Eating & Drinking
Boulangeries & Pâtisseries
Go for its essential pastries —croissants, various sandwiches, or its unbeatable signature cruffin. Get there early, as they sell out fast.
A fantastic bakery with amazing pastries like pain au chocolat, le roulé cannelle, la babka, le cookie et le chou vanille. A place that makes you smile.
Tea Salon Rose Bakery is located in the greenhouse and garden of the Musée de la Vie Romantique, which is free to visit. It’s known for its seasonal, super fresh pastries — in winter, I love the pumpkin cake and pecan tarte.
Restaurants
The best smash-style burgers around. Named after the Brooklyn neighborhood, grab one of its ten standing spots along the aluminum counter.
Go for lunch or dinner, to try its simple and delicious Japanese noodles — cold or hot, with bouillon and sliced duck.
A bistro with classic French dishes that are elevated by the cozy and elegant 1950s atmosphere. For dinner, I’ll get the catch of the day and roasted red beets, and a perfect souffle is always on the menu for dessert. Ask for Frorent.
Hidden inside the heart of the Grand Pigalle Hotel, this restaurant delights the crowd with its elegant decor. For lunch, I'd recommend the Banka trout tartare, and for dinner, the duck from Landes.
The menu changes frequently and consists of small seasonal dishes to share and natural wine. A housemade cavatelli dish, eggs mayonnaise with dried bonito and chili, and a dark chocolate ganache topped with olive oil, chili, and salt flakes are always on the menu.
Recently opened, Madonna has beautiful decor and serves up delicious Italian dishes, powered by Italian producers. Its atmosphere gives it the spirit of a traditional Milanese cafe. Don't forget to save space for tiramisu at the end.
Bars
Its pale green facade is flanked by two green crosses inherited from the old pharmacy and reveals a cozy, wood-paneled interior with an intimate vibe. "Classique Sour" is ideal for aperos — it has peach notes and goes well with oysters. This drink has been there since the very beginning.
A secret address, hidden within the hotel, with a beautiful design by Jacques Garcia that marries Belle Epoque and Oriental styles. ©Benjamin Rosemberg
A legendary Parisian address since 1875, this historic bar is located in an old opera house. A fantastic spot for cocktails and live music, its Haussmannian architecture is dressed with mirrors at every turn.
What to Do & See
Both an agency and a photography gallery, Gallery VU’ is located within a mansion, and aims to affirm the diversity of styles with six exhibitions a year.
A Neoclassical gem built by architect Louis-Hippolyte Lebas, this listed monument is beautiful inside and out. Before you enjoy the serenity of its Italian interior, take a moment on the church steps to take in its Greek-style facade with its soaring columns. Claude Monet and composer Bizet were both baptized here, adding another layer of intrigue.
An unforgettable experience. You should book in advance for a ballet or opera performance, but it also offers self-guided tours of the Palais Garnier's stunning public areas. It’s a masterpiece of 19th-century art architecture.
Small but beautifully formed, this museum houses more than 6,000 of the Symbolist painter’s work within his former home. As you visit his studio, shimmy down pretty spiral stairwells, and admire his intricate paintings, watercolors, sketches, and drawings, you can feel what a labor of love it was.
Shopping
As well as southwestern cheeses, you can buy tasty deli things, organic wines, foie gras, jams, and honey.
A cheese-buvette shop, where you can stock up on artisanal French cheeses, particularly those from the Alps. Stay to try a comté and truffle croque, or a Mont d’Or in the oven.
A super elegant flower shop where they will whip up bespoke creations to impress.
Where to Stay
Located on Pigalle’s liveliest street in a building that once hosted Pablo Picasso and Andrew Breton, Le Pigalle is now a hub for coffee-drinking creatives. Upstairs, its 40 rooms are decorated in the Nouvelle Athènes style.
For a true Pigalle experience, Maison Souquet is a 20-room stunner with a playful past and rich interiors, peppered liberally with period paintings and antiques — as well as a lovely garden. ©Benjamin Rosemberg
Set in a 19th-century beauty that was once home to Jean Cocteau’s family, Soho House’s Parisian outpost is spread across five elegant floors with a design ethos that lets its beautiful old bones sing. Bookable for members and Soho Friends.
