Nestled in the heart of the Pigalle district, the Le Pigalle hotel (from £207 per night) is a celebration of Parisian artistry, culture and spirit. Playing into the location’s vibrant history, the property and its 40 rooms weave together retro and contemporary design influences and accessories (expect vintage record players and luxurious Le Labo toiletries). Plus, it’s perfectly situated for visiting iconic landmarks like the Moulin Rouge and great spots to eat.

Le Pigalle’s restaurant serves up simple, timeless and seasonal fare from croque monsieur to mont d’or with grenaille potatoes as well as nibbles and cocktails (classics with a French twist), which are available 24 hours a day via room service. Café Pigalle offers an equally delightful menu but with a more casual vibe.

Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs (from £258 per night) is another great hotel that recently opened in the heart of the chic 6th arrondissement on Paris’s Left Bank. The neighbourhood is filled with speciality shops, renowned artisans and established restaurants, including Brasserie Lipp, Café Les Deux Magots, the legendary Café de Flore (brilliant for coffee, wine and people-watching) and sustainable and socially responsible sourdough bakery Ten Belles.

For anyone planning a longer trip or on a tighter budget Zoku Paris in the North-West of the city is a good option for staying and work in Paris, plus it’s just 15 minutes from the impressive Fondation Louis Vuitton.

Grands Voyageurs is a brasserie with a seafood-focused menu that takes inspiration from French and American influences and focuses on local ingredients. With cheeses from La Ferme de la Tremblaye and charcuterie from the Boucherie La Poularde in the next neighbourhood, it’s the perfect spot for a relaxed dinner with friends or a leisurely weekend brunch.

If you are going out-out, you won’t find a shortage of spots in St Germain. Poppy, on the lower ground floor of Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs, is a small but stylish bar where delicious drinks are served in the elegant, dimly lit space. 

It’s hard to narrow down restaurant choices in Paris. For lunch, Carette is a casual, authentic tea room and a failsafe choice. There is one on the pretty Place des Vosges and one at Trocadero if you’re nearer the Eiffel Tower. The atmosphere is warm and easy going, and they have great salads and an excellent onion soup. Café Ruc is a Paris Fashion Week hotspot – it’s dark and does classics like burger and chips (that Parisian burger sauce!) and a delicious, simple salmon and mash (at least half butter, I assume) with green beans. Hotel Costes is another fashion week hotspot, although people go more for the drinks, the party atmosphere and the people-watching.

For a memorable meal, Lafayette’s by Mory Sacko is one of the city’s most hyped new openings. The restaurant sits within the former residence of Marquis Gilbert de La Fayette, a hero of the American War of Independence. The food has both African and Asian influences that have become the signature of chef Mory Sacko. Menu highlights include succulent Cajun salmon with coleslaw, a memorable yellow Landes chicken supreme with a heavenly mafé sauce or an excellent cheeseburger. 

Monsieur Bleu (in the Palais de Tokyo) and seafood restaurant Girafe have unbeatable views of the city and the Eiffel Tower with excellent food and an atmosphere to match.

I don’t have to tell you that the shopping is great in Paris. Dover Street Market Paris is home to various events, installations and special launches to celebrate fashion week, including Bottega Veneta installation The Ark. A collection that contains animal-shaped lounge chairs, Matthieu Blazy, creative director at Bottega Veneta, explained that its aim is to “create a joyful world with a sense of wonder, populated by friendly companions that make you smile”.

Merci is a must-visit for stylish clothes for men, women and children (and do make time to visit the cafe, which does the best soup and cakes). Le Bon Marche is a fashion, homeware and lifestyle institution and Galleries Lafayette hosts brilliant womenswear, accessories and beauty in a spectacular building. 

Veja recently opened the Veja General Store, which has repair and cleaning services on offer as well as an in-house tailor and cobbler who will alter pieces from any brand to extend the lifespan of customers’ clothing. Sézane’s womenswear collections sell out in no time online, but its stores in Le Marais and Saint Germain often have more stock. Loulou Studio  and The Frankie Shop are must-visits for anyone looking for cool, contemporary womenswear and tailoring.

While you’re in Le Marais, you have to check out the restaurants and lunch spots, including falafel takeaway L’As du Fallafel, Le Carreau (its croque monsieur is excellent and the steak tartare is hand-chopped to order) and the always popular Chez Janou, which is casual, home-style cooking with a menu that revolves around classics from the south of France. 

Catch a glimpse of the Arc de Triomphe on your way to the excellent Sandro store on the Champs-Élysées. You can’t go wrong with great shopping in a beautiful environment, complete with bespoke artworks from Etienne Bardelli and Dan John Anderson.

Fondation Louis Vuitton is worth a visit to get a closer look at the Frank Gehry-designed building and eat at its restaurant, Le Frank, which is headed up by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Louis Nomicos. If you’re visiting Paris in the next couple of months, you’ll hopefully catch David Hockney, 25, which opens on 9 April and will take over the entire building for an exhibition that will be exceptional in its scale and its originality. Open until 31 August 2025, it will bring together more than 400 of his works in a variety of media including oil and acrylic painting, ink, pencil and charcoal drawing, digital art (works on iPhone, iPad, photographic drawings) and immersive video installations, as well as works from the artist’s own studio and foundation. 

Main image: Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs

Additional images: courtesy of brands