On our girls trip we stayed 3 days in Paris & 4 days in the South of France. We chose to stay in AirBnbs for a more authentic experience. Also, we used the app Splitwise to share all the costs which was super, super helpful!
PARIS
Lunch (or Brunch) Spots
LouLou (FAVORITE LUNCH) – This was the best place to have lunch right after we explored the Louvre.
L’avenue (A FAMOUS SPOT)- A super famous spot where many celebrities dine. However, I am going to be honest I was underwhelmed. If you want to dine here I would recommend grabbing simply an espresso, with a croissant, while you people watch.
Croissants& Desserts
Le Cafe Marly (BEFORE THE MUSUEM)- Before we went to explore the Louvre we stopped at the cafe right beside the museum for a quick espresso & croissant. Was really lovely as we got to people watch outside for a bit before we went inside to explore.
Carette (BEST HOT CHOCOLATE) – One of the days we were exploring we stopped by this long-standing cafe & got some of the most incredible hot chocolate (& crepes) that I have ever had. Highly recommend!
Du Pain Et Des Idees (BEST CROISSANTS)- This bakery was so, so delicious. Definitely a grab & go type spot. Their pistachio croissants are truly out of this world. So buttery & flaky. We grabbed some of these with cappuccinos while we sat by the water. A great way to just relax & soak it all in.
Dinner Spots
Chez Julien (FAVORITE RESTAURANT) – This was by far my favorite restaurant in Paris. This is one of those spots that “if you know you know.” It’s cozy, romantic & the perfect restaurant when you want a true Parisian dinner vibe. We has escargot, caviar, steak frites & the best red wine!
Matignon Paris (LATE NIGHT BITES) – This restaurant was perfect for late night bites & good music. The cocktails were flowing while we danced the night away. There weren’t a ton of restaurants that were open super late but this one closes at 5am!
La Poule au Pot (CLASSIC PARISIAN DINNER) – This was on our list but we didn’t get the chance to check it out although it was recommended by one of my friends that has eaten here before. She says its a classic Parisan dinner. Order the steak frites!
Mondaine (FUN DINNER)- Didn’t get a chance to go but if you are looking for a super lively dinner with dancers & entertainment this is your spot! Could even just have a drink at the bar!
Girafe (DINNER WITH A VIEW): An iconic restaurant where you can have a view of the Eiffel Tower. We didn’t get to dine here but I trust that its a good rec as its the same owners as LouLou!
Museums
The Louvre – This is must! We were able to see the MOST incredible art that will truly take your breath away. From the Mona Lisa, the Dying Slave by Michelangelo, Napoleon III apartments & Glass-Covered Sculpture Courtyards (a MUST!!). Tickets were pretty inexpensive. Also, we found THIS TIKTOK (CLICK HERE) that showed us how to cut the line & beat the traffic! Worked like a charm.
Palace of Versailles – This is the a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about 11 miles west of Paris, France. A great way to get a little bit out of the city & enjoy the outskirts. We were able to explore the gardens but unfortunately made the mistake of booking the reservation on the wrong day. This place is not fully open on Mondays! However, if you must go on a Monday you can still view the outside of the palace & walk around the perimeter (you just can’t go inside).
Palais Garnier – The Palais Garnier, also known as Opéra Garnier, is a historic 1,979-seat opera house at the Place de l’Opéra in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, France. It was built for the Paris Opera from 1861 to 1875 at the behest of Emperor Napoleon III. Also, Phantom of the Opera was filmed here!
Site Seeing
Eiffel Tower – An iconic landmark that does not need an introduction. We stopped by at night to grab some photos. The only tip I will leave you with is that if you want a photo of when it sparkles it takes place on the hour, every hour from sundown till 1 AM, with the lights sparkling for a full 5 minutes. The best show of all is the final one at 1 AM.
Montmartre (A MUST) – Do you want to feel like you are walking through a storybook village? Then look no further. This was by far my favorite area we walked in Paris. So many cute stores, restaurants & beautiful sites. I highly recommend taking a look at the The Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre (an incredible church). Also, the Wall of I Love You is cute for a photo opp.
Tuileries Garden – This is such a beautiful park to walk around & super famous for its lush landscaping. Unfortunately, we went right before the Olympics so some areas were blocked off however we still enjoyed site seeing. We also were super spontaneous & rode the carousel inside the park. Was so much fun.
Cathedral Notre-Dame – You know the famous movie the Hunchback of Notre-Dame? Well you guessed it! This is the famous Cathedral that it was based on. Tragically, on April 15, 2019, a fire broke out under the eaves of Notre-Dame Cathedral’s roof. The fire engulfed the spire and most of the roof. They are currently working on re-building & its definitely worth stopping by to take a look at the site to see its progress!
Fun Activities
Moulin Rouge – This is of course a classic! A fabulous cabaret show that also has cool acts in between dance numbers. You definitely get your money’s worth as its a long show. They have options to do dinner & a show but we just chose to do drinks. I will say we made the mistake of not eating before so make sure you eat before the show (if you don’t do the dinner ticket).
Crazy Horse – This was on my list but we ended up choosing Moulin Rouge. However, this is another cabaret show that has a more intimate, sexy vibe.
Officine Universelle Buly (CUSTOM PERFUME) – We didn’t get a chance to do this but there was a line out the door! You must book a reservation. This is where you can make custom perfume & also personalize accessories like combs. This could be a great place to get a gift for someone.
Shakespeare & Company(BOOK STORE)- A super famous, & ridiculously charming, bookstore in the heart of Paris. It is famous because writers like, Hemingway & Fitzgerald, would frequent there. They have a wide selection of new & used books for purchase. My friends got their nieces/nephews super cute childrens books as gifts (Eloise!) & I got myself some chic coffee table books.
Polène – Polène is a famous Parisian leather goods brand & I have been wanting a bag from them. If you love them too I highly recommend checking it out. Oh & make sure you bring your passport so you can get a tax refund!
Bars
Hotel Costes Bar – A chic, cozy bar that is great before going out. Its been known that Hemingway & F. Scott Fitzgerald frequented there…
Le Carmen – Cocktails, housemade gin & DJ tunes at a chic bar/club with baroque architecture & vintage decor.
SOUTH OF FRANCE
The best way to get to the South of France is by plane (about 2 hours). You can also take a train for a more scenic route (but will be 6 hours). We decided to fly there & take the train on the way back since the train had more options to leave at a later time. We used the app Omio to book & flew with EasyJet.
We decided to stay in Nice, France as this is the more affordable place to stay while simultaneously being at the center of all the action. When we first arrived I wasn’t too sure but the longer we explored the more I fell in love with its character & charm (I think you will too). We stayed an at AirBnb but it didn’t feel like the safest option to be honest. I would recommend a hotel if possible otherwise make sure that the AirBnb has really good reviews.
Nice
Where I recommend staying on your SOF trip if you are looking to hop around to different areas (& not spend a fortune). Also, make sure you explore the beach nearby! We bought a bottle of wine & laid out. It was lovely.
Dinner at La Petite Maison – This is where had dinner our first night out (& luckily they were open late). We had a really great seafood spread & were entertained by live music. I would definitely add to the list. Was also really, REALLY nice walking back home after dinner as we strolled the streets & saw everyone out so late. Felt like something out of a movie. Loved it.
Breakfast at Clay – Before we headed back to Paris we stopped at this cute spot for breakfast (there are tons of options though).
Èze Village
The second day we explored Èze which is seaside commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in Southeastern France. We took a bus to get to the top of the hill (which is the best option). We found THIS TIKTOK (CLICK HERE) which gave us the inside scoop on traveling to the village. This town has it all from the quaint streets, to cute boutiques to amazing restaurants. Wear COMFORTABLE shoes!! You will be doing lots of walking!
Hôtel Château de La Chèvre d’Or – A 5 star restaurant that will blow you mind with its view. It was the most gorgeous place that we ate at on our trip. You get to see the bluest water as you sit on the top of this magical hill (it felt like we stepped inside of a Disney princess live action). It was amazing. A must!
Fragonard Eze Village– Fragonard is famous perfumery in France & it just so happens that the factory is in Eze. As a fun little activity we did a tour where they showed us how perfume is made & we got to make our own little perfume. It was inexpensive a fun thing to do with friends!
Monte-Carlo, Monaco
The third day we explored Monte-Carlo which is in another country! Monte-Carlo is known for its extravagance & the famous Casino! The mega wealthy will frequent here showing off their fancy cars & celebrity status. Its a total tourist site but fun to check out. We went on a weekday & I would not recommend as it was pretty dead at night. Perhaps during the day would have been better. If I were to go back I would do it on a Friday or Saturday. Oh and tip – you can’t call an Uber to get home so you have to either walk outside the city or go to the train! We found that out the hard way (but it made for a funny story)…
La Môme – This restaurant was so fun & one of the best meals we had on the trip!! The food & drinks were a 10/10. Also, the view of the boats was spectacular. A super fun spot too with live music!
Casino De Monte Carlo – This is the famous casino I mentioned above. Its a great place to get a photo op on the stairs. We checked out the casino inside too which was fun but nothing crazy in my opinion..
Hôtel de Paris – A famous hotel next to the casino where we stopped inside the sexy lounge, Le Bar Américain, to have a cocktail with a live band playing.
Buddha-Bar– Another great place to have a drink & vibe. We ended up sitting outside & doing hookah for a bit which was nice.
Jimmy’z – This is a famous club in Monte-Carlo but for some reason it was closed when we went. Although I have friends that highly recommend for a good time! Just make sure you either have a place to sleep or know how you are getting home…
Cannes
Going to Cannes was probably my favorite day of the entire trip (which is BOLD). However, we had the most fun EVER.
La Guérite– The most EPIC, ICONIC beach club that you have to take a boat to get to (the restaurant picks you up at the dock). The food was good but the vibes were immaculate! We were dancing literally the entire we were there. On the table. With strangers. People from all over the world were there. Apparently, once in a while, a surprise celeb comes to perform. We went on the 4th of July which made the whole experience even that much more fun. I luckily had an easy time getting a reservation but just to be sure BOOK AHEAD.
St. Tropez
This was the place we wished we stayed longer! Much longer. It was an absolute dream. The most beautiful coastal town on the French Riviera. We only stayed for the day to do some shopping (best shopping) however we all said we wished we stayed for the nightlife.
Le Club 55 – This is a probably the most famous beach club & restaurant in St.Tropez frequented by many celebs. To be completely honest we were underwhelmed by the food & club. It wasn’t bad but we weren’t blown away. My expectations were a lot higher but to each their own! I feel like its one of those places you go to be like “been there, done that.”
Next time I go I definitely want to explore more of St. Tropez & Antibes (especially check out Hotel du Cap–Eden-Roc which is where Sofia Richie got married). For now I hope these recommendations are helpful when you book your Paris/SOF trip.
