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Springtime in Paris is glorious, and rainy, but that didn’t dampen our spirits as we walked and ate our way through the city. I last visited Paris with my sister a little over a year ago (which you can read about here). On this trip my husband and I chose to return to some old favorites, as well as explore some new ones.

Whatever the weather, the best way to appreciate the beauty of Paris is on foot. We logged approximately 20,000 steps per day, which helped to balance out all of the buttery pastries and food and drink we were enjoying.

Literally everywhere you look there is something to enchant you.

One restaurant we chose to return to was Tekés, an Israeli restaurant with a particularly cheerful and festive vibe which was the perfect way to welcome us to the city. We dined at the counter and (over) ordered an array of vegetarian based dishes. To be honest, I enjoyed the food more last year, but it was still very satisfying, and if your tastes lean towards vegetarian and you want a super upbeat experience, Tekés should be on your list. Sitting at the counter is entertaining, and you get some extra tastes thrown in for free.

There are signs everywhere you look that Paris is gearing up for the 2024 Olympic games.

Another must visit neighborhood as far as I am concerned is the Marais, which is home to not only the best falafel in France, but also the most delicious crepes and mochi.

Breizh Café in the heart of the Marais is one of my go-to spots each time I return to Paris. It is tiny, and the entire restaurant is infused with the intoxicating aroma of the butter they use from Brittany. A savoury (or sweet crepe for that matter) and a bottle of cider is a perfect lunch.

After crepes if you have a sweet tooth and are yearning for delectable mochi that rival what I had in Japan, head down the street to La Maison du Mochi, you won’t regret it. If you happen to be gluten-free you are in luck, as both the buckwheat crepes and the mochi are gf!

One stop we had to make was to check the restoration progress of Notre-Dame Cathédral following the catastrophic fire of 2019. It was very moving to witness both the devastation and the efforts being expended to bring it back to it’s former glory. The work is expected to finish up this year, but that may be a bit ambitious, they seem to have a ways to go.

After marveling at the architectural masterpiece that is Notre- Dame we decided to enjoy a more modern artistic wonder, the world of Louis Vuitton. There is currently a very engaging exhibition entitled LV dream located across from the La Samaritaine, and on the Seine. The tickets are free, but you do have to register ahead of time. Not only can you admire some terrific LV collaborations, but also enjoy chocolate treats in the Maxime Frédéric pastry shop and purchase special edition LV goodies in the shop.

Being so close to La Samaritaine we had to pop in and check out what was new. La Samaritaine is an Art Nouveau marvel, but lacks energy and excitement (in my opinion). I much prefer Le Bon Marché which we visited later in the trip.

Restaurant Voltaire is another classic standby that is quintessentially French. Much of the energy can be attributed to Thierry, the charismatic maitre d’ who charms each and every guest who enters, but alas when we were there he had the night off. The experience was still excellent and delicious (major props to the profiteroles and fries) but it was missing a little je ne sais quoi.

As I mentioned above, as far as shopping goes I much prefer Le Bon Marché; luckily my husband was very patient as I combed through all of the latest styles. He didn’t even mind (too much) people watching while I tried things on. More his speed is another favorite, Deyrolle which is filled to the brim with oddities of nature and monumental taxidermy.

Shopping definitely worked up our appetites, and the need for a bottle of Brouilly tbh, so we headed to La Petite Lutetia to reenergize ourselves. A chic brasserie in an excellent location featuring classic French dishes and solicitous service was just the thing to restore our momentum. The fries in particular (and the lobster bisque) were the winners of the meal.

Our trip was focused more on winding our way through neighborhoods in Paris rather than soaking up culture, but we did pop in to the Louvre on the way back to the hotel to get a dose of the arts. The Mona Lisa as usual was a mob scene, but seeing the Winged Victory with relatively few people around it was a consolation.

The stand out meal of the trip came with a bit of drama. We had a reservation at Restaurant Alliance in the Latin Quarter and decided to take the hotel car. It was raining and we were a bit late so the driver was attempting to make up some time. Unfortunately we ended up in a traffic accident when a motorcyclist slammed into my side of the car and flew off his bike. Thankfully no one was injured, aside from the Mercedes sedan, but it took a while to get everyone sorted and make sure the biker didn’t sustain any injuries. Needless to say both we, and our driver were shaken up. Rolling in to our reservation 45 minutes late we were concerned that our reception would be a bit frosty, but it was just the opposite; once we explained what had happened we were fussed over and put immediately at ease.

One thing was for certain, we both needed a drink asap to calm our nerves, and from that point on we had an incredible meal; the service, the food, the wine pairings were all fantastic. It is clear to see why Chef Toshitaka Omiya has received a Michelin star, his vision is classic yet playful, and the seasonal ingredients are allowed to shine. Additionally, Alliance had no problem accommodating my gluten-free pescatarian diet.

Due to the generous servings of wine I failed to note the exact descriptions of some of the courses, but one thing is for sure, they were all winners. There are several set menus options available, we chose 6 courses and with all the bonus offerings we ate like royalty. It was truly special, and I would recommend it without hesitation for an outstanding meal.

One more restaurant we enjoyed was La Lorraine, a classic brasserie with a focus on seafood located within walking distance to our hotel. My husband was craving a shellfish platter, and this old school restaurant fit the bill. Indulgent while not too caloric was just what we needed, although we would have had the classic soufflé for dessert if it hadn’t been sold out!

We had a blast in Paris, and while we were there for 5 days, it still didn’t seem like enough time. It is one of the most picturesque cities, and I never tire of it.

Heading to the airport en route to the French Alps we were sad to say au revoir; but we had terrific plans to look forward to in Courchevel. Stay tuned!