Broaden your scope of Parisian art and culture, shop for fashion, food and luxury, learn the art of perfumery and dine in opulent surrounds, all in just 48 hours.
Musée de la Vie Romantique
Ticked off the Louvre? Already been to the Musée d’Orsay? Paris is overflowing with other museums and galleries. Nestled among the neoclassical homes in the New Athens District, with a garden full of roses, is the Musée de la Vie Romantique. Located in the home of painter Ary Scheffer and built in 1830, this residence was once the go-to hangout for the Paris art and literary set: Chopin, Liszt, Rossini, Turgenev, Dickens and many others.
The museum is all about the romantic period and features two annual temporary exhibitions plus concerts, readings and a fabulous tearoom in the garden. If you’re seeking something more modern, venture to Maison Européenne de la Photographie for contemporary photography or Palais de Tokyo, which focuses on modern and contemporary art and is home to the elegant and stylish restaurant Monsieur Bleu.
Rue Saint-Honoré
A trip to Paris wouldn’t be complete without a shopping excursion or two. Renowned as one of the most fashionable streets in Paris, if not the world, set your stylish sights on Rue Saint-Honoré.
Near the famous Champs-Élysées, along here you’ll find couture and high fashion from the major labels: think Hermès, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy and Chanel. For a more eclectic mix, venture to the historic Le Marais (once the Jewish Quarter) where cool boutiques, designer hotels, vintage finds and independent art galleries line the narrow, cobbled street and paths.
The city’s iconic department store, Galeries Lafayette, is also worth a visit. Beneath a stunning glass dome and in a beautiful Art Nouveau building, the store is located on Boulevard Haussmann in the 19th arrondissement.
Food is also in the shopping category: Galeries Lafayette also has a food market where you can stock up on picnic goods before venturing to the likes of pretty Jardin des Champs-Elysees, Luxembourg Gardens or Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
Create a signature scent
With its power of nostalgia, the idea of creating your own personalised bottle of perfume while in a city with such a strong historical connection to perfume-making sounds like a worthy Parisian activity. There are a number of perfume boutiques in the city, including Le Labo, which is dedicated to the slow, thoughtful process of creating fragrances, and Annick Goutal’s boudoir-style store with its impressive scent organ, as well as the renowned Guerlain Parfumeur boutique.
However, if you want to get more hands-on and enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the skills and techniques of the perfumer’s profession, it’s possible to take a class. Visit an atelier, such as Le Studio des Parfums or L’ABC du Parfum, to meet a ‘nose’ and learn about the history of this fascinating craft. Perfume-making classes generally then give you the chance to create your own signature scent, working with you to sniff, sample and identify the smells you like so you can build your very own perfume to take home with you — ensuring your visit to the City of Light lingers long after you’ve left.
Cristal Room restaurant at Marie-Laure de Noailles
In the former private mansion of Marie-Laure de Noailles — an artist, legendary party host, and darling of Paris’s high society — dazzling crystal chandeliers hang above diners in the pink-hued Cristal Room restaurant.
This spectacular dining room is inside iconic French crystal manufacturer Maison Baccarat, which is also home to a boutique and gallery–museum.
The mansion has been transformed by designer Philippe Starck, who has created an elaborate, whimsical space of oversized chairs, sophisticated furnishings and plenty of glittering crystal, of course.
The impressive Cristal Room’s sumptuous interior is matched by the French food created by Michelin-rated chef Guy Martin.
