The Essential Insider’s Guide to Paris – Never be a tourist again!

Paris is a city of intrigue; a city of hidden corners and restless charm. Today, we divulge our absolute favourite Parisian recommendations and attempt to decrypt the best-kept Paris secrets.

Moody, sultry, gritty, romantic, shining, vibrant, alive. Paris is a secret, an unspoken whisper, held between the lips of travellers, and locals, and sightseers, and honeymooners, and holidaymakers, wide-eyed and hushed before the city’s stunning grandeur.

To help you discover the very best of the French capital, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite Paris secrets.

1. Paris secrets: the best coffee

For almost every member of the MyFrenchLife™ team, a good cup of coffee is a much-loved (and much-needed) part of our daily routines.

Et pour moi, the last sip of coffee at home before boarding the plane to France feels like a long, melancholy goodbye to a lover.

So, we’ve compiled the cream of the crop into our top ten – along with a few bonus spots because just selecting ten was too hard. Read more.

2. Paris secrets: the best hot chocolate

The streets of Paris are shining with flickering lights and decoration. The temperature tumbles down. We have more layers on than an onion, and all we’re craving is a hot and heart-warming beverage.

All we want is a hot chocolate to perk us up! So, we’ve done our research (what a hardship) to find the hottest, the creamiest, the most simmering in the capital. Read more.

3. Paris secrets: the best cocktails

This month, we delve into some of the quirkiest, most atmospheric, and best-hidden cocktail bars in Paris to discover the French capital’s finest apéritifs, nightcaps, and everything in between.

It will surely come as no surprise that Paris’ nightlife is beyond compare. For drink connoisseurs, areas such as Oberkampf, South Pigalle, and Bastille are brimming with creative bars. Read more.

4. Paris secrets: the best breakfasts

One of my first memories of Paris has stayed with me all this time: my first French breakfast, under the narrow, sloping roof of a tiny Parisian hotel.

Warm, crusty baguette, tart-yet-sugary raspberry jam, flaky croissant, freshly squeezed orange juice, and a bowl (a bowl!) of creamy chocolat chaud. Read more.

5. Paris secrets: the best lunch spots

Perhaps one of the most widely known traits of the French is their ability to do everything well without seeming like they’re trying.

Whilst most people talk about this in the context of fashion, it applies just as equally to Parisian lunches too! Read more.

6. Paris secrets: the best bookshops

One of our very favourite things about Paris definitely has to be its legions of bookshops.

Whether we’re looking for the latest in French fiction or exploring the most important social issues, we’re sure to find exactly what we’re looking for in Paris. Read more.

7. Paris secrets: the best vintage boutiques

When you think of Paris fashion, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of classic, chic French women, swanning along the Seine, wrapped in trench coats and delicate silk scarves.

There is a myriad of vintage boutiques in Paris, but some of the best ones are located a little off the beaten path. Read more.

8. Paris secrets: the best experiences

Visitors to Paris can be overwhelmed with all there is to see. So, why not focus your next trip on what there is to do?

Plan a weekend or a week of experiences, not just sightseeing. Here are our top five suggestions for things you may not yet have done in Paris. Read more.

9. Paris secrets: the best of public transport

As the prospect of getting horribly lost lingers, the idea of public transport in a foreign city can be terrifying.

We know the temptation is to rely on the cab. But with six alternatives to the taxi, we’ve demystified Paris’ public transport system, meaning you can leave this tourist trap behind, and get across la ville lumière like a true local. Read more.

Which are your favourite best-kept Paris secrets? We’d love to hear your experiences and recommendations in the comments box below.