A Deliciously Lovely Week in Paris


Paris is a city for the curious and the hungry. Entire days can be spent wandering its historic streets, happening upon one quirky old museum after another and popping into patisseries for (just a few!) more pastries. Informed by a local food writer with the Parisian love of walking in mind, here’s how to spend a bewitching — and Michelin star-filled — week in the French Capital
Day One
5:00 PM
Arrive and check in at the Shangri-La Paris, one of the city's most magnificent luxury hotels, then stroll through the nearby Jardins du Trocadero to admire the Eiffel tower at dusk.

7:00 PM
Dinner in the hotel at Shang Palace, France's first Chinese fine dining restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star.
Day Two
9:30 AM
After breakfast at the hotel, you're picked up for a private guided walking tour of Montmartre. This remarkable village within Paris has a history that stretches back centuries and was formerly home to artists like Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Cezanne and others.
1:15 PM
A lunch of Croque Forestiere (a take on the classic Croque Monsieur with earthy roasted mushrooms) at the heavenly Buvette bistro.
2:45 PM
A quick car ride brings you south to the Louvre, where you enjoy a stroll around the pyramid before making your way back along the Seine to the hotel.
7:45 PM
A light dinner in the hotel's chic but comfortable lounge.
Day Three
10:30 AM
After a relaxed breakfast, you're off to explore Marche Beauvau and Marche d'Aligre, an adjoining pair of popular markets (one covered, one open). On a private culinary tour with a local guide, stroll through and admire the boxes of golden chanterelles, stacks of freshly-cut flowers and cases filled with more cheese and butter than you can imagine.
12:15 PM
At nearby wine bar Le Baron Rouge, join the ever-present crowd indulging in freshly-shucked oysters and crisp glasses of Muscadet.
1:15 PM
Unwind with a quiet stroll along the elevated 'Coulee verte Rene-Dumont' (aka Promenade Plantee), working up an appetite for the dinner of a lifetime.
7:30 PM
Dinner at L'Ambroisie, the renowned 3 Michelin star restaurant by father and son chef team Bernard and Mathieu Pacaud.
Day Four
8:00 AM
Leave bright and early for a privately-guided day trip to some of France's most opulent palaces. First stop is Vaux-le-Vicomte, a 17th-century chateau that served as the inspiration for the later-built Versaille; because it's the lesser-known of the two, you can enjoy a more intimate and leisurely tour of this architectural masterpiece. Next you're off to Fontainebleau, the only palace inhabited by every French monarch from the 12th to 19th centuries, and last residence of Bonaparte before his abdication. After the chateau tour, a stroll through Fontainebleau's beautiful ancient forest is a must.
7:00 PM
After a long day spent exploring palaces, enjoy a quiet and relaxed dinner at the hotel.
Day Five
9:15 AM
After breakfast, it's time for one of the hotel's signature rebalancing massages at Chi, The Spa.
11:00 AM
Feeling refreshed, you're off to Le Centre Pompidou for a private tour of one of the world's best collections of contemporary art.
1:00 PM
Stop into pint-sized Caractere de Cochon for the perfect Parisian lunch: a baguette sandwich with butter and ham.
1:45 PM
If you have more museum time in you, the quirky and under-the-radar La Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature is always worth a visit.
7:00 PM
Dinner at Le Bon Georges, a classic Parisian bistro with fat stalks of white asparagus smothered in b?arnaise, delectable steak frites, perfectly-cooked duck breast with wild blueberries and much more.
9:00 AM
Breakfast at the hotel.
11: 15 AM
If the sun is out for your last full day, there's no better place to be than the Sculpture Garden at the Musee Rodin. If it's raining, there's still plenty to explore inside.
1:15 PM
Have a seat and prepare to taste some of the best chocolate, pastries and sweets both in the Marais and on the planet. A reservation for tea in Jacques Genin's airy and minimalist shop means otherworldly chocolates and caramels, plates of exquisite Paris Brest and mille-feuilles that may very well have a thousand layers each. Don't forget a few pate de fruits to go.
3:30 PM
Bellies full, take a stroll towards Pont Neuf and along the Seine to visit Shakespeare and Company, a beloved local book shop.
7:00 PM
Dinner at the hotel.
Day Seven
9:00 AM
One last lovely breakfast at La Bauhinia in the Paris.
11:30 AM
If time allows after checkout, enjoy a walk over to Avenue Montaigne to peruse its couture offerings; once inspired, visit the nearby Musee Yves Saint Laurent for an even deeper dive into the history of French fashion.