No doubt about it, Paris is for lovers. Whether in the throngs of a fresh romance or celebrating a silver anniversary, the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Paris are enough to tug on the chords of even the hardest of hearts. Setting the scene for a hundred rom-coms, not to mention almost all of Woody Allen’s romantic fancies, spend a couple of days together in the city of love and you will be gazing dreamily into each other’s eyes in no time.
Check in
There are a number of intimate, boutique hotels to hole up in but if you’re going all out, L’Hotel is by far one of the most lavish options, with a bit of history as the place where Oscar Wilde wrote his pieces. The sumptuous interiors of oversized drapes, mirrored furniture and other ornate fixtures make this a fittingly decadent place to spend some time under the covers. If you’re looking for something more traditional and smack dab in the middle of it all, the opulent Plaza Athenee is as good as it gets. The regal effect of the boudoir-meets-embassy interiors will take you as close to feeling like royalty as possible.
After checking in late in the afternoon, put on your best dinner jacket and start your first evening with a romantic, fine-dining feast at the Michelin-starred Le Meurice restaurant. The mouth-watering French classics courtesy of chef Yannick Alleno are good enough to make even the toughest of critics blush. Ladies be warned and men be ready: as the most beautiful dining room in Paris, your guard will definitely be down. The rest of the night is history.
Day 1
‘Busy’ is not a word often used by the French so make sure to take your time to enjoy the morning with a leisurely start with a croissant at one of the cafes that line the leafy Boulevard Saint Germain. Afterward, head into the Jardin du Luxembourg for a casual stroll through the manicured gardens. You will immediately feel like you are on set of a slick French film. From there, take the metro north to the trendy Marais district to wander amongst a young crowd of attractive young professionals. Browse the one-of-a-kind boutiques and speciality shops to pick up something for that special someone.
When it feels like time to get off your feet, take a corner table at L’Ecume St.-Honor, order a dozen of the best oysters in Paris and a bottle of champagne to wash it down with. After the aphrodisiacs kick in, you might want to get an early night. If not, continue with a bottle of wine at the intimate and local-favorite wine bar Le Baron Rouge. The list of wines is endless and enough to keep you happily tipsy.
Day 2
On day two, release any tensions you have left with a the signature chocolate massage at the Four Seasons, where you will be scrubbed, wrapped and rubbed with cocoa-based ingredients followed by none other than a chocolate tasting. More walking is advised with a stroll along the River Seine. Pop into the Louvre to appreciate some of the 35,000 pieces of works before a traditional bistro-style lunch at the local favorite Le Fumoir. Red wine is recommended.
Just before dark, wander up to the cemetery of Montparnasse to visit the graves of legends like Serge Gainsbourg. Although slightly creepy, the excitement from being amongst some of France’s most historic tombs will get your blood flowing.
On the last evening, experience one of world-famous operas at the magnificent Opera Garnier. Its grand, gothic interiors were the inspiration for Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera. After all of this, if you have any energy left, take in the last of the city skyline with a nightcap at Altitude 95. Sitting in the Eiffel Tower, this is the perfect place to appreciate the last of the Paris skyline.
