11 x what you need to know in Paris

In 2022

I hadn't been there for a whole corona period, and now within three months I was there for the second time. Paris, my great favorite located a nap away from home. The sun was shining, the chestnuts were on the ground, and roasted on the grill at the corner of Rue de Seine, the oysters were smiling at me at Atlas on Rue de Buci, and the metro was crowded and quick as always. Yet again, I noticed a number of things that are quite handy to know, in case you are going soon as well.

1. Parisians can be quite unfriendly
Sorry, sorry, sorry that I say this and that I also bombard it to the top of this piece. Maybe we would also go crazy from all those tourists (I even saw someone walking by Café de Flore in an Emily in Paris sweater) and start snapping, but I found it remarkable again. We wanted to drink a café crème next to each other (by the way, undrinkable and €8.50 each) at Café Ruc, but that was not allowed. Even though the entire terrace was otherwise empty, we could not sit next to each other but had to sit opposite each other. She also made stewardess-like hand gestures. A bit of VIP spotting at Le Meurice and Costes also didn't happen: the entire space was empty, but really reserved for their guests. A small drink perhaps? The answer was three letters long and started and ended with an ‘n’.

Of course, there were also nice people, really. But to call the overall atmosphere very hospitable: meh.

2. Lines, lines, and more lines
In front of Café de Flore, at Les Deux Magots a line so long that an Olympic long jumper wouldn't bridge it in one go. On the Avenue de l’Opéra, we expected Harry Styles or at least Gigi Hadid, the line was suddenly so long on the street. It turned out to lead to a bakery Cédric Grolet Opéra. How divine the pastries taste, I won't know, because Zara lured me her way, but I will tell you: if you walk by here and there is no line: seize the opportunity.

3. Ladurée wins over Hermé
The true Paris connoisseur will say that Hermé's macarons are tastier, better, and superior in every way to those of Ladurée, so I listened. And turned around. It may be tastier, but at Ladurée, you get such a beautiful box, you succumb to such a lovely scented candle, and you get their iconic mint green bag. Sorry, but that prevails for me over slightly tastier macarons.

4. Get an Uber app
Suddenly there are no taxis available, so wear comfy shoes, get carnet metro tickets, and install the Uber app.

5. Restaurant Maison Sota
A Japanese restaurant in the 11th arrondissement. We walked there from the 6th (a fifty-minute walk) and that was just as well, because I have never been served so many courses. Aside from that (at one point it was so much that I tried to hide food under other food), it was a culinary sensation. If you go there: order a Condrieu.

6. Everyone goes to Ruc
The little café on the corner opposite the Louvre may not be known for the best coffee and the friendliest staff, the Aperols are fine, and it's a constant flow of acquaintances. We eventually expanded from two to ten people.

7. Dare to ask
We saw a woman with a won-der-ful outfit. We guessed and speculated. Was it Chanel? Or Balenciaga? You ask her, I ask her? From my friend's reaction, I saw it was good news: Zara!

8. Hotel rooms in Paris are small
Unless you spend your monthly salary on a room at Le Bristol, almost every room is not much larger than a bed, an armchair, and a side table, no matter how beautiful the hotel is otherwise. Now you know that too.

9. Stop by Jérôme Dreyfuss
On Rue Jacob is the first Isabel Marant boutique with across the street the store of her beloved Jérôme Dreyfuss. Bags just a bit more affordable than the Chanels and the Vuittons with Parisian rock chick allure.

10. Buy tea from Mariage Frères
Okay, you pay 21 euros for a box, but every time you brew tea later, you are back in Paris.

11. It just keeps being beautiful
Even though it was my 78th time, I kept pinching myself. Paris, I'll be back soon.