The first of our Travel Series, our vision is to take you on day trips to cities around the world. Featuring the best local hangouts so you can experience life like a local on your adventures. In collaboration with In Places City Guide, join us for A Day In Paris.

LUNCH || Kunitoraya

1 rue Villedo, 75001

Only for the persistent! However, the reward for those who make it through the kilometre-long queue is the best udon in the city. The loooooong and narrow restaurant is filled with tables, with an open kitchen and brick walls decorated with a Japanese dragon made of cloth. It is the only colourful element in the Kunitoraya’s minimalistic décor. The highlight, however, is the delicious thick udon noodles served in a delicately fragrant broth. The selection of toppings is just as tasty: tofu, vegetables, tempura shrimp, duck or exquisite beef. On a scale of 1 to 10, we give it a 15!

PS. One should note that this great restaurant now operates over two different addresses in Paris – the third one being in Japan.

Photo || In Places city guide — *Photo || In Places city guide*

SHOPPING || Astier de Villatte

173, rue St. Honoré

Not to be missed at any cost! Astier de Villate is very romantic and presents a quintessentially Parisian ambience. Here, you’ll purchase a one-of- a-kind present for your best girlfriend – so long as, of course, you can actually afford a best girlfriend – viz. beautiful, white, rustic, handcrafted ceramics. The cognoscenti know that everything tastes better when served on Astier de Villatte earthenware. Much better, even.

Photo // @Stephen Kent Johnson — *Photo // @Stephen Kent Johnson*

SHOPPING || Yasmine Eslami

35 rue de Richelieu

Sexy and chic lingerie is an obligatory purchase in the most romantic of all cities, and the most Parisian lingerie is designed by Yasmine Eslami who has worked for many years alongside designers like Vivienne Westwood and magazines such as Purple or GQ. Her designs, which are made of very delicate tulles, cotton, and French lace, are inspired by her friends, and each collection is named after one of them. Caroline is the series that recalls the 1930s and 1970s, while the sexy one is called Lily… Boho-romantics will be delighted!

ART || Point Éphémère

200, quai de Valmy

Care for lunch, exhibition, drink and concert, all at the same time? If so, this is the place for you. In summer the gallery-café, sitting on the banks of the Saint Martin Canal, offers an extra attraction in the form of a garden. But a fantastic schedule of expositions and concerts is a sure bet all year round. The Point Ephemere is the haunt of the Parisian indie crowd.

Photo // ©Marie Rouge — *Photo // ©Marie Rouge*

ART || Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord

37 bis Boulevard de la Chapelle

This beautiful 140 year-old theatre has a long, stormy history. Notorious for the many changes of directors, spectacular flops, and other artistic disasters that led to its closure in the 1950s, it then remained in hibernation until the 1970s when it was taken over by Micheline Rozan and famed director / producer Peter Brook (for whom Krzysztof Warlikowski worked as an assistant in the 1990s). Since then, all the shows at the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord have regularly sold out. The theatre is now considered one of the best in Paris, and an important cultural institution worldwide.

Photo // Patrick Tourneboeuf — *Photo // Patrick Tourneboeuf*

DINNER || Dersou

21 rue Saint Nicolas

Exceptional in every way, the cuisine here consists of French classics with a Japanese twist, and the results are delightful! From the raw Bonito tuna with oysters and kale to a dessert consisting of a thick slice of challah served with green tea ice cream and a touch of slightly spicy fruit sauce, every dish prepared in the miniscule kitchen looks like a work of art, and is served on either simple Japanese ceramics or “granny-style” plates from the flea market.

A perfect example of the “shabby chic” style, the interior design of the elongated room – with its barely painted concrete walls, warm wooden floor, and a long bar counter made of raw wood – is yet another source of wonder.

TAPAS AND WINE // La Buvette

67, rue Saint-Maur

“Caves à manger” have been popular in Paris for quite a while. These bars with a large selection of inexpensive and often ecological or biodynamic wines usually serve small appetizers. Tucked away from the main tourist routes, La Buvette is one such place. The miniscule eatery, with only three tables, attracts a sizeable crowd of regulars and newcomers daily. Its charming hostess Camille welcomes them from behind an original 1930s counter, always ready to advise them on the choice of wine – something she knows a lot about, having previously worked for the likes of Le Dauphin and Le Chateaubriand.

DRINKS || Le Fumoir

6, rue de l’Amiral de Coligny

The monumental mahogany counter, countless bookshelves and timeless art-déco scheme take us back to the golden age of the French bohème. Unsurprisingly, Le Fumoir has been very popular among Parisians since forever. It is always full of varied and interesting customers who come here to

have breakfast, brunch with champagne, a salmon sandwich for lunch or cocktails in the evening. One can always drop by just to read the newspaper.

But who would actually want to read it with so many intriguing strangers around?

DRINKS || Candelaria Taqueria

52, rue de Saintonge

Visible from a distance, the pink neon sign “Tacos” means that we found the place, but the crowds of joyful youngsters pouring out leave us no hope of finding a free table. So we push towards the main counter, taking a peek at the kitchen where the famous tacos (better than the ones we ate in Mexico!) are prepared, before moving on to the real thing… Through the white door next to the kitchen, we get to a secret bar that looks like a mix between a cave and a surfers bar where we can order divine cocktails, from Santa Margarita to Pisco Disco. In the end we are left singing the praises of Candelaria… Any melody will do! We just love this eccentric combination of a taqueria with a secret bar.