Hidden treasures in Paris (you’re welcome)

A guide to Paris... for people who have already been to Paris.

It seems like most people either love Paris … or hate it. I fall firmly into the former category.

I first visited the City of Light when I was 15 years old and spent an entire summer there soaking in the art, the culture, the cuisine and — frankly — the Frenchness of it all. In the years since, I’ve returned to the French capital innumerable times, even spending months here and there living in one arrondissement or another. In fact, I’m currently planning a romantic trip there with my husband, Jeff, so that hopefully he falls in love with the city just as much as I have.

If you’re planning a trip to Paris and you’ve already been to the Louvre, scaled the Eiffel Tower and window-shopped along Rue Saint-Honore, here are a few hidden and not-so-hidden spots I’d recommend checking out on your next visit.

Eric in Paris. Eric Rosen / The Points Guy

For shoppers who prefer charm over Chanel

Instead of the major fashion houses along Avenue Montaigne or Boulevard Saint-Germain, visit some of Paris’ few remaining historical shopping arcades, like the hauntingly beautiful Galerie Vivienne, whose 19th-century storefronts are now occupied by cute boutiques and cafes.

Or, visit the trendy restaurants in the charming Passage des Panoramas, Paris’s oldest covered shopping arcade, which is also home to a quirky collection of stamp collectors, stationers and numismatists.

Say bonjour to being bougie

I fell in love with the luxuriantly perfumed lotions and soaps of Officine Universelle Buly when I stayed at the Rosewood Hotel de Crillon last year, so I always stop by the boutique on Rue Bonaparte near the Seine to stock up on fragrances and pick up a monogrammed comb.

That’s right, my hair never looks quite good enough unless I’ve styled it with a monogrammed comb. Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve gone and tried it.

Treasures hidden in plain sight

I’ve traipsed through the park at Versailles and taken the hourslong audio tour more times than I’ll publicly admit, but these days, I prefer visiting the Hotel de la Marine on Place de la Concorde.

The former naval ministry reopened as a decorative arts museum in 2021, chock-full of lavish 18th-century treasures. If you ask me nicely, I’ll even show you the vision board I created for decorating my apartment after visiting it — I just need to get Jeff on board with more Louis XV furniture and brocade wallpaper.

The palatial Hotel de la Marine. Eric Rosen / The Points Guy

Stay sane and skip the Seine

Nothing gets me humming ABBA’s “Our Last Summer” like strolling hand-in-hand along the Seine, but if the day is nice, I head over to the Coulee Verte Rene-Dumont in the 12th Arrondissement – a former railway track that was converted into an elevated park, sort of like New York City’s High Line, where you’re more likely to see Parisians than other tourists.

Sip, savor, save

After a packed day, my favorite place to have an aperitif is at the Champagne Bar at Le Dokhan’s, a darling hotel in the sleepy 16th Arrondissement that’s part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio (which, of course, you could use points to book should you choose to stay there).

This candlelit jewel box of a bar serves hundreds of Champagnes, and re-creates an 18th-century aristocratic salon, complete with pastel-green antique wood paneling and glinting gilt chandeliers.

Champagne Bar at Le Dokhan’s. Eric Rosen / The Points Guy

While there, I’ll often peruse TheFork, which I use to make dinner reservations. Many of the participating restaurants even offer significant discounts, which almost makes up for whatever I inevitably spend on Champagne.

As I said, there’s always something new and unexpected to experience in Paris. In fact, I’m planning my next trip, and I can’t wait to see what new delights await.

You might think you’ve been there and done that, but Paris, like many destinations, rewards repeat visitors with surprises aplenty. You just need to know where to look … or read our new Substack, where we’ll share our favorite spots in both tried-and-true and up-and-coming cities.

Les Marches, for a classic French repast of steak frites. Eric Rosen / The Points Guy