My Paris Favorites

I really loved our time in Paris. The weather was perfect, people were polite and accommodating when faced with -- let's say our amusing attempts at the language, and there were so many great places to eat, sit and wander. As Jonah said, Paris is a great place to just be. After one visit, I am by no means an expert, but here are some spots that struck a chord with my heart and my belly.

Paris is full of gardens, but my personal favorite was the Jardin des Plantes. Peaceful, charming and full of the loveliest blooms. The dahlias really won me over.

An apple tartlet from Poilâne was sweet, buttery perfection. I should have gotten two.

Berthillon ice cream has been lauded as the best in the world, and I'm gonna go ahead and give that a resounding yep. You can head to their shop or find their ice cream and sorbets at cafés and other locations throughout the city. Anybody who sells Berthillon makes sure you know about it. While I'm not typically an advocate for vanilla, especially given the unique flavors available, theirs was definitely the best vanilla ice cream I've ever had.

The Sacré-Coeur Basilica is located at the highest point in Paris, and from the steps, you get a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.

Café de Flore is a Paris institution, and I think it's safe to say a tourist trap, but it is the most fun I've ever had at a tourist trap. I had an afternoon cocktail and a most delicious croque madame, and it's a prime spot for people watching.

A picnic on the lawn by the Eiffel Tower seems like once of those things you just have to do. We picked up a few snacks, I took in the view and Jonah took in that baguette.

After eating more croissants than I care to admit, our hands down favorite came from Blé Sucré. Big, buttery, flaky, slightly sweet, everything I wanted it to be.

One of my favorite Paris breakfasts was crepes at Breizh Café, a cozy little spot with an international feel, a menu in English and fantastic crepes. We went for the ham and gruyère, and one that's just filled with butter and sugar, two of my favorite ingredients. 

Merci is my dream store. It's filled with all sorts of colorful, modern, eclectic items in a huge, beautiful space, and all the store's profits are donated to charity.

I didn't try any other macarons in Paris because it's hard to imagine anyone improving on the perfection that is Ladurée.

My favorite view of the Eiffel Tower was from the plaza at The Trocadéro. A crowd gathers to watch it sparkle every hour on the hour as soon as the sun goes down.

Ever been to Paris? Feel free to share your favorites in the comments. I'm certain I didn't see it all!