2nd Arrondissement

Chef Assaf Granit has become known for flavorful Mediterranean food and good vibes. His fourth Paris restaurant, Tekés, is the kind of place you could bring anyone, for any reason, and know you’ll have a fantastic time. Expect open-fire vegetarian cooking—perhaps grilled leeks, beetroot kabobs, za’atar and garlic galettes—in an airy space with high ceilings. The music is always killer, the vibe celebratory, and the service energetic and personable.

In a city of incredible florists, whose studios spill out onto the street with buckets of blooms, Une Fleur en Liberté might be the best. Their arrangements are also surprisingly affordable (especially compared to some of the more famous ateliers).

French-girl fashion is, in part, about effortlessness. But if you’ve ever tried to look effortless, you know it takes some intention to get there. Sézane makes clothes that embody Parisian je ne sais quoi, from perfectly cut denim to easy-breezy summer dresses.

In Paris’s Little Tokyo, at the end of Rue Sainte-Anne, Hotel Hana feels like a cozy and refined refuge from the bustling streets outside. The 26 guest rooms are designed to combine Belle Epoque glamour with Japanese minimalism, and the results are soft, feminine, and totally relaxing. Hanabi, the bar and restaurant, is moody and lush. There’s a small spa, too, with just two treatment rooms and a pool that’s better for soaking than swimming.

There are many and varied Oh My Cream boutiques around Paris—jump if you see one, and go right in—but we do love the Monmartre flagship. Get a next-level facial in the chicly minimalist treatment rooms, and discover incredible clean brands from all over the world (including goop Beauty, naturellement).

Walking through the heavy doors on this quiet, skinny alley in the 2nd and into the restored courtyard of the Hoxton is like finding a secret club.

As in the Hoxton outposts in Amsterdam, Brooklyn, and London, the lobby here is massive. And in this case, it's also built into a courtyard. Velvet sofas, natural light, and gorgeous decorative features (like a 300-year-old spiral staircase) make for an absurdly pleasant place to spend a few hours. For a change of scene, move on to the Hoxton’s Jacques Bar and its floor-to-ceiling windows that look directly onto the rooftops of Paris. The Moroccan-influenced cocktail list includes the Postcard from Marrakech, made of orange blossom and gin—it tastes like summer in a glass.

Proof that treat trends are pretty consistent, the shop Stohrer was founded in 1730 as the official pâtissier for Louis XV. The same cream-stuffed éclairs, delicate crème Anglaise tarts studded with berries, and rose macarons have been devoured by the French for the last 300 years. The bakery is theatrically beautiful, with glass-paneled walls (giving patrons near 360-degree views of all the sweets), chandeliers, and a full frescoed ceiling—an especially delightful experience for little ones.

Chez George is hyper traditional, a little overpriced, and exactly the kind of place where one wants to eat dinner in Paris. A classic bistro in every sense, down to the mirrored walls and too-small tables. As can be expected, steak frites and boeuf bourguignon is the way to go. Unlike some of the other old-world bistros in Paris, the food here is legitimately very good and the atmosphere delivers every time.

Rivié, one of the two bars in the Hoxton, has a wonderful brasserie, a lovely outdoor garden, and relaxing little nooks with armchairs and nice lighting. Settle onto a velvet barstool, order a glass of champagne or a dirty martini, chat with the friendly bartenders, and order plates of onion rings and tartare on toast as the evening slips into night.