for dinner
When you finish your dinner, the waiters at Derriere will hand you a postcard with a picture of a man showing you his, well, derriere. But the restaurant is a lot more than the butt (haha) of the joke. Serving great French food in a beautiful setting, the best parts of Derriere are the ones you have to look for, like the smoke room (pictured below). You'll have to look for the Narnia wardrobe to get through to it - fun, delicious, and an easy way to impress guests.
... And next door drinks at the Andy Wahloo
You can get from Derriere to Mr Andy's lair by a side door, and that's pretty much the only way in. With a drinks menu that doubles as the adventure story of Andy himself, the Wahloo provides great drinks and music in an eclectic setting. The only downside is that, to nobody's surprise, it's a pretty popular place - so get there early on a Saturday night!
Sleep at the Mama Shelter
Straying from the traditional French hotels, Mama Shelter is a place to sleep, a bar, a restaurant, a rooftop terrace, an office (although this is your weekend! Don't work!) all at once. This great space set up in the 20th arrondissement attracts an incredibly fun and varied crowd thanks to its comfort and trendy decor.
Kill two birds with one stone at the Musée d'art moderne de Paris
There are two brilliant museums next to each other, usually with highly commendable exhibitions, and a pretty uniquely beautiful view in the middle. Those are the French MoMA, called MAM, and the Palais de Tokyo. Don't miss the latter's beautiful bookstore, where you can also buy some eccentric pills by artist Dana Wyse's collective, Jesus Had A Sister (some of my favourites include "Make Love Like a Frenchman" and "Understand Contemporary Art Instantly!").
One word of warning about Monsieur Bleu, the restaurant between the two museums: whilst the view may be tempting, the servers' complete lack of attention may leave you staring at it for longer than you might like, so tread carefully!
Liven up your Instagram with the Buren columns
... And I'm only being semi-sarcastic here, because I'm definitely guilty of taking a cheeky picture on top of this beautiful installation. Set just in between the Palais Royal and one of the most famous French artistic institutions (the Comédie Française), this piece is definitely worth the trip. Stick around the gardens and you'll discover some eclectic boutiques and serenely symmetrical alleys you can wander down.
Grab a pita for lunch at Miznon
The day I discovered Miznon's beef and garlic sauce pita, my life changed forever - and yours can too if you can brave the queue to this tiny little shop where you definitely shouldn't expect to sit down qfter you've been served. Don't miss their whole roasted cauliflower, a very Mediterranean delicacy which, like most other things at Miznon, will leave you licking your fingers.
Walk around l'Ile de la Cité
An enclave of calm in the middle of Paris, this tiny island is so French you'd think it was made for tourists. Don't see that as a bad sign though - it is host to France's best ice cream maker, Berthillon, and my favourite childhood summer bakery, La Cure Gourmande. Not to mention the enclave will provide you with the most beautiful view of Notre Dame available!
