From Frank Sinatra’s rendition to Lana Del Ray late last year, generations have crooned the 1953 Cole Porter hit tune, I Love Paris, expressing a year-round love affair with the French capital. With over 32 million visitors last year to to Paris (hint: drop the ‘s’ if you want to speak Parisian) it attracts visitors like bees to honey. What are the magical ingredients that result in Paris to consistently rank as the number one holiday destination?
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| Eiffel Tower view from The Peninsula Palace |
After spending 5 days in Paris, I have an inkling of enlightenment that makes me want to go back for more. Here are my top five reasons that I Love Paris and why I believe you will too!
Food and Wine: Another glass of champagne, s'il vous plaît (if you please)
Locally sourced ingredients, freshly baked baguettes, bagels and croissants; and handmade everything – all terms of endearment for food and wine lovers. One observation: I did not see one person in the streets carrying a take-away coffee. What I did see was café after café packed with patrons engrossed in conversation over a morning cuppa. How civilized!
Keeping Paris well stocked in fine champagne are the ancient villages surrounding Reims, a scenic 129 kilometre drive from the city centre and home to Grandes Marques of Champagne and the world’s crème de la crème champagne houses.
From small bistros to Michelin star restaurants, the French take their food seriously. One of my most memorable meals was at Mamie Gateaux tearoom. It's best to arrive when the doors open at 11:30am, as it only takes fifteen minutes for the locals to fill the tables. The daily chalkboard menu offers a section of savouries such as seasonal quiches and soups; and sweets for the sweets – pastries and cakes – until sold out.
Parisians are the best
So you don’t speak fluent French, simply learning key phrases such as please and thank you; good morning and good evening; is advantageous in navigating the language barrier. Attempting to communicate in French goes a long way and I They are gracious hosts who cordially welcome visitors to the City of Light.
Window displays spare no expense trying to entice... ...But window shopping is still free!
Many of the world's best know luxury brands have their headquarters in Paris – the Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Christian Dior stores are fabulous, with the latest trends as expected. The stand out for me were the extravagantly dressed display windows, particularly the Louis Vuitton flagship store. Paris has something for one and all. There are emerging designers’ basement shops with wares fresh from the cutting tables at pre-famous prices, through to pre-loved and vintage luxury brands as well as fashion-forward couture.
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| Louis Vuitton flagship store ceiling and a shop window in Paris |
Tight quarters inspire design creativity
In Paris each square metre is at a premium and the lack of space is often the impetus for cleverly designed interiors, particularly when it comes to hotel guest rooms, from boutique hotels with 10 guest rooms through to re-purposed palaces with 200, conceptual design is inspirational.
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