Paris in Review

Written by Pages Editorial.

It helps to begin with the arrondissements. Numbered districts, spiralling outward, offering orientation in a city that prefers suggestion to direction.

Each district is its own small world, and the more time you spend here, the more the numbers begin to feel like shorthand. I found myself saying "the Marais" often (the 4th arrondissement) without much thought. That’s how Paris works on you. It becomes familiar.

New York thrives on momentum, urgency, and invention. London runs on polite panic. Paris is measured, mild. After a recent stint we’ve collated a list of helpful Parisian spots, Paris in Review.

Understanding the Arrondissements

The 3rd Arrondissement: Balanced and Understated

The 3rd is adjacent to the Marais, a little more considered.

Sevenly Hearts – An intimate cafe/bar, good coffee, good wine.
Carbonis – Natural wine, dim light. Great italian food.
Officine Buly – The perfect keepsake.
The Room Vintage Shop – Curated Vintage. Pieces that have lived.
Open Dressing – Thoughtfully secondhand, think JPG.
Yvon Lambert Gallery – Contemporary art without pretence.
Bobby – A relaxed archival vintage store.
OFR Bookshop – Perfect.

4th Arrondissement: Le Marais

The Marais is dense with history — stone courtyards, narrow lanes, small doors leading to smaller gardens.

Chez Janou - The chocolate mousse
La Perle - infamous, best during fashion week
Musée Picasso Paris

Notable mentions Pink Mama in the 9th, Le Louvre (1st) & the book stalls along The Seine

6th Arrondissement: Classic Left Bank

The 6th leans into its legacy: literature, cafés, carefully kept gardens. It’s more polished than bohemian these days, but still carries something of the old rhythm of the Left Bank.

Jardin du Luxembourg – The most beautiful garden.
Café de Flore – Often unbearably full, but a canon event
Studio 7L – Bookshop & Creative studio, founded by Karl Lagerfeld.

1st Arrondissement: Quiet Grandeur

The 1st feels is ceremonial. This is the center of Paris: royal gardens, museums, the city in its most formal expression.

Au Vase de Delft – Antique ceramics and fine porcelain.
Bijouterie Miller – Vintage jewellery, mostly French, beautifully chosen.
Diptyque (Original Boutique) – Familiar scents in their original setting.
Musée de l’Orangerie – Monet’s water lilies.

Paris in Summer & Winter, the seasonal shift.

Summer in Paris is slower. Many locals leave, and the city feels more open, sometimes emptied. Mornings are best early, before the heat settles in. Find shade, terraces, late dinners. Dress lightly, walk often.

Winter, by contrast, is when the city tightens and becomes more inward. Coats, fur, shorter days, better light, quieter streets and room to think. It’s a good time to explore museums, bookstores, and long conversations.

Further reading, read Joan Didion’s favourite books here.

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