Bonjour, fellow wanderlusters! Over the last decade I’ve been lucky enough to have gone to Paris, France four times, the first time was on my high school spring break trip, once solo in 2020 (yup, right before that thing, I flew home in Feb!!), and twice with my mom, first in 2013 and again in 2023! So I have wandered the swoony, moody, Parisian cobblestones a few times, and have done all the tourist-y things you “need/should” do in Paris. I won’t say I’m an expert, but I’m pretty confident making my way around the arrondissements! However, this post is not talking about the major must-do’s in the city of light, non, this post is a little more niche, I’m going for a “cool-girl in Paris doing delightful things” vibe!

I don’t usually like to visit repeat locations when I travel since there is SO much of the world I haven’t seen yet, and am dying to go to! However, based on my itineraries, I keep finding myself in Paris. Probably because it is a major European hub, and home to Disneyland Paris… which, j’adore!! But if I do find myself in a repeat location, I don’t want to repeat experiences I’ve already had, especially when I’ve experienced them “as good” as you can… my HS trip included a dinner at the Eiffel tower restaurant that was magical and wonderful and fancy but not something I feel I need to do again. Also, I am now the “travel agent” for my family, which includes the responsibility of excursion booking, and booking good ones! So I am constantly googling new travel to-dos, and as a trip lover, my algorithms are constantly showing me aesthetic, beautiful, dreamy vaycay videos, giving me plenty of inspo for future getaways. Along with searching IG and TikTok for travel recs, I am a big fan of the GetYourGuide app and have found really wonderful experiences through them! That is actually how I found my first delightful recommendation:

Macaron Making Class at Galeries Lafayette

Besides the croissant, a macaron is the quintessential iconic French pastry imo! I have made pasta in Italy, and chocolate in Belgium… both iconic foods in their “well known” locations; therefore, on my last trip with my mom I thought why not find a baking class for the most classic French treat in Paris! A quick Google and an Apple Pay later, I had us booked for a macaron making class at the iconic and stunning Galeries Lafayette! During this hands on 1.5 hour long class, we learned tips and tricks from a French pastry chef to make perfect macarons. It was such a fun experience, and I would highly recommend if you like learning new things and enjoying a sweet treat! Plus you can wander and window shop the 8 floors of clothes, jewelry, food, treats, souvenirs, and designer goods the galleries offer before or after your class! After our class, we went to the Le Gourmet area to pick up cheeses, bread and wine for a true Parisian girl dinner! Have I made macarons since you ask? Well, no, I have not. BUT, if push came to shove, I’m sure I could whip up some pastries that would make my friends and family ooh, and ohh la la at!

Eat your fave French pastry in a cutie little park

Speaking of girl dinner, this delightful Parisian activity also features food and another classic French pastry! My mom and I have had the most drool-worthy, delectable, delicious, dreamy raspberry tarts in Paris, so we are always on the look out for a new bakery showcasing our favourite treat. On our first trip together we excitedly wandered into Boulangerie Gosselin when the gorgeous raspberry tart in the window beckoned us in. Said raspberry tart was purchased, a bench (albeit on the street, but we upgraded our location for the next tart treat a decade later!) was sat upon, some very 2013 vibe photos of me holding said tart were taken and then lives were changed with the first bite of that oh so tasty tart. Regrets on sharing one tart and not each having our own were big, but the lesson was learned and two tarts have been purchased ever since. Because really, I would bet no one has ever had a bad raspberry tart, especially not in Paris. In 2023 our first day in the city was dreary on and off rain, so where better to seek shelter than in a warm, fresh bread-scented, French bakery? My mom really wanted to find a raspberry tart the first day back in the city of love, so off we went. On our stroll we saw La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac on the kitty corner of Place Rochambeau and voilà, raspberry tartS acquired! In classic, tiny, cute European architecture fashion, the bakery didn’t have any seating, but Place Rochambeau, a tiny triangle of grass with one bench welcomed us. So, just a little deja-vu-ey… we sat on a bench, took some photos (I have not yet mastered the nonchalant “who me? just holding a delish pastry in Paris” cool-girl pic… maybe on my next trip?), and were once again transported to raspberry cream heaven. Moral of this story… be in Paris, find a raspberry tart, don’t share it, sit on a bench, take photos, and have your life forever changed with the most delightful activity: French pastries savoured in a Parisian park.

YSL: the museum

As museum, fashion, and history lovers, a museum that features fashion history was right up our alley! Seeing that the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris was one of the few museums in Paris neither of us had been to, tix were booked tout de suite! This museum is a beautiful, intimate showcase of the life and legend that is YSL, both the man and his namesake brand that he built into the famous French fashion house. Having the privilege to tour YSL’s actual workspace and again, learn about him as a person and his brand was so delightful. Sleek mannequins displaying haute-couture garments, original design sketches framed aesthetically on walls, and curated, artistic exhibits are just some of the wonders you’ll find scattered around this mansion. If you love any type of art creation, especially garments, definitely add this delightful museé to your “to-visit” list!

P.S. When I was doing some googling for this post I found out that unfortunately the YSL museum in Paris is currently closed until fall 2027 for renovations and exhibition changes. So I guess that just means we have to book a trip for early 2028, right?!

Sip a Starbs in their most beautiful café location: “Starbucks Opera”

I have never been afraid or ashamed to admit I am the epitome of a “basic white b*tch”, and this includes loving Starbucks. A vanilla sweet cream cold brew, choco chip frap, raspberry (rip raspberry syrup) white choco mocha, a PSL in the fall… there is not much on their menu I don’t drink! As a Starbucks gold card holder (they mailed it to you back in like 2012?!) I have been sippin’ Starbs for a very long time, and one of my all time, top favourite, most ordered drink was/is the cool lime refresher. WHYYYY Starbucks took this refreshing, zesty, drink off the menu in North America (US in 2018, Canada in 2019) is a mystery to me, and I think about that drink at least once a week. However, to my delight on my solo trip in 2020, a year sans cool lime, I found out that Europe still had it! All over! At every location! And it was still perfection! When I tell you I drank 2 cool lime refreshers almost everyday on that trip… anyway. All this back story to say: making it into a Starbucks daily when I’m in Europe for me is… not like top priority, but it’s not not a top priority, ya know?! And while being in a foreign land, looking to kill my cool lime crave, I do a lot of maps-ing to find a café. Or, like, the 6 closest to my hotel. So to my delight, when I found out Paris has one of the most dreamy, gorgeous, stunning Starbucks cafés in the world: 3 Boulevard des Capucines, I knew I had to go see it for myself. When I say this is the most romantic, opulent, palace-like place to drink your fave drink I’m not kidding. It is a restored 17th-century building showcasing ornate 19th-century murals, gold gilded moldings, sparkly chandeliers, and black marble columns. It feels very reminiscent of Versailles with walls of mirrors, but is also giving major Bridgerton vibes. Unlike the usual small Parisian cafés, there is lots of seating, with two levels and lots of big tables, perfect for work or study, and small two tops for a more classic coffee shop feel. There is nothing more delightful than an afternoon coffee stop, in Paris, in the “most beautiful café” in the world.

Take aesthetic Eiffel Tower pics on Rue de l’Université

Once again, as a basic white girl, aesthetic travel photos in aesthetic travel locations are always a slay. All over social media I saw girls on Rue de l’Université, taking easy, breezy, cool, aesthetic “I’m-in-Paris-on-this-nonchalant-side-street-with-the-Eiffel-tower-casually-in-the-background” pictures. So, when we accidentally stumbled upon that exact location while on a pre-dinner, “last-night-in-Paris souvenir hunt” walk, I was delighted! I truly hadn’t done any research into where this photo-op street was, and I had no idea it was a few blocks from The Pullman Paris Hotel where we stayed! I know taking photos that include the Eiffel tower, even just casually, doesn’t really scream “local”, but being on this side street surrounded by exquisite Haussmannian apartments tucked away from the hustle, bustle and busyness of other picturesque Eiffel tower photo spots, felt local. What a delight to be strolling around the 6th arrondissement at golden hour and see the Iron Lady emerge against the historic facade that is Paris.

Alright gal pals, there ya have it… 5 delightful things to do the next time you find yourself in the magical dreamscape that is Paris! On my last trip I really fell in love with this city and can’t wait to one day soon (hopefully!) step into my “local-Paris-girl” shoes again… maybe even in a pair from YSL?! Who knows!