apologies for the tardiness of this post, but with so many photos to edit and links to gather it’s taken me some time to pull it all together, but at last, here we go — to france! so often, is the it place everyone wants to go — and ouí, it is a dream. but on my recent travels abroad, i visited a few other french cities and found them to be trés jolie. we traveled by train which is my favorite kinda way to get about — it’s quick and comfortable, affordable and very efficient. the trip from lyon to paris was just a few hours and we sat in very comfy seats complete with dining tables. we went from to to and back to lyon and then on to paris, all within a week.
so let’s start with . we only had an overnight stay in marseille, but this port city in very walkable (except for an exorbitant amount of wind the day we strolled around) and the harbor area is very pretty. i’ve told you about our beautiful — a must stay — and we walked everywhere from there. we did take a taxi after literally being blown away along the marina to a very special lunch at trés fancy for a seven or eight-course meal that was quite divine. if you can, treat yourself — you’ll feel as though you’re in a french film or a movie star, or something trés chic. we had eaten breakfast at , and had a light dinner later so we didn’t feel like we were blowing our budget or anything, but it is expensive and there’s a reason for it, and part of it is the view you see just below.
WHEN IN MARSEILLE:
— a charming bar & cafe near the marina. we had a delicious dinner (steak & pom frites!) and felt very much like we were dining in the local’s go-to spot.
— this gourmet grocery was so beautiful and so full of gastronomic eye candy. we just stumbled upon it and i’m so glad we did. lemons the size of footballs.
— everyone needs to bring back soap from marseille, and this is the spot. there must have been dozens and dozens of fragrances and i’ve been loving the very lathering soap i brought home.
— this is the fancy restaurant i mentioned. reservations are a must, i believe and it is pricey, but it’s so worth the bit of extravagance.
— this concept store had the cutest designer clothes and i put together a few ensembles i would have loved to buy. beautiful perfumes and candles, too.
— , our amazing wes-anderson inspired home away from home.
— i told you about their ‘secret apartment’ to stay, but this was one of the highlights of our trip. what a fun and wonderful store. part hardware/part homewares/toy shop/cook’s dream — this store has everything you’d ever want all under one roof and merchandised beautifully. love, love, love .
next up, lyon — it’s a beautiful city with not just one but two rivers running through it and at one point the Rhône and the Saône converge. the shopping is wonderful and the cafes equally so. a few of my favorites places to shop and stay. be sure and visit the beautiful overlooking the city with incredible views — i was enthralled with the exquisite stained glass and domed ceiling. nearby is (a miniature eiffel tower!) which is lit up at night and a gorgeous site to see. lyon is large, but very walkable and that’s the best way to see it. as in all european cities — bring your comfiest shoes and leave your vanity back at the hotel.
when in lyon:
– a stunning homewares boutique featuring some of the prettiest (and largest) basket lamps i’ve ever seen. they also carry lovely linens and tablewares, bespoke jewelry and fragrances. trust me, you’ll want it all.
– we went here our first evening in lyon for one of those 5-hour dinners with just as many courses. it was delicious all of it, especially a poached sea bass that melted in my mouth. a great neighborhood vibe without feeling one bit pretentious.
– another beautiful homewares shop with walls and vaulted ceilings of raw stone. so cozy and inviting i wanted one of everything but settled for a small handmade pouch that fit easily in my luggage.
– this patissier treated us like royalty when we stopped in for a visit. we left with pounds of the most gorgeous handmade chocolates and macaron in every flavor. the cakes were works of gastronomic art. do stop in!
– we stayed in this incredible former convent ideally located on the top of the Roman amphitheatres, a stone’s throw from the Basilica, the Fourvière Hotel has reinvented the former convent of the Visitation built by Bossan in 1854 into a modernist dream. each door to the guestrooms is wallpapered with the who shaped france.
– home to those adorable french sneakers we all love, bensimon also carries some equally cute clothing, as well as some wonderful homewares. their lyon store is charming and their staff was so sweet.
– i loved this petite boutique hotel tucked up a narrow street just beyond lyon’s mural painting “Mur des Canuts”. they had to upgrade the doors to their guestrooms with fire safe doors, so they then used the beautiful old tall wooden doors as closet doors. so charming and a lovely place to stay.
— a little bit of Scandinavia in france, this two-story shop carried many handmade products with French, British and Scandinavian flair.
— i loved this quaint bar/cafe right around the corner from . a very local vibe and healthy portions. stop in for a glass of vino and their delicious charcuterie plate.
— think target but with that french je ne sais quoi, and the same bargain prices. several floors of everything from make-up and accessories to groceries and wine all in one big department store.
– a charming concept store with really friendly staff. think beautiful clothing, cashmere scarfs, fancy french shoes and gnomes — yes, they have gnomes. it’s a great spot.
okay, on to the city of lights — paris! i was only here for a day and a single night so i didn’t get around as much as i’d have liked to, but still we walked and walked (21,000 steps in one day, mind you!) and saw as much as we could fit in. a walk through the streets to and its beautiful square, and charming shops like merci and bon ton. then on to the grounds of and gorgeous (named for the tile factories which previously stood on the site) and its charming carousel. wandering paris is the best way to get around, and see so much more than perhaps underground on the metro — especially if you’ve got just one day. but here’s what we saw.
when in paris:
— you’ve heard it before, but this is a must-stop when in paris. fuel up with a latte and a light lunch at their library cafe and then peruse the three floors at your leisure. from fantastic homewares to clothing and accessories and so much more in-between, is the best.
— just down the street from is this darling children’s shop. it may be for kids but i always get inspired here, plus there’s a photobooth!
— this is an amazing Moroccan restaurant with a warm and cozy vibe. it’s a very authentic setting, where you can taste the many flavors of Moroccan cuisine with very generous portions.
— much like the general stores and bazaars of the past, drugstores and hardware stores in which one could find everything necessary under one roof to equip a household, brings together objects and products that are beautiful as well as useful.
— this charming little coffee shop seems a little bit british — almost. but then there are all those wonderful french pastries awaiting you with your latte. not to mention all the beautiful blooms, because it’s a floral shop too. green floors with pink tables — what more could you want?
— we didn’t stay here because it was booked, but after dinner right down the street at , we popped in for a look-see. the very kind concierge gave us a tour of the rooms and they are so adorable. i’d stay here next time for sure!
— this is a trés chic spot to stay, complete with those famous headboards all over instagram. i loved the design, and the cafe next door was charming, too. but i’m going to give their staff a tip: work on your personality and cleanliness. enough said.
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