Expert tips on what to do, see, and eat on a weekend in Paris, France

Start your day in the most romantic city on earth by visiting Loulou in the heart of the Latin Quarter. It is an Australian restaurant that serves an all-day brunch menu with specialty coffees and teas. The decor does not resemble a typical Parisian brasserie, but the atmosphere is welcoming and festive. The quaint interiors are vintage, featuring Edison bulbs, brick-lined walls with white tiled detailing, rustic wooden furniture, neon signage, and an open cafeteria counter with leather stools. The highlight of the place is the outdoor shaded terrace boasting views of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame in the distance.

The offering consists of breakfast delicacies made using organic ingredients and vegan as well as gluten-free options. Some of the exciting dishes you can savor here are crispy chicken sandwiches with focaccia bread, avocado toast with pickled radish, Turkish-style eggs with roasted bell peppers, granola bowl with fresh berries, bacon cheeseburger with caramelized onions, and beef tartare in a mustard dressing. Do not miss out on their sweet treats, such as cinnamon rolls, cheesecake, and chocolate mousse.

Average bill – €22

Musee d’Orsay. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/museedorsay

We knowingly picked Loulou as your breakfast destination not only because it is nestled near the first hotspot but because it welcomes guests starting from 8 AM, which is a key factor for everyone whose goal is to avoid the serpentine line at Musée d'Orsay. Obviously, it's a tough challenge, and there is really just one tip here – finishing the morning meal early and heading to the artistic haven before opening at 9:30 AM.

Visiting the Louvre in Paris seems to have become an obligatory task for tourists, no matter whether they are interested in the aesthetic legacy of the world or not. Belted by the Seine, Musée d'Orsay is more compact and boasts a stunning collection of Impressionist art, including masterpieces of Claude Monet, Édouard Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin, and van Gogh.

It is a true delight, yet a bittersweet one, witnessing that Vincent is recognized and celebrated by the modern generation. The genius painter, this unschooled talent, had to struggle with all sorts of obstacles throughout his entire life – from the shocking, eye-opening period in Borinage to excruciating seizures and mental crises. Today, seeing the iconic turquoise blue Portrait de l'artiste, lovingly and proudly exhibited in the cradle of L'impressionnisme, makes you smile unconsciously at the once-unfortunate Dutch, whose only buyer used to be his caring brother, Theo.

Find out more and buy tickets online here

Our next stop takes us to a place where you can effortlessly dine with locals – Chez Lili et Marcel. It is a traditional French bistro that serves generous portions of comfort foods. Think of it as a lunch canteen where many residents frequently enjoy their afternoon snack, especially on the terrace in spring and summer. The ambiance is vintage and cozy, made up of a large glass façade, dark sofas with red leather furnishings, and wooden homestyle cabinets.

On warm days, the jam-packed al fresco seating offers patrons a sunny casual environment to relish their meals. Expect to sample scrumptious classic items, including beef carpaccio with toasted crisps, roasted chicken strips with quinoa salad in a balsamic glaze, braised beef Burgundy with wild mushrooms, chicken legs cooked in white wine served alongside caramelized carrots, and grilled angus sirloin with mashed potatoes. In desserts, the main highlights include tasty dishes like rum baba doused in syrup and lemon cheesecake with crème fraîche.

Average bill – €27

The City Of Fashion And Design. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/CiteModeDesign

Let’s step on the path called The Evolution of Aesthetic Vision by heading over to Cité de la Mode et du Design (The City Of Fashion And Design) on the Quai d'Austerlitz. Like a real French coquette, it arrived with a slight delay: the public opening scheduled for 2008, took place two years later, in 2010. Parisian architects Jakob & MacFarlane came up with the bold project, immediately striking the eye with its futuristic neon-green steel-and-glass panels. The site presents a redeveloped former shopping center, whose smooth shape pays homage to the flowing water of the Seine.

Today, Cité de la Mode et du Design is a multi-purpose structure with offices, creative spaces, exhibitions, beautiful floral terraces, cafés, and restaurants. It also houses the world's top higher learning institution for the textile, fashion, luxury, and design industries – the IFM (Institut Français de la Mode). For a joyful party, check out the Wanderlust bar and club, created by Arnaud Frisch and Antoine Caton. While such destinations are mostly suited for evening plans, Wanderlust has much more to offer throughout the day: an open-air cinema, yoga classes, captivating workshops, and food trucks with mouthwatering hot dogs.

Find out more here

Nothing beats the feeling of sitting on an outdoor terrace on a sunny evening in Paris’ Latin Quarters surrounded by greenery. One such place that allows you to enjoy this warmth is Maison Cluny. Started by the owners of Le Cornichon, Bertrand Chauveau and Paul Henri, it is a quiet street neo-bistro adjacent to the Cluny Museum gardens. The highlight of the destination is its two terraces parallel to each other where the calming flora creates the perfect atmosphere for an early evening dinner.

The culinary team is helmed by Chef Chauveau, who is formally trained in the kitchen of Jean-François Piège's Grand Restaurant – a two-Michelin-starred establishment. The menu consists of seasonal offerings made using pure regional ingredients. Indulge in delicious creations like fried chickpea crisps with smoked chili, scallops carpaccio with vanilla-infused olive oil, creamy chestnut soup with bacon, smoked herring pasta with haddock cream, roasted gnocchi in almond pesto, tender braised beef chuck with capers in Burgundy wine sauce. End the evening by watching the sunset with a glass of Kir royale or an apple cider mimosa and biting into a chocolate mousse with pine nuts.

Average bill – €36

The Abbey Bookshop. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/abbeybookshop

We bet Maison De Victor Hugo must have filled you with a burning desire to overcome the modern-day epidemic of dopamine addiction caused by the infinite Instagram or TikTok scrolling. The best help with this matter is rediscovering the joy of reading. Thankfully, Paris has a fantastic place that makes everyone fall in love with literature – The Abbey Bookshop. Situated on the quaint Rue de la Parcheminerie, it reminds some kind of a portal to a magical universe – enter the vintage narrow carved doors and wander among 40,000 books from all over the Anglo-American world.

The venue is the brainchild of Brian Spence from Toronto, who selected Paris’ Latin Quarter to make The Abbey accessible to a wide international audience in 1898. From scholarly to popular literature, new, used, and rare editions await you on gargantuan shelves lining the walls. The place also hosts numerous events – modern writers love launching their newly published works here.
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Find out more here

On the next day, come over to a decadent bakery shop in the mythical district of St-Germain-des-Prés by the name of Café Mulot. Situated within the House of Victor Hugo, the restaurant was started by Fabien Rouillard – a pastry chef from Lorraine, who designed this space to be an intimate and romantic setting as a tribute to the great man. The architecture and decoration of the place were developed by two artists – Florentine and Alexandre Lamarche-Ovize. Together, they elevated the coffeehouse with custom-made objects like vintage wall lamps, ceramics, and a canvas painted with charcoal that reinterprets Les Travailleurs de la Mer by Victor Hugo.

Start your meal with a buttery croissant sandwich with pastrami in Dijon mustard dressing along with a herbal green tea from Japan. Then move on to amazing main dishes, such as seared scallop risotto with Parmesan crisps, roasted chicken breast in forest sauce with potato purée, and roasted pumpkin penne pasta with spinach sprouts. Finally, treat yourself to tasty dessert items like Mont Blanc pastry with vanilla chestnut whipped cream and dark chocolate ganache with fragrant coffee.

Average bill – €31

Maison De Victor Hugo. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064335443361

Our first day started with brilliant artists led by Vincent van Gogh, so let’s continue following the letter V leitmotiv and explore the Maison de Victor Hugo – one of the hidden charming petite museums in Paris, nestled in the Marais district. An indisputable genius of the writing art, the novelist has masterly described complicated political and social issues of his time. The massive literary heritage of Hugo keeps influencing modern creative minds in the most unexpected, unorthodox ways, like The Hunchback of Notre Dame cartoon and the Les Misérables musical.

Inside the building, you will experience the authentic ambiance of Victor Hugo’s surroundings, with original furnishings and personal belongings as well as letters and manuscripts. Arguably, the most marvelous part of the mansion is the Chinese room. Adorned with intricate plates and pottery from all around the world, the space’s design was suggested by the writer himself. Hugo’s room boasts a breathtaking view of the oldest square in the city – La Place des Vosges. By the way, admission to the museum’s permanent collections is free. You must only get tickets to see the temporary exhibitions.

More information here

For lunch, indulge in a truly authentic Italian gastronomic experience without leaving Paris. Located at 22 Rue la Bruyère, VIA EMILIA is a quaint little trattoria started by a husband and wife duo – Martina and Éric. The place has become a neighborhood joint that has garnered a stellar reputation for providing succulent meals in an inviting setting.

The menu consists of imported produce procured from the mountainous plains of Emilia-Romagna, a fertile region in Northern Italy. Diners can relish exquisite specialties, including baked flatbreads stuffed with mortadella, lamb lasagna, garlic focaccia sandwich in pesto dressing with pancetta, ricotta-filled tortellini in a sage butter sauce, fried stuffed zucchini flowers in a sun-dried tomato emulsion, and potato gnocchi in Gorgonzola cream. Elevate your meal by pairing it with their carefully selected collection of Italian wines from regions such as Piémont, Emilie-Romagne, Tuscany, Sicily, and Venice.

Average bill – €24 (without drinks)

Musée Gustave Moreau. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064660630831

As the name suggests, the Musée Gustave Moreau is dedicated to the life and work of the famous 19th-century painter and art professor. If it wasn't for him, the world would have never seen the vibrant canvases of Henri Matisse – one of the ​École des Beaux-Arts students. Interestingly, the idea of establishing the museum belongs not to some successors, as it usually happens, but to Moreau himself. In April 1895, he requested Albert Lafon, a talented architect, to transform the family mansion into a small sentimental museum with numerous paintings and glass-fronted studios linked together by a gorgeous spiral staircase – the focal point of the building.

The location on Rue de La Rochefoucauld was opened to the public by the French government in 1903, and it has been kept in its original appearance ever since. Browse hundreds of Moreau’s artworks and dive into his eclectic imagination with a touch of Neo-classicism, the Italian Renaissance, and Symbolism depicting mythical creatures and fascinating scenes full of intricate details. Even if you are not the biggest fan of the artist, strolling his house is an absorbing adventure that feels like time travel.

Find out more here

B.Better revolves around providing environment-conscious, vegan gourmet food. It is the perfect place to end your vacation with a culinary experience like no other in the city. The interiors are also a reflection of the theme built using eco-responsible materials. The dining room oozes a pleasant ambiance: seaweed-based paint recycled by Algo, natural magnetic slate for menu items, glasses made from recycled wine bottles, and a bar lined with cornflower blossoms. These little details give the space its unique and quirky vibe as well as make all the difference.

Order smashed baby potatoes with eggless mayo, grilled corn tortillas filled with barbequed oyster mushrooms, quesadilla with lentils in guacamole sauce, vegan chicken tacos with tangy daikon coleslaw, and portobello mushroom burger with caramelized onions. In drinks, relish unique libations like homemade iced tea, coffees from Colombia, coconut cappuccino with almond milk, fruity cocktails, and local wines.

Tasting menu – €33

Opéra Bastille. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/operadeparis

In two days, we explored the priceless artistic legacy, the monumental world of literature, and the contemporary cultural milieu of Paris paired with a bounty of international and traditional culinary offerings. All that is left is spending a glorious evening by immersing yourself in the magnificent theatrical spectacle. For this purpose, there is no better place than Opéra Bastille. The venue performances include classic ballet, symphony orchestra concerts, and, obviously, opera.

After opening the luxurious Palais Garnier in 1875, it was decided to develop a popular and modern institution. Only a century later, in 1981, President François Mitterrand added the project to his monument-building program. 756 architects competed to get the job, and the lucky winner was a then-little-known Uruguayan-Canadian individual, Carlos Ott.

We highly recommend booking tickets in advance, since all the shows are highly sought-after. As of this writing, the Opéra Bastille répertoire features Paquita by Pierre Lacotte, Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi, The Rake's Progress by Igor Stravinsky, and The Cunning Little Vixen by Leoš Janáček, You can also join a guided tour to learn about the history of the place.

Find out more here

If you have got any questions or want to share some ideas, feel free to drop a comment below. Don’t forget to check out other food and travel guides in the Restaurant Guru digital library. Have a great vacation in Paris!