I enjoyed reading
‘s recent newsletter ‘I Went to Paris’ where she writes about our obsession with recommendation culture, especially here on Substack. I completely get what she’s talking about in the introduction to this newsletter. When I see someone whose taste I trust recommended where to travel to, where to eat in a certain destination, what to pack in your suitcase, what to wear, what to read (… the list goes on) I immediately want to hit subscribe. I enjoy rifling through recommendations ahead of a trip and pulling out the places that interest me. But what about just turning up somewhere without pinning everyone else’s favourite spots to your Google maps? What about just wandering around at your own pace, looking out for the places that catch your eye?As Alison says …
Something I’m personally working on, especially when I travel, is to rediscover my senses of discovery. Remember what it was like to travel without Google Maps or working wifi. Look at the list but ignore most of it. Know that if I don’t go to the restaurant or museum exhibit flooding my feed, the place I go instead might just be as good (maybe even better). Or it might be bad! And that’s okay too. It’s all just information. Much like dating, you need to know what you don’t like to fully appreciate what you do, further cultivating your own sense of taste and identity.
I really, really get this. I am naturally a planner, and like to be organised. I feel more comfortable turning up someplace new armed with a list of recommendations. But I also try to practice what I preach and just take things at a slower pace, going with the flow and seeing where I end up. I might book a restaurant that I’m excited to dine in one evening, but I’m much happier to just stroll around a neighbourhood and see what I stumble upon. I don’t want to be racing across a city to reach a star on my map, without paying attention to everywhere that I pass.
I encourage you all to do the same, and to discover a destination for yourself. However, it’s always nice to have a handful of places bookmarked, so you have a starting point. I bookmark places on my Google Maps app as and when I stumble across mentions of anywhere I might like, so that when it comes to booking a trip to that destination I can already get a sense of the neighbourhoods and areas that interest me. I won’t charge across a city to queue up outside a popular cafe, but if I happen to be in the area and feeling peckish, I’ll check to see if they have a table.
Therefore, I share my Paris recommendations with a pinch of salt. I was only there for two nights and don’t know the city well, so I can’t say if these are the best places in the entire city - but they are all places I enjoyed visiting and would recommend if you are in the area. If you’re strolling through Montmartre and have a craving for a sweet treat, if you’re shopping in the Marais and just want a tasty snack to eat on the go, or if you want to know my top tip for where to pick up the very best French skin and hair care - read on.
Looking for recommendations for other cities? Check out my Secret Spots in Copenhagen. I’ll share my Athens tips next, following my trip next month.
I couldn’t afford anything in this beautifully curated shop, but it didn’t stop me browsing and dreaming. Expect to find everything from clothing to homeware and books spread over their three floors, all expensively priced and very aesthetic. They happened to have a DÔEN pop-up when I was there, which was extra dreamy.
I sampled plenty of pastries during my brief time in Paris, and I have to say Maison Aleph was my favourite. Their delicate pastries fuse Parisian and Levantine influences to create tasty treats that are light and moreish. Their pastry nests and tarts change flavours with the season and are simply delicious.
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