Time to layer up like an onion, because it?s that cold here! As the winter is in full force, Paris is definitely in the festive season with all the streetlights coming on the cutely decorated streets (like Rue Montorgeuil), the markets along the Champs Elysees with hot wine and crepes, and people preparing to cozy up at home around their Christmas trees with family. Weather you?re a college student (maybe doing your Erasmus year?) on a tight budget and this is your first semester abroad or you?re an expat couple living here for a while now and your priority is family time; I hope this list will have a few things you can do solo or with others for the Christmas and to ring in the New Years.
It’s not a final document – but I decided to publish it anyway and make additions later.
Of course, I?ve tried my best to put the direct links for more detailed information such as addresses and times for everything in the list.
ARTS AND CULTURE
1. Jeff Koons @ Centre Pompidou ? until the 27th of April 2015 ? 11am to 9pm ? Plan your visit here ?- 13 Euros
2. Haiti @ Grande Palais ? until the 15th of February ? 10am to 8pm ? From the 6th of December one ticket gets two people access! 12 Euros and free for under 16yr olds. Plan your visit here
3. Gary Wingogrand @ Jeau de Paume ? until the 8th of February ? 11am to 7pm ? 12 Euros -?Plan your visit here
4. Francois Truffaut @ all over Paris by Cinematic Francaise ? until the 1st of February – Plan your visit here
COFFEE
5. CREAM ? new to the coffee scene this hip spot in Belleville is serving up some serious 3rd wave coffee with a roasted beans from Belleville Bruillerie. You can also grab some sweet and savory food too for lunch. Open everyday quite early (for Parisian standards) from ? 7:30am to 6:30pm
Address:10 Rue Pradier, 75019 Paris, France
Their Facebook
Here?s an interview of Maxime from Caf? Belleville?s blog ? it?s in French though
6. Le Poutch – Offering a healthy selection of breakfast and lunch with coffee from Coutume Caf?. Super cozy d?cor with lots of pillows, old tiled floors, and scattered wall mirrors! Lunch menu have a quiche and salad for around 12 euros and the cappuccino is delicious for 4 euros. Also it helps with its popularity rating that its on the same street as one of our favorites HolyBely and just a few feet down from the other new spot Pancake sisters (try getting a reservation before heading over!)
Address:?13 rue lucien sampaix 75010 paris
Their Facebook?
EAT
7. 52 Faubourg St. Denis – New spot (from the guys behind Le Richter ) that was once an old butcher shop has been ripped and redone ? well they left the floors bare for a minimalist chic style that seems to be in nowadays. But don?t let the d?cor fool you this is one of those places where its perfect for a romantic night out or just a group dinner with your pals around good food and wine on a rather happening street of Paris. Meals average 15 euros ? caf? 3 euros open from 8am to – no reservations necessary.
Address:?52, rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis,?Paris,?75010
8. Les Chouettes ? New place in the Marais ?massive space with lots of light and a decent selection of wines and decent prices too! Used to be Caf? Rouge.
Address: 32 rue de Picardie, 75003 Paris
9. See above ! Le Poutch – Healthy mostly vegetarian food in a cozy d?cor with mix matched chairs and rustic tiles. Coffee by Caf? Coutume. Great for weekend brunches.
10. Pancake Sisters – Smash into some pancake goodness at this specialty spot close to the canal on the idyllic street Lucian Sampaix. Make a reservation though, it?s a small space and I tried just dropping by on a Sunday morning for brunch without a reservation.
Address:?3 Rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010 Paris, France
Reservations: +33 9 83 33 30 23
Their Facebook
MUSIC/ PARTY
11. Yard Party Xmas – 19 December @ Electric
12. We LOVE Loft Party – 13 December @ L’Usine
DRINK
13. DBB/ Paris – Death By Burritos Paris ? after the very successful London version ? Paris now has its own DBB with genious?Shea making sure we get our fair share of high end burritos and cocktail craftology: one part taquer?a and one part trendy cocktail bar close to the canal. Open 7m to 2am with the kitchen closing at 11pm. Think aged beef tartar tacos and
DJs spin too!
Address:?4 Rue de la fontaine au Roi,?Paris 75011
Their Facebook?
14. The Little Red Door – A new speakeasy bar in the Marais on Rue Charlot ? concise selection of cocktails but the bartenders are exceptional.
Address:?60 Rue Charlot, Paris 75003?
Their Facebook
15. Gossima Ping Pong Bar – newly discovered this super cool spot ? if you?re a ping pong fan!
Address:?4 Rue Victor Gelez, 75011 Paris, France
Their Facebook ?
STAY
16. Hotel Dupont Smith – want to stay in a super central location in one of the most trendy neighborhoods of Paris? Then I have to tell you guys about this new hotel in the Marais quartier
Each room is tastefully decorated in a theme with names such as the John Doe room, Or Saint Leger Leger room?
http://www.mrandmrssmith.com/luxury-hotels/hotel-dupond-smith
Rates from 275 per night
Address: 2 rue des Guillemites, 75004, Paris, France
17. Airbnb Paris
Has some of the best places to live like a local, in classic romantic or hipster parts of Paris you name it you can find it!
KIDS
Just in case you have little ones or you?re a big kid at heart.
18. Window displays at Galleries Lafayette or the massive upside down Christmas tree inside is a main attraction for kids under 5 years.
Address: Galeries Lafayette, 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France
Open 9:30am to 8pm
Closed SUNDAYS
19. Activities and Workshops at Gaite Lyrique (digital museum)
Lots of workshops and activities such as concerts and screenings for kids. They also have a floor with computer and video games accessible for free to all. I love going to their books and magazine section to read the latest edition of Monocle Magazine http://monocle.com/magazine/
Address: 3bis Rue Papin, 75003 Paris, France
Open 11am to 7pm on weekends
I?m taking my son and his friends to this one where they will create light with their voice ?allo-halo, courts-circuits lumineux? by Chevalvert
December 6 and 13 , January 31 , and February 7
Murmur ? From sound to light, by talking to walls. from Chevalvert on Vimeo.
20. ICE SKATING at a couple places in and outside
a. Inside Grande Palais ? 15 November- January 4
Grand Palais:?3 Avenue du G?n?ral Eisenhower,?75008 Paris 8
10am to 8pm for all – kids and family
9pm to 2am for the dance floor / dj section
Thier Facebook?
15 euros adults, 10 euros kids,?
b. Outside the City Hall of Paris / Hotel de Ville ?- 19 December ? 4 March
Free if you have your own skates: 5 Euros to rent. Open from 12 noon to 10pm Mondays and Thursdays. Other days 10 ? 10 and until midnight Fridays and Saturdays.
21. SUPERDIMANCHE / SUPER SUNDAYS ? a series of Sundays that are made for family time out with ponies, workshops, giveaways and horse racing. Smaller kids can also meet Santa Clause to tell him your wish.
Sundays between December 7 ? January 18th. !2noon to 6pm.
FREE if you reserve a ticket from their website
22. A VILLAGE FROM THE MIDDLE AGES/ ?LES ENCHANTEURS DE NOEL? – Take them out to see how life used to be way back in the middle ages ? and all you have to do is get on the metro and head to Ch?teau de Vincennes: ?Avenue de Paris 94300 VINCENNES. I?ve been to a few of these all over France and it?s a total surreal and fun experience!
23. What to do Wednesdays ? Found this super blog ? by a Parisian Dad, called Daddy Coool (its in French) but has tons of tips for cool dad parenting in Paris including a featured Wednesday activity for the week! A great resource to be used all year round.
NOT TO BE MISSED/ CHRISTMAS IN PARIS
24. Christmas Markets
Champs Elysees ? one of the most famous ones on one of the most famous avenues. Little wooden stalls, crepes, hot wine and tons of products that can fill many Christmas stockings.
Everyday from 10:30 to midnight, Friday and Saturday until 1am.
Metro: Line 8 Champs Elysee.
25. The Big Wheel to see Paris from // ?La Grande Roue?
Equipped with access for persons with limited mobility too such as in a wheel chair.
26. Buy a Christmas tree at just about any supermarket in Paris ? such as Franprix, Lidl, or DIA. But you can also find a big selection from the florist along the Seine River on Rue de Pont Neuf. You can also pick one up at Leroy Merlin in Les Halles across from Centre Pompidou.
27. Light Show Champs-Elys?es
SHOPPING
28. & Other Stories ? New in the Montorgeuil/ Etienne Marcel/Sentier area. – 35 rue Montmartre ? great for leather products
30. Caf? Lomi online shop ?- get your coffee snob friend that grinder or coffee pot that will make them happy.
31. Macadam Bicycles – vintage or fixie they have it and deliver. On my wish list!
32. Anthropologie ? remember we told you guys! Their corner is inside the BHV MARAIS
33. Find a selection of Paris? cool products from this concept/ fashion / design store
34. Galleries Lafayette ? you name it you?ll find it here! Sidestep the long lines of tourists queuing outside the Longchamps part of the store by going early.
TOO COLD?
35. Passages ? Remember that article I did here. Hop in and around some of the best passages in the world.
36. Cinemas ? many cinemas have films in VO/ VOSTF ( version original ? with French subtitles) so you can spend some time seeing some of the most talked about Films to hit the screen like CAKE with Jennifer Aniston here in Paris,
37. Fancy?Tea Break ? get a bit fancy and have some tea at the Peninsula?hotel
38. Find a Bookshops corner to get lost in another world like (OFR, ARTZBOOKS, LE MERLE MOQUEUR)
39. Museums ? Musee Carnavalet and Musee D?orsay will keep you dreaming and nostalgia for the romantic period and French life in their massive selection of impressionist art and history of Paris. There is also an interactive exposition for SADE at Musee D?Orsay.
DAY TRIPS
40. Paris is about an hour to two hours by train from some of the most beautiful places in Europe!
BRUSSELS, LONDON, DISNEYLAND, REIMS/ Champagne ? easy trips to theses cities and regions by train. You can book via Viator or Eurostar or even try the carpooling service that many people are using these days to travel.
NEW YEARS IN PARIS ? Coming soon?