5 things to do in Paris, at least once in your life
The City of Light is full of little secrets… and to be honest, we doubt it’s possible to get to know all its nooks and crannies in a single lifetime.
If we had to name just one, here are 5 of our favorite Parisian delights!
Imagine you’re in a movie in front of “Au vieux Paris”.
One of the most bucolic terraces in Paris is hidden away on the Ile de la Cité.
On the façade, an 80-year-old wisteria assaults the walls. The entrance is low, full of romantic promise.
Located just 100 meters from Notre Dame, you can’t come to Paris without enjoying a cup of coffee on its sunny terrace!
Au vieux Paris
https://restaurantauvieuxparis.fr/
24 rue Chanoinesse – 75 004 Paris
Stroll around Montmartre and see Dalida’s house
La Maison Rose, le Lapin Agile, le Sacré Cœur … There’s no shortage of cult sites on the Butte Montmartre!
This charming neighborhood is one of our favorite places to visit in Paris. One discreet address we particularly like is the home of singer Dalida. Go to 11 Bis rue d’Orchampt to admire this very special hotel.
In love with Paris and particularly attached to the ambiance of this neighborhood, the star lived here for most of her life. In fact, it was in this house that she chose to end her life in 1987.
(Sorry, but “Gigi l’amoroso” will be playing in your head all day long now!)
Maison de Dalida
11 Bis rue d’Orchampt
75018 Paris
Take a dip in the Molitor pool
A veritable meeting place for Parisians fond of breaststroke and other crawls in the 1930s, the Molitor pool, freshly reopened to the public a few years ago, is a true testament to Art Deco Paris (same era as the façade of the Hôtel États Unis Opéra!).
Closed in 1989, abandoned and occupied for many years by graffiti artists, the pool was reopened to the public in 2014 after renovation. This establishment was also made famous for being the first to welcome women in Bikinis after 1945!
Access to the Molitor pool is exclusively reserved for members of the “Club Molitor” and guests of the surrounding hotel.
But don’t panic, we’ve got the solution: if you book a treatment at “L’escale Molitor” at the Spa by Clarins, you’ll be given access!
Molitor swimming pool
https://www.molitorparis.com/fr/
13 rue Nungesser et Coli – 75016 Paris
Spend the evening in a Speakeasy, at the Mooshiner
Do you know the Speakeasys? You know, those hidden bars inspired by the American speakeasies of the Prohibition era.
If you’ve never tried one, we recommend the Moonshiner, in the Bastille district. But to get in, you’ll need to know the secret entrance…
To do so, push open the doors of the cold room of the Italian restaurant “Da Vito”, at 5 rue Sedaine. Just behind, you’ll discover a hidden bar unlike any other, taking you instantly back to the 1930s.
On the menu: hushed ambience, gramophone, subdued lighting… but also delicious cocktails and fine whiskies!
Moonshiner
https://moonshinerbar.fr/
5 Rue Sedaine – 75011 Paris
Admire the view of Paris from the Musée d’Orsay clock tower
If you’re heading to the Musée d’Orsay, one of Paris’s most majestic museums, don’t miss a trip up to the mezzanine!
Here you’ll discover some of the finest collections of Impressionist works, as well as the mythical clock of this former train station (yes, because before it housed works from all over the world, this place was full of trains!).
Through the clock, you can admire the Seine and the most beautiful monuments on the right bank. Oh, isn’t that Montmartre over there? And isn’t that the Opera House?
Musée d’Orsay
https://www.musee-orsay.fr/f
1 rue de la Légion d’Honneur – 75007 Paris
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30am to 6pm, 9.45pm on Thursday
Full price: 14 euros – Reduced price 11 euros