It’s no secret that Paris is the epicentre of fashion, but there is one secret spot where its inner crowd fleets to for archival material: Comptoir de l’Image. Located on Rue de Sévigné (an empty street parallel to the busy Rue de Turenne), this bookstore is tiny but filled to the brim with rare fashion, music and art publications – all courtesy of just one old gentlemen, whose knowledge of culture reigns supreme. You’ll likely be a bit overwhelmed by its selection upon arrival, but you’re guaranteed to find something extremely special to add to your collection.

Comptoir de l’Image

Address: 44 Rue de Sévigné
Telephone:01 42 72 09 17
Hours: Monday – Saturday 12:00PM-7:00PM
Metro:Filles du Calvaire (8)

Words: Faye Fearon
Image: via @kudkidd

Sure, the 3rd is filled with charming cafés, but if your desired drink is a glass of natural wine, there is only one place to go: Le Barav. Nestled on a quiet street just behind the stunning Square du Temple, this is a go-to hub for those who know their wine and want to sample some excellent aperitif snacks alongside it. We recommend starting with a cheese and charcuterie board, and order a variety of small glasses to sample the bar’s top notch selection. Local, organic and full of flavour, this place will bring you a real taste of Parisian life.

Le Barav

Address: 6 Rue Charles-François Dupuis
Telephone: 01 44 07 99 27
Hours: Tuesday – Friday 5:00PM-12:00AM, Saturday 12:00PM-12:00AM
Metro: Temple (3)

Words: Faye Fearon
Image: via @lacavedubarav

If you didn’t know about Castor-Fleuriste, you’d definitely miss it, because it’s hidden within the realms of a charming courtyard on Rue Debelleyme. For the record, that’s a good thing, because the only people who frequent this luxury florist shop have serious taste – and you’ll instantly see this upon arrival. Offering an abundance of various blooms, Castor-Fleuriste epitomises the art of flower arranging. Though its prices are a little higher than your average French florist, the quality of a bouquet here will instantly elevate the interior of your apartment.

Castor-Fleuriste

Address: 14 Rue Debelleyme
Telephone: 01 40 56 34 68
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10:00AM-7:00PM
Metro: Filles du Calvaire (8)

Words: Faye Fearon
Image: via @castorfleuriste

Located a stones throw from the Musée Picasso is a quintessentially Parisian bar called Le Saint Gervais. Given its neighbouring cultural attraction, you would expect this place to be overloaded with tourists, but in fact, it’s quite the opposite. Le Saint Gervais is inhabited by some of the city’s most fashionable locals, who humorously battle for a seat at one of the ten tables outside its small (but ultra hip) space. This is the perfect place for people watching, and if you’re there with a date, we recommend having an ice cold beer before spending some romantic time in the Jardin de l’Hôtel-Salé directly opposite.

Le Saint Gervais

Address: 96 Rue Vieille du Temple
Telephone: 01 42 77 85 65
Hours: Monday – Sunday 7:00AM-2:00AM
Metro:Filles du Calvaire (8)

Words: Faye Fearon
Image: via @urbansiderparis

Craving some serious culture from the 3rd? Musée Picasso is the answer. As you can probably guess from the name, this gallery is dedicated to the life and work of Spanish artist Pablo Picasso – and across its three floors, you’ll find more than 5000 of his works: from paintings, sculptures and drawings to ceramics, engravings and even personal notebooks. Whether you want to delve into the life of Picasso or simply bask in the surroundings of the historic hôtel particulier, this setting is bound to satisfy. Just make sure to set a few hours aside to explore, ideally first thing in the morning before the wave of tourists hit.

Musée Picasso

Address: 9 Rue de Thorigny
Telephone: 01 85 56 00 36
Hours:Tuesday – Sunday 9:30AM-6:00PM
Metro: Saint-Sébastien-Froissart (8)

Words: Faye Fearon
Image: via @museepicassoparis

The 3rd is a leading arrondissement for some of Paris’ most stylish galleries. Should your preferred kind be photographic, and should your preferred topic of choice be France’s most stylish icons, we advise a trip to La Galerie de L’instant. The highlight is the basement: a charming brick cellar overloaded with black and white photos of Serge Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin, Alain Delon and Catherine Deneuve – to name a fine few.

La Galerie de L’instant

Address: 46 Rue de Poitou
Telephone: 01 44 54 94 09
Hours: Monday – Saturday 11:00AM-7:00PM, Sunday 1:00PM-6:30PM
Metro: Filles du Calvaire (8)

Words: Faye Fearon
Image: via @lagaleriedelinstant

Every major city has a prime pizza spot, and in Paris, it’s La Briciola. Sat in the heart of Le Marais’ top quieter streets, this Italian hub hasn’t tried too hard with its interior, but that’s exactly what makes it feel so authentic. Dimly lit and filled with wooden chairs and tables, this is an easy point of call for any kind of dinner – whether you’re out with friends or on a first date. Our only tip is to book a table in advance – this place serves the best pizza in the city, so it always fills up quickly.

La Briciola

Address: 64 Rue Charlot
Telephone: 01 42 77 34 10
Hours: Monday – Saturday 12:00PM-2:30PM, 7:30PM-11:00PM
Metro: Oberkampf (5)

Words: Faye Fearon
Image: via @labriciolaparis

France is famed for its excellent wine, and the local buzz favours organic or “Bio”. Technically speaking, this means that the wine is fermented using traditional methods which reject the use of pesticides and additives. Flavour speaking, this results in the purest and, more often that not, lightest drinking experience possible – and the finest options in Paris can be sourced from L’Etiquette. With a motto to “drink well and drink healthy”, its owners are extremely welcoming, well educated and guaranteed to change your perception of wine for the long run. Trust us when we say: the au naturel lifestyle has never been more appealing. 

L’Etiquette

Address: 10 Rue Jean du Bellay
Telephone: 01 44 07 99 27
Hours: Monday 2:00PM-7:00PM, Tuesday – Friday 11:00AM-7:00PM, Saturday – Sunday 10:00AM-7:00AM
Metro: Pont Marie (7)

Words: Faye Fearon
Image: via @letiquette.paris

Searching for a romantic spot in Paris? A sidewalk next to the Seine is classic, of course, but there’s one thing better: a seat smack dab in the middle of the river. Is that a thing? Actually, yes. Officially known as Place Louis Aragon, it rests at the tip of the Île Saint-Louis island which divides the city’s left and right banks. You can take a seat in its cobbled square or walk down to the river edge, but we suggest the latter at golden hour for a date night you won’t forget. Just be sure to pick up some wine from the neighbouring L’Etiquette shop beforehand. 

Place Louis Aragon

Address: Place Louis Aragon, Quai de Bourbon
Metro: Pont Marie (7)

Words: Faye Fearon
Image: via @vishnoufromparis