This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
With the return of sunny days, Paris awakens and offers walkers looking for outdoor activities the best of itself. As the city vibrates with current trends, here are some must-see attractions and places that have had a makeover.
From the top of his 59e floor, the Montparnasse tower offers a spectacular panorama of the most emblematic monuments of Paris. The Concrete Lady, as it is nicknamed, was built in 1973 and is now the tallest tower in Paris, after the Eiffel Tower at 210 meters. Last year, for its 50e anniversary, it underwent a rejuvenation treatment and added a virtual reality experience.
The Dame des Arts hotel opened its doors in 2023 in a building dating from the 1950s in the bustling Latin Quarter. The establishment then revealed the elegance of its decor, modernized by the designer of the year, Raphaël Navot. In addition to a very good restaurant serving fusion cuisine with Mexican, Japanese and French influences, the building has one of the most beautiful roof terraces, still unknown to tourists. The place’s bar dominates the landscape and, when you sit there, it provides a privileged view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower. The sunsets there are memorable.
It’s not just the terraces that overlook a panorama of Paris. A little getaway with Bateaux parisiens allows you to see several neighborhoods located on the banks of the Seine pass by, sometimes with green roofs, sometimes with an ultra-modern look. The boats, entirely glazed, offer a unique view of the city day and evening. The cruise experience with a catering formula allows you to enjoy a gourmet meal, wine included, while admiring the landscape.
Unmissable walks
With nearly three million visitors per year, the Père-Lachaise cemetery remains to be seen. However, it is easy to get lost in the 44 hectares of the largest green space in Paris. To find your way around, we opt for a tour of the place with an experienced Paris guide, Thierry Le Roi. For more than 20 years, he has accompanied tourists in search of the fascinating secrets surrounding the largest intramural Parisian cemetery. If you follow him on one of his “safaris” described on the Les Nécros-Romantiques website, you will learn more about the architecture, art and stories of the celebrities buried at the cemetery.
To discover the charm of the districts of Paris, a bicycle ride is always recommended. The city offers several itineraries with different agencies on its Paris Je t’aime website. Some of them offer the choice of pedal or electric bikes and thematic guided tours.
A historic hotel
Le Meurice is one of the rare hotels to have been awarded the “palace” brand in the country by the French government. This distinction, which was awarded to it in 2011, was only granted to certain five-star establishments, by virtue of their remarkable character. Built in 1815, it is also one of the oldest luxury hotels in the world still in operation. The building, located opposite the Jardin des Tuileries, evokes a small Versailles. Famous artists, such as Dali and Picasso, stayed here more than once. You can spend the night in one of its magnificent rooms, but you can also reserve seats in one of its restaurants and thus taste exceptional cuisine. The establishment offers several culinary experiences: one, gastronomic, at the two Michelin star restaurant led by chef Alain Ducasse, and a second, more convivial, at Dali. Finally, a bakery sells desserts by Cédric Grolet, voted best pastry chef of the year in 2018 by Gault & Millau.
The Sofitel Le Scribe, located next to the Paris Opera, offers its customers a stay of sophisticated charm characteristic of Haussmann buildings. The five-star hotel, nestled in a historic 1861 property, first hosted the Jockey Club, a private club. In 1871, the famous trunk maker Louis Vuittonen made his address and, in 1895, the very first public cinema screening of the Lumière brothers took place within its walls.
The Paris National Opera, also called the Palais Garnier in honor of its architect, Charles Garnier, has been under renovation since last year. Built in 1875, the establishment has been classified as a historic monument since 1923. The work is completed this spring, and a short guided tour allows you to admire its interior and exterior splendor. As a bonus, we will tell you the legend of the Phantom of the Opera who inspired Gaston Leroux for his novel.
Where to go out?
The name of the Buddha-Bar in Paris has a mythical resonance around the world. Opened in 1996, the concept belongs to Raymond and Tarja Visan, who made it a successful franchise model in several countries. A true temple of entertainment, the Buddha-Bar in Paris has also been an important incubator of lounge music with its resident DJs. Its sensual and mystical atmosphere immerses us in a universe that has nothing comparable. The place has just undergone a facelift. The enormous four-metre Buddha, emblematic of the place, still sits there, to the great pleasure of regulars. To keep us fed, the establishment offers us new dishes inspired by South-East Asian cuisine and a renewed cocktail menu.
The Fouquet’s hotel in Paris, near the Champs-Élysées, hides one of the most beautiful terraces in the city. You enter through the Le Joy restaurant, whose door is located on the side of the hotel complex. Then, we discover, at the top of the stairs leading to the establishment, a pretty garden terrace with tables furnished with parasols which give a holiday feel. This terrace is not visible from the street, as it is located between the hotel towers. It serves bistro-style cuisine from chef Mathieu Mécheri and magnificent cocktails (including some with champagne) which make the experience memorable.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.