Perfect PARIS
Why go? You’ve probably been before, and almost certainly will be going again, so why not keep things simple and focus on a single neighbourhood, one which offers a broad spectrum of pleasures as well as an unmistakable Parisian atmosphere?
Our favourite is the historic Marais, where you can shop in independent boutiques (especially along Rue des Francs-bourgeois), enjoy an aperitif in authentic bars (try the century-old Au Petit Fer à Cheval, the ‘horseshoe’, with its tiny zinc bar) and take your pick from a stock of museums, ranging from the amazing collection in the Musée Picasso to the immense polar bear and other stuffed beasts in the quirky Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature. Other must-sees include the tucked-away Enfants Rouges market, the arcaded Place des Vosges – the city’s most exquisite set-piece of medieval architecture – and Rue du Rosiers, the spine of the old Jewish neighbourhood. Stay The Mandarin Oriental (mandarinoriental.com/paris) is the newest of just nine officially rated ‘palace’ hotels on a site previously occupied by a circus, a riding school, a monastery and a ministry on fashionable Rue Saint Honoré. It has 138 cool, tranquil rooms, a rooftop vegetable garden with a beehive, a spa and beautiful pool, and a fine restaurant with outdoor dining. Eat Chez Janou (chezjanou.com) is a classic bistro, famous for its 80 varieties of pastis. Best to order your meal before sampling… Outing See the Fondation Louis Vuitton, Frank Gehry’s giant, futuristic, multicoloured, contemporary art museum that looks like an old galleon cast adrift amid the greenery of the Bois de Boulogne. Getting there You can take the Eurostar (eurostar.com) from London’s St Pancras straight to the Gare du Nord in a little over two hours, or fly from many UK airports.