There’s always a reason to eat, drink and be merry in Paris. But with the euro still sagging and fall just around the corner, the time to go is now.
And don’t worry about what to do upon arrival. We’ve selected the following time-honored spots for the best drinking, dining and dreaming in the City of Light.
DRINK
Sparks fly — literally — at Les Heures, a cozy bar tucked inside the landmark 1928 Prince de Galles hotel on Avenue George V. The Juste Maléfique — a summery concoction of aged rum, vanilla and ginger beer — arrives in a tiki glass with a fresh pineapple slice that’s flambéed before your eyes, while several dashes of cinnamon send up a spray of sparks.
Bartender Christopher Gaglione’s inventive take on old-school cocktails — served in an art deco-meets-modern space with Francis Picabia-inspired ceiling murals — include his signature Thai Mojito, an infusion of gin, peach and ginger that comes in a teapot (or a carafe in warmer months), accompanied by fragrant sprigs of Thai basil ($26).
You probably wouldn’t think about having macarons with a cocktail, but this is France, and the rainbow-colored confection is practically a national dish. At Le Bar Long in Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris, an historic hotel, the macarons are by famed pastry chef Pierre Hermé and they unexpectedly complement libations like the Singapore Sling ($30), from the 1915 recipe that originated in the Long Bar at the Raffles Singapore.
In the sleek, Philippe Starck-designed lounge — anchored by a long, narrow, lighted bartop — chief barman Alessandro Scarcella shakes up classics, as well his own specialty cocktails. Try the refreshing gin-based Verbena ($30), made with a lime-almond-ginger liqueur and house-made lavender syrup.
DINE
That iconic red awning, that wraparound terrace with its classic bistro chairs, that enviable corner location at Avenue George V and the Champs-Elysées: No wonder the postcard-worthy Fouquet’s has been a draw for movie stars, musicians and filmmakers throughout its 115-year history.
Inside, among the plush seats, white tablecloths and wood-paneled walls lined with black-and white-celebrity photos (Maurice Chevalier, Francois Truffaut and Orson Welles were regulars), locals dine on quintessential brasserie fare like steak tartar with pomme frites and sole meunière.
Prices are hardly wallet-friendly (expect to pay around $80 per person, even at lunch), but the people-watching is priceless.
For a hearty dose of Old World glamour, book a table at Cafe de la Paix, set inside an 1862 building (now the Intercontinental Grand Hotel), mere steps from the venerable opera house.
Do your best to tear your attention from your exquisite Second Empire-era surroundings — marble and gold leaf, lushly painted ceilings, richly patterned floors — to focus on the tasty dishes, which change seasonally and skew toward seafood (including a sizable raw bar). A la carte lunch and dinner menus are similar, but the set lunch menus are a (relative) bargain at $42 to $58.
Without a doubt one of the most beautiful restaurants in Paris, the jewel-like Le Grand Vefour looks much as it did when it opened back in 1784 as the Café de Chartres, with elaborate glass paintings of goddesses and gilded mirrors covering every inch of the walls, while above are intricate frescoes, stucco garlands and delicate chandeliers.
History oozes from every corner: Napoléon dined here; Victor Hugo, Colette and Jean Cocteau had their own tables.
Helmed by chef Guy Martin since 2011, the two-Michelin-starred Relais & Chateaux eatery features standout specialties like foie gras-stuffed ravioli topped with black truffle cream sauce and inventive desserts, namely an artichoke crème brulee with carrots, leeks and celery sweetened with honey.
The set lunch menu — with appetizer, main dish, dessert and an awe-inspiring cheese course — is around $108.
The three-Michelin-starred Epicure was voted TripAdvisor’s top Paris restaurant (of more than 13,100) and there’s a reason: It’s haute cuisine at its finest.
Set in Le Bristol hotel, the elegant, restrained 18th-century dining room boasts large windows that frame the garden; pretty, yes, but you’ll be consumed by what’s coming out of the kitchen.
Chef Éric Fréchon turns out a seasonal menu with surprises, like purple sea urchins simmered in their shells, or an artful treatment of a typical meat dish such as lamb — here coated in a seafood crust and accompanied by petite herb gnocchi. And the kitchen even manages to turn boring vanilla ice cream into a sculptural wonder using wedges of pecan and hazelnut brittle. The meal runs around $350, without wine.
STAY
With neighbors like Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Bulgari, the five-star Four Seasons George V (from $1,375) is in rarified company indeed.
Recently restored, the 1928 landmark offers much variety in its 244 rooms; some have a classical French feel, with rich fabrics in muted tones, elegant crystal chandeliers and decorative fireplaces; others are strikingly contemporary, namely the eighth-floor, two-bedroom penthouse, with marble floors, a mix of antiques and contemporary furniture, shagreen finishes and breathtaking 360-degree views of the city (including the Eiffel Tower).
Hotel amenities include an indoor pool surrounded by trompe l’oeil murals inspired by Marie Antoinette and wine tastings in the cave of the Le Cinq restaurant.
It doesn’t get more French than Le Bristol (from $1,086), right down to the two tres aristocratique hotel cats that utterly ignore you even as you drop several hundred euros on a room.
In this recently renovated 90-year-old, five-star gem on the fashionable Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, antiques, original artwork and classic 18th-century décor outfit the 188 rooms, which have hosted Hollywood royalty from Rita Hayworth to Sigourney Weaver.
The most fashionable spot for afternoon tea, the refurbished Le Jardin retains its gorgeous frescoed walls and crystal chandeliers, while the 13,000-square-foot garden is the ultimate respite from the Paris crowds.
The perfect marriage of east and west, The Peninsula Paris (from $1,262), which opened last year, is the luxury Hong Kong-based hotel chain’s reimagining of the 1908 Hotel Majestic, where George Gershwin wrote much of “An American in Paris.”
Here, on Avenue Kléber, Hausmann bones and opulent Belle Epoque touches meet contemporary design and cutting-edge technology. Just about everything in the 200 rooms is controlled by a tablet; the spa bath works by touch (and the Toto toilets work fine all on their own). The 34 suites, if you can afford them, are diva-worthy (Mariah Carey recently stayed in one) — especially the sixth-floor art deco Katara Suite, with a private rooftop terrace offering 360-degree views of the city.
And you can be ushered around town in style; the hotel maintains a fleet of fabulous cars, including a vintage Rolls-Royce Phantom II and a funky Citroën van.