Once you visit Paris, it tends to make a place in your heart forever. Nothing quite beats the magic of this city — which is why it’s one of the places we love most. We asked one of our favorite Parisians, Vanessa Grall of Messy Nessy Chic, to tell us all about the little things that made her fall in love with her city.
Keep reading to learn about her favorite places in Paris. Plus, see all of our Paris items here.
Q: What do you think makes your city different from any other?
A: There’s just this constant feeling of nostalgia thrown at you every corner you turn, whether it’s recalling a favorite movie scene or just not quite being able to believe we’re not living in the 1930s or some other decade requiring a time machine. Woody Allen really did have that whole time-traveling thing on point with Midnight in Paris.
Q: Why did you decide to live where you live?
A: I’ve always been a big city girl (so far), but I think I need somewhere that doesn’t feel too competitive and fast-paced. In Paris, there’s room for the curious dilletante and the French are still all about perfecting the art of enjoying life. Honestly, sometimes I do wonder how this city manages to keep ticking though.
Q: What made you fall in love with your city?
A: I think it was my first ride on the back of my boyfriend’s scooter that did it.
Favorite:
- Lunch spot – Marché des Enfants Rouge – a hidden market, the oldest in Paris and a foodie’s dream. The hardest part is choosing which eaterie to settle in.
- Place for a girl’s night out – Dinner & cocktails at Le Depanneur, then head across the street at midnight to Le Carmen for dancing in a sumptuous mansion that was once the home of the French romantic composer, George Bizet.
- Local date night – If it’s special occasion, there’s an Italian restaurant called L’Etage, hidden above a deli in St Germain. But we love a good Vietnamese too and it’s cheap as chips– our local is Dong Huong.
- Place to think and wander – Montmartre at dusk and on Sundays, along the old inner city railway, Le Petite Ceinture, closed since 1934.
- Secret about your city (secret spot, little known fact, etc. — it’s okay if you don’t have one!) There’s a secret view of Paris and the Sacré Coeur on the top of a real vineyard in the middle of the city. Not many Parisians even know about it. It’s called Butte Bergeyre, a quiet hilltop village hidden in the 19th arrondissement.
Don’t forget to check out Vanessa’s blog, Messy Nessy Chic!
