The Fashion Designer's Guide To Paris: Where To Eat And Shop

Paris has long been the fashion capital of the world with designers, bloggers and industry insiders flocking to the French city twice a year for Paris Fashion Week - plus, Haute Couture Week and various private showings, of course. So where do those in the know choose to spend their time in Paris, besides flitting from showroom to the front row?

We asked designers Sarah Harris Gould and Lauren Tapper of New Zealand-based label Harris Tapper to share their expert knowledge - croissants, shops and wine bars very much included.

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Restaurants:

Café Crème
4 Rue Dupetit-Thouars, 75003 Paris, France

We were on a fries tour of Paris and highly recommend the fries here! Also, the decor is so beautiful. There are all these dried flowers woven into the ceiling and they look amazing in the late evening under candlelight. However, If it’s warm enough to sit outside, it’s a great spot for people watching.

Must try: Beef Carpaccio

Café Charlot
38 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris, France

Favourite restaurant. Such a great spot for people watching, especially during fashion week! Even sitting in the restaurant makes you feel Parisian, the waiters only call you darling and the bread basket is the best we tried in Paris (and we tried a few!). It opens at 7am and is a great spot for a morning coffee and croissant.

Wild & The Moon
55 Rue Charlot, 75003 Paris, France

The best vegan lunch and breakfast spot! Their cold pressed juices are the perfect pick-me-up alternative to coffee in the morning. We loved the pink rose lattes and the takeaway lentil salads for lunch. There’s always a line but it’s worth it.

Must try: Rose Latte

Le Square Gardette
24 Rue Saint-Ambroise

Amazing restaurant in the 11^th, a quintessentially Paris bistro. The menu is small but wholesome. Their most famous dish is the ‘Cote de boeuf’, a beef served in a casserole dish. It’s 75 euro and can easily be shared between four people.

Café de la Poste
124 Rue de Turenne

Great spot for a morning espresso and croissant. It’s open until 1.30am so this is a great late night bite on the way home if you’re staying in the Marais!

Must try: The chicken burger.

Big Love
30 Rue Debelleyme, 75003 Paris, France

AMAZING French/Italian restaurant. It opens at 7pm and is always full, so make sure you get there at 6.30pm to line up. You can’t book, but it’s worth waiting in the freezing cold.

Must try: Truffle Pasta.

Ob-la-di
54 Rue de Saintonge, 75003 Paris, France

Cute café for a morning coffee and breakfast. The peanut butter and berries on toast was beautiful! You can’t go here without seeing someone take a photo of the floor.

Must try: The coffee is great!

Shopping

Merci
11 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003 Paris, France

Parisian Concept Store with homeware, clothing and a restaurant. Great spot to buy gifts! The stationary is so beautiful.

Parisian Pharmacies

On literally every corner in Paris. The green flashing light is like the Parisian golden arches.

Favourites we picked up: Bioderma Sensibio H20, Nuxe Dry Oil, Nuxe Lip balm and everything Darphin.

Happy
15 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris, France

The best flower shop! Has such an eclectic mix of flowers.

Galeries Lafayette:
40, Blvd. Haussmann

Must visit if not just to look at the ceiling. It's the most amazing department store and definitely the best place for shopping in Paris!

Isabelle Truman

Isabelle Truman is a freelance writer based out of London, UK. She specialises in fashion, lifestyle and travel and knows a thing or two (read: everything) about both Meghan Markle and 'Sex and the City'.