Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Paris and check into our beautifully designed boutique hotel with friendly staff located in a charming, classically Parisian neighborhood. Eva will have a thoughtfully curated gift bag in hand for each of you.
Next, we’ll get to know each other and go over logistics for the week while chatting and sipping drinks in a picturesque café.
Afterwards, we’ll head down to the Seine River to take a leisurely hour-long cruise.
We’ll have a little time to explore a classic, slightly hidden part of the 6th arrondissement before dinner.
And then we’ll eat a delicious meal of classic steak frites… You’ll be tempted to lick the sauce right off the plate.
Day 2
This morning, as with every morning of the trip, a delicious breakfast awaits in the hotel atrium. (Open from 7am-10:30am.) Choose from fresh croissants, crusty bread, a lovely fruit salad, yogurt, eggs, cheese, and more. Plus, there’s fresh squeezed juice, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.
Then we’ll head over to the oldest floral shop in Paris to learn how to make hand tied French bouquets. Between the fresh blooms in our hands and the lush atmosphere of the shop, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more delightful experience.
For lunch, we’ll eat at a light-filled spot beloved by locals. Its cuisine is elegant and hyper-local, with a farm just outside the city limits supplying all of their produce.
From there, we’ll visit a jewel of a museum that showcases the life and work of a legendary artist whose paintings contain a haunting beauty that’s perfect for this season around All Hallow’s Eve.
Then we’ll have some free time to explore the charming Rue des Martyrs area. Whether you’re looking to hit up a vintage shop, take in another small museum, or while away your time on a cafe terrace watching the world go by, this is a great area to do it. Or feel free to head back to the hotel early for a little rest before dinner.
We’ll eat dinner at a friendly restaurant that serves authentic Breton-style crepes and galettes, just a 5 minute walk from the hotel. A crowd favorite!
Day 3
Today we’ll have the enormous privilege of visiting the private studio of an incredible artist and her studio assistant (who happens to be her daughter!) She’ll share her inspiring story, the ideas behind her work, and we’ll have a chance to shop for gifts and keepsakes among the enchanting world she’s created.
After the studio visit, we’ll head to a chic, cozy spot on the left bank that serves homemade pasta.
Next, we’ll visit a hidden gem of a museum that showcases gorgeous minerals and crystals in hand-carved wooden cabinetry and has a stunning view overlooking the Luxembourg Gardens.
After walking through those same iconic gardens——which are different in every season——we’ll end up at a shop that feels like a whimsical cabinet of curiosities.
From there, we’ll have free time to wander the neighborhood for a couple of hours——taking in lovely shops, cafe terraces, cathedrals, more of the gardens, or whatever strikes your fancy.
Free time to return to the hotel to rest and freshen up before dinner or stay exploring all that the Saint Germain neighborhood has to offer.
Tonight, we’ll enjoy dinner at a classic bistro just down the street from our hotel. Between the mirrored bar, the tiled mosaic on the wall, and the classic dishes on the menu, we’ll feel like we just stepped into a scene from the 1920’s scenes of Midnight in Paris.
Day 4
Free time for this morning to visit a museum, explore a neighborhood, do a little shopping, or whatever your heart desires. As with all our moments of free time this week, if you’d like recommendations of what to do, see, eat, etc. Eva is happy to help.
In the afternoon, we’ll meet back up to take a cake decorating class from a debonair local in his classic Parisian apartment, complete with herringbone floors and floor to ceiling windows. The magic of this experience is hard to convey in words, but trust me… it’s incredible.
Then we’ll pop into a couple of forever favorite shops in the Marais to browse their impeccably curated goods.
Our day will come to an end at a nearby Mediterranean spot that serves what NYTimes writer Lindsey Tramuta called “the best food in Paris right now”.
Day 5
Today we get to explore the charms of the Paris Saint Ouen Flea Market!
To start, Eva will give you a quick tour, helping everyone to get oriented (including where to find ATMs and bathrooms), pointing out her favorite sections, and sharing her best tips for bargaining and interacting with the vendors. Then you’ll be free to explore the market.
For lunch, we’ll stop at a stylish under-the-radar restaurant right outside the flea market, which serves fantastic, fresh French food.
Then we’ll continue exploring the various flea markets in the neighborhood. At the end of the day, we’ll meet up at a nearby cafe to get a chocolat a l’ancienne (old fashioned hot chocolate) and have a little show and tell with our flea market finds.
We’ll have some time to drop off our bags and rest at the hotel before heading out to the concert. Eva will bring everyone tasty takeout from a local spot to eat while we get ready.
As a grand finish to the day, we’ll experience the amazing acoustics and talent of a classical concert held in the oldest cathedral in Paris.
Day 6
This morning, a couple of friendly, design-loving locals will meet us for coffee in our hotel’s lovely atrium breakfast room. We’ll be able to ask them for recommendations for our free time this afternoon and pick their brains on what it’s like to live in the City of Light.
After our visit, it’s off to the most stunning hidden courtyard in Paris, complete with a garden, shops, and a striped art installation that’s a great spot for photos.
Then we’ll go to one of the city’s best outdoor market streets to shop for fresh cheese, bread, seasonal produce, and other essential picnic supplies.
A picnic in Paris is always fun, and we’ll get to enjoy one in the elegant Place des Vosges for today’s lunch! You might be surprised at how much we’ve all bonded over the course of the week——there really is a special alchemy that happens on these trips, and it’s always a little bittersweet to go our separate ways. During this last meal together, we’ll reminisce over the amazing week we’ve spent together.
Free time for the rest of the day to meet up with old (or new!) friends, take in one last museum, head back to that shop you spotted earlier in the week, explore a neighborhood you’ve been itching to check out, or whatever you’re in the mood for.
Day 7
As with every other morning of our trip, a flavorful breakfast spread will be waiting for us in the hotel atrium. We’ll come away from Paris feeling inspired and replenished for whatever comes next!
