Seven Delicious Days in Paris

Early morning magic: buttery, crackly, croissants and pain au chocolat waiting and ready to jam.

It all started over morning coffee back in May.

My husband was lobbying for Maui — beaches, mai tais, the works. I was craving something different. Culture. Cobblestones. And, if I’m honest, an unreasonable amount of cheese. After some friendly negotiation (and a few sunset Eiffel Tower photos strategically placed in front of him), Paris in October won.

Seven days in the City of Light. And this time, I was ready to do it right.

Finding Our Perfect Perch

The Hotel Citadines became our home base, and we couldn’t have picked better. Just forty-five minutes from Charles de Gaulle by train (somewhere along the way, I sacrificed my reading glasses to the travel gods), we arrived at the heart of it all.

Right across the street: a boulangerie that quickly became my morning pilgrimage. Next door: a Monoprix where you can buy anything from travel toothpaste to a striped “Paris-themed” shirt that proudly screams tourist — and yes, I bought it for €17 and wore it with zero shame.

The neighborhood buzzed with cafés and bistros, and a constant parade of people who gave the streets their easy, everyday charm. At night, the tables filled up, wine glasses clinked, and it felt like the whole city came out just to celebrate dinner. Every night!

A Symphony of Flavors

Our first real meal set the tone — a croque monsieur at Les Deux Magots. Classic? Sure. Touristy? Maybe. Delicious? Absolutely. By day two, I was eating another one (this time with fries — because, when in Paris). I digress as I'm distracted by this luscious picture!

Nutty, oozy, baked cheese on bread and a salad on the side. It's all about balance (and the cheese!)

Back to our fabulous feasts.

With jet lag setting in, we decided to walk it off — and, as tends to happen in Paris, that walk led us straight to dinner. Just when I thought our “snack” might have been the meal of the day, we stumbled into Bachaumont Restaurant and Bar, tucked inside the chic Hotel Bachaumont.

The warm, welcoming host guided us through the menu like an old friend, and the bartender even left his post to tempt us with inventive cocktails that paired beautifully with each course. It was our first official dinner in Paris — and the perfect way to kick off a week of good food, laughter, and unexpected magic.

Day two brought a short train ride to the Marché aux Puces, Paris’s famous flea market — a maze of antique shops and tiny cubbies overflowing with treasures. We wandered for hours, admiring everything from grand sculptures to curious little trinkets from decades past. Some pieces stopped us in our tracks; others made us smile and scratch our heads. By the end, we’d worked up a proper appetite and headed back for the requisite nap before, of course, another memorable dinner.

Dinner that night was at Halle au grains, where we ate in the middle of Bourse de Commerce museum. Chicken with Jerusalem artichokes that I still dream about, followed by a pastry so wild it deserves its own paragraph — ruffled layers topped with thin mushroom slices, filled with cream and chocolate. It shouldn’t have worked, but it did. Completely.

A close up of my chicken dinner; cooked to perfection and served alongside Jerusalem artichokes.

Artistry on display: curvy, thin pastry, cream filling, and mushrooms. Yes, mushrooms! And it was delicious!

The Daily Bread (and Butter)

Let’s talk croissants.

A close up of our daily ritual: pastries, coffee, and that gorgeous Parisian sky beckoning. But wait, just ONE MORE latte!

The day before, I’d spotted a bakery window filled with golden pastries — but somehow resisted. By the next morning, resistance was futile. These weren’t just croissants; they were butter-layered clouds of perfection that made every breakfast feel like a tiny celebration.

And the baguettes? Equally divine. I never did catch the shop’s name — I was too busy inhaling that first bite. Soon it became our ritual: fresh pastries from across the street, strong coffee at Stephan and Corinne’s, long breakfasts that turned into conversations. It was the kind of simple luxury that makes you question every rushed morning back home.

And then came the showstopper: Le Jules Verne, perched high inside the Eiffel Tower, courtesy of my friend Corinne’s planning magic. Everything was theater, from the amuse-bouche (a tiny rose that turned out to be a tomato!) to the cheese “taco” paired with cream sauce, to the langoustines and lemon dessert. And of course, that view. Paris glittering below us like a jeweled carpet. It was the kind of dinner you don’t just eat — you remember.

The amuse bouche at Jules Verne: where a tomato blooms into a rose!

The "taco": cheese on the exterior, cheese on the inside, and a mushroom cream sauce on the side. A-mazing.

Light and lemony, plus gorgeous to see this at the (almost end) of dinner.

Rediscovering Paris

It had been more than twenty years since my last visit. Back then, I was wide-eyed, a little intimidated, and constantly flipping through a phrasebook. This time felt different. Maybe it was having Corinne’s fluent French in our group. Maybe it was Paris itself — still elegant, but more welcoming. Or maybe it was just me — not as young (ha!), more comfortable, ready to enjoy the city without trying so hard to “do” Paris right.

This trip felt easy. Warm. Familiar in a way that only a place you’ve missed can be. Paris wasn’t showing off — she was just being herself, and somehow that made her even more beautiful.

The weather stayed crisp and kind, the food was everything I hoped for, and the days blurred in that delicious way only vacation days can. My camera — and my heart — are full of memories. But the City of Light wasn't finished feeding me yet.

Next up? An epic cheese tour that turned indulgence into education — and reminded me why Paris will always have my heart (and my appetite). But that's for the next round and I hope you'll be back!

Travel Notes

A few favorites from our week in Paris — the kind of places I’d go back to in a heartbeat:

Where We Stayed 🏨 Hotel Citadines Les Halles 4 Rue des Innocents, Paris 75001 Perfectly central, clean, and steps from the train — plus, that life-changing bakery right across the street.

Where We Ate 

🍸 Bachaumont Restaurant & Bar — Our first dinner in Paris and a total surprise. Warm, welcoming service, creative cocktails, and a menu that set the tone for the whole trip.

🥐 Les Deux Magots — A Paris classic. Start your trip here with a croque monsieur and some people-watching. 

🍗 Bourse de Commerce — Museum dining meets artful presentation; don’t skip dessert. 

🍋 Le Jules Verne (Eiffel Tower) — For the view and the magic. Reserve early.

Additional: Marcello (Italian), and

What We Saw 

🛍️ Marché aux Puces (Flea Market) — A treasure trove of antiques and curiosities. From grand sculptures to tiny trinkets, it’s the perfect place to wander and wonder.

Budget Find 

👕 Monoprix — Because no one should leave Paris without a striped shirt and a few snacks for the trip home.

Always epic. Forever iconic.