A Day in Paris
Eiffel Tower view from Avenue de Camoëns.
In the spring of 2024, I had the ultimate girls' getaway to Paris with three of my closest friends! What began as a mission to see Taylor Swift's Eras Tour quickly transformed into the most unforgettable girls' getaway, exploring the City of Light. There was, plenty of shopping, wine shared at a café terrace, unbelievable food, and endless laughs. We were lucky enough to see Taylor's concert at La Défense Arena, where she performed her song Paris live for the first time. It could not have been more perfect!
The day after the concert, we wasted no time. We woke up early and made our way from our hotel in Saint-Germain-des-Prés to a croissant-making class at Maison Fleuret, near the Notre-Dame. Saint-Germain is my favorite neighborhood to stay in—charming, central, and filled with wonderful restaurants and shops. The class was a marvelous experience as we learned to make croissants, pain au chocolat, and even cinnamon rolls. They turned out absolutely delicious! While I haven’t yet attempted to recreate them at home, my husband keeps requesting I give it a try.
After our class, we hopped on the Batobus to the area surrounding the Effiel Tower. The Batobus is an excellent way to see Paris from the Seine, offering all-day access to hop on and off at various stops: Jardin des Plantes, Hôtel de Ville, Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Tour Eiffel, Invalides, Musée d’Orsay, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and Notre Dame. We stopped for a leisurely lunch at La Fontaine de Mars, dining al fresco. We shared a few pitchets of rosé, and I had the fish special: le loup with tapenade. This restaurant is hands down one of my favorites!
We spent the afternoon strolling around the Eiffel Tower. My favorite view of the Eiffel Tower is from Avenue de Camoëns, but there are so many stunning perspectives to enjoy. Place du Trocadéro was under construction for the Olympics, so we discovered a few lesser-known viewpoints. The tower’s beauty never fails to amaze me. One of the best ways to experience Paris is simply by walking and soaking in all its charm, which is exactly what we did—meandering along the Seine back to Saint-Germain.
For dinner, we were able to secure a reservation at Perruche, a rooftop restaurant at Printemps Haussmann, one of Paris' iconic department stores. That dinner will forever remain one of my favorites. We had the perfect table with sweeping views of the city, including the Eiffel Tower and Place de la Madeleine. We watched the sunset over Paris and saw the Eiffel Tower sparkle every hour. (This may or may not have turned into a five-hour dinner—we just couldn't bring ourselves to leave!) The food was as incredible as the view—pissaladière, farcis, Veuve Clicquot, mousse au chocolat, and tarte au framboise, to name a few. It was an evening of exquisite food, great company, and unforgettable views.
