By Kate Donnelly
SOURCE: FODORS
No matter how many times you’ve been there, Paris always feels timeless. But in recent years, the city has gone into high gear with a surprisingly robust slate of new openings that have altered the cultural landscape. With eye-catching performance spaces, cute boutiques, and must-visit restaurants and bars, the City of Light feels brighter than ever. If it’s been a while since your last visit to Paris, make sure you don’t miss these ten hot spots on your next trip.
PHILHARMONIE DE PARIS
Set inside the sprawling Parc de la Villette, Jean Nouvel’s ambitious Philharmonie de Paris opened earlier this year with a striking aluminum façade. Inside the new concert hall, world-class acoustics come courtesy of the work of leading opera designers Harold Marshall and Yasuhisa Toyota. The space, which seats 2,400, offers a wide range of programming, including performances by the resident Orchestre de Paris.
MAISON KITSUNÉ
In the hip Upper Marais district, the popular fashion label Maison Kitsuné opened its largest Paris outpost in May on the Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire. Stocked with tees, totes and sweatshirts, the shop sits above an inviting 35-seat café with custom-made marble walls and a breezy California vibe. With floor-to-ceiling windows, the café’s rooms were inspired by the paintings of David Hockney.
GUY SAVOY
Earlier this year, Michelin-starred chef Guy Savoy moved his signature restaurant from a dark, modern space in the nineteenth arrondissement to a grand space—an intimate series of dining rooms with tall windows revealing stellar Louvre and Seine views—befitting his elegant cuisine. The earthy, artichoke soup with black truffle warrants special mention, as do roasted duck paletot with sweet, bitter, and peppery flavors; and a whole grilled sea bass.
PAPIER TIGRE
For all things stationery, head to the minimalist boutique Papier Tigre, the brainchild of three young designers, near the Centre Pompidou. There’s a smartly curated stock of aesthetically pleasing goods, mostly made in France, including stationery, colorful patterned goods, often-changing collaborations with artists, calendars, gift wrap, decorative objects, postcards, scented candles and notebooks. We promise you’ll be inspired to write an actual letter by hand again.
FONDATION LOUIS VUITTON
In the lush Bois de Boulogne, legendary French fashion house Louis Vuitton opened a contemporary, Frank Gehry–designed structure made of twelve balloon-like glass “sails.” Inside, theFondation Louis Vuitton’s permanent collection includes pieces from Rothko, Matisse, Koons, and Basquiat. In addition, there’s a rotating series of special exhibitions and a 350-seat auditorium for viewing performances and observing Ellsworth Kelly’s rainbow-colored stage curtain. Outside, get lost in the rooftop gardens overlooking the leafy park and, downstairs, take Instagram-worthy photos amongst Danish artist Olafur Eliasson’s cool mirrored columns.
LOCKWOOD
Opened by the Lehoux brothers (the duo behind hip spots like Ten Belles), Lockwood starts its days as a coffee shop with wooden tables stocked with beans from local, artisanal roasters and an assortment of sweets. In the evenings, however, it transforms into a cozy cocktail bar that invites you to sip aperitifs, a wide range of whiskeys, and cocktails like the Penicillin (whiskey, honey, lemon, and ginger). Downstairs, rotating cocktails are mixed and paired neatly with easy-going dry meat platters, hamburgers, and quesadillas.
LE 8 IÉNA AT SHANGRI-LA HOTEL
At the elegant Shangri-La Hotel Paris, under the helm of new executive chef Christophe Moret, a seasonal outdoor courtyard called Le 8 Iéna is a great place to spend an afternoon. Inside this hidden spot, sip refreshing cocktails with small plates that include bright salads (think classicniçoise) and light French and Asian dishes like beef and chicken satay. Under Moret’s helm, there’s a range of lovely vegetarian options including green-pea carpaccio and of course, everything pairs well with a sparkling flute of Champagne or crisp Sancerre.
HERO
Three-level Korean food haven and canteen Hero (you can’t miss the pink-neon signage) is outfitted with natural wood, handcrafted lanterns, hand-painted wallpaper, and a freshly minted outdoor terrace. The menu includes crispy fried chicken (yangnyeom) with one of three sauces that range in heat, fluffy pork buns, a roasted pork-rib sandwich, and kimchi macaroni and cheese. On the drinks list, there are natural wines and cocktails made with homemade lemongrass syrup, fresh-squeezed lime juice, and the Korean beer Hite. Later, you can opt for shots of soju.
STEEL CYCLEWEAR AND COFFEE SHOP
On a quiet, discreet street in the eleventh arrondissement, the grown-up bicycle shop (from the in-the-know founder of the French-English lifestyle magazine Steel) allows both amateur and advanced cyclers to meet for group rides. Afterwards, the niche storefront becomes an extended place to sip specialty coffee and snack on lemon poppy cake and breakfast muesli. The airy, light-filled space offers a bevy of stylish gear like helmets and clothing from around the globe.
PALAIS GALLIERA
The city’s most fashion-forward museum, Palais Galliera, Musée de la Mode, emerged from an extensive makeover in September 2013 that made it more stylish than ever. Only open during temporary exhibitions, the grand structure was formerly the nineteenth-century palace of Marie Brignole-Sale, Duchess of Galliera. Popular past exhibitions have focused on costume design, fashion history and iconic French designers including Jeanne Lanvin and Azzedine Alaïa. This November will see the opening of a show dedicated to Elisabeth, Countess Greffulhe, an icon of the Belle Époque through the Roaring Twenties.
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