The Best Of Paris for Christmas: A Walk in the Passages Couverts

I like to have a walk in the Passages Couverts in Paris. Those galleries date from the beginning of the 19th century and were in a way the precursors to our modern shopping malls. Most of them have beautiful glass roofs and are true architectural gems. My favourite walk starts from the metro station Le Peletier and ends four metro stations further south on metro line 7 at Palais Royal. It enables to discover four of the main Passages Couverts, all different and each having a very special character. This walk is even more magic during Christmas time as the galleries are all decorated with tinsel and fairy lights. You can choose a rainy day as the galleries are covered; but keep your coat as they are not heated at all!

The Passage Verdeau: The place for old books and drawings
Passages Couverts Paris-Passage Verdeau
Passages Couverts Paris-Passage Verdeau

Continue reading The Best Of Paris for Christmas: A Walk in the Passages Couverts

Top Three Wine Shops in Paris

France is THE country for wine and Paris is probably THE city in the world where one can find the largest quantity of Wine Shops. I would recommend any of them provided that the wines appear to be stored in good conditions and that the store owners seem to be experts in wines and the shop assistants able to give good advices… not only in French… but also in English for our foreign visitors! For my Top Three Wine Shops in Paris I have selected three places which are well known by Parisian people to be a Mecca for wine lovers in Paris, places where one can be sure to find what one is looking for. They are not necessarily the cheapest but each of them offer a wide selection of bottles, including the great wines of Bordeaux, good storage conditions and skilled sales assistants able to give good advices.

Legrand Filles et Fils: the most charming
Legrand Filles et Fils-Paris-The Vinotheque and the Bar
Legrand Filles et Fils-Paris-The Vinotheque and the Bar

Continue reading Top Three Wine Shops in Paris

Beaugrenelle Paris: The Place for Chic and Casual Shopping

Beaugrenelle Paris is the newest Shopping Mall in Paris. It opened two years ago in 15th arrondissement of Paris in an area lying along the Seine River and called ‘Le Front de Seine’ which is located about 15 minutes walk southwards from the Eiffel Tower. Since its opening this new Shopping destination has got several awards including the one for ‘the Best European Shopping Centre 2015’.

I went there for the first time this week and I have really been charmed by the brightness and user-friendliness of the place as well as by the casual chic positioning of its stores. It is the first time that a Shopping Mall with such an architecture and design has opened in Paris and I think that it is really worth the visit.

Beaugrenelle Paris-Inside view from Magnetic Entrance
Beaugrenelle Paris-Inside view from Magnetic Entrance

Continue reading Beaugrenelle Paris: The Place for Chic and Casual Shopping