Rémy Delapierre
LOCAL GUIDE
Born, raised, and educated in Paris, Rémy is a true Parisian. He knows his city and its region, especially Versailles, very well. He is a fan of French history and knows plenty of anecdotes about the history and kings of France that he would be happy to share with you. He enjoys guiding families, explaining history to children, and answering their questions. After all, they are often the most logical and sincere ones, aren't they?
"See Paris with an open mind, be ready for surprises, and set aside the idea of 'checking off' every monument on a list. If possible, save some time to get lost in a lesser-known neighborhood. Seeing Paris might be more about a state of mind than a specific itinerary: observe it slowly, with attention, and let yourself be immersed in its contrasts. And for the practical side, the daily metro pass is, of course, very efficient!"
Rhona Portizky
CHEF
Rhona began her culinary training in Paris Michelin-starred kitchens. She taught cuisine and pastry at the French Culinary Institute in New York, where she started the pastry program. Rhona became one of the first woman executive pastry chefs when she worked at the Lespinasse restaurant in the Saint Regis hotel. Her love of teaching and writing led her to translate a dozen authoritative books on pastry, bread, and cuisine. Living in Paris the past 27 years, Rhona is constantly exploring its many culinary offerings. She is presently putting finishing touches on a pastry book with a focus on understanding the basics.
"You can take a cruise all the way down Canal Saint-Martin. It's a great way of seeing Paris from a different view, and you're not going to find as many tourists who know that area. I also recommend seeing the bridges at night, they light up and it's so dramatic and beautiful."
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Lindsey Hansen
ART HISTORIAN
American by birth, Parisienne by luck, Lindsey has been living in Paris for more than a decade. She first arrived in the city for dissertation research, and never left. Lindsey holds an MA in Contemporary Art and a PhD in Medieval Art History. Her specialty is the architecture and sculpture of 13th-century French Gothic cathedrals, though she considers herself more a generalist with a love of all things art history. With nearly twenty years of teaching experience at all levels—from toddlers to adults in a variety of different contexts—she prides herself on creating engaging and educational guided tours for all ages of travelers. One of her greatest pleasures is introducing visitors to all of the wonderful history that Paris has to offer, from its ancient origins to its most modern buildings.
"Getting lost on the back streets is, in my opinion, the very best way to really experience the city. When I first moved here in 2012, my favorite Sunday activity was to take the metro somewhere, and then try to get home by walking. I've discovered some of my favorite little neighborhoods, off-the-beaten-track restaurants and cafes, and hidden architectural gems this way. If I have some time before I have to be home, I still take a nice, long walk on the weaving back streets and appreciate the hidden treasures of my adopted home. More than a decade later, I'm still discovering new and exciting things!"
The atmosphere is loud and bright, the waiter will ask you to decide quickly and then write the bill on the paper laid on the table. I like to order the onion soup, especially in the winter. It's also one of the only places you can find celery remoulade, which used to be the dish that the working class would order in basic restaurants a long time ago. So you don't find that in Paris anymore, but here they still have it on the menu. And it's wonderful.
- Remy, Local Guide
Go here for the duck. You can also find many dishes that are little known outside of France (and even outside the southwest). Be warned, it’s delicious but quite rich.
- Remy, Local Guide
Arpège serves, in an unassuming decor, par excellence food. Chef Alain Passard sources from his own gardens in which he grows many ingredients used in his dishes. He has the most respect for the items that he brings into his restaurant. There are vegetarian choices on his menu, and everything is simply but exquisitely made.
- Rhona, Chef
Go here for the experience. You'll be served classic dishes in a glorious setting from 1901. Imagine what it might have been at the time, with a train coming in two hours you made sure to have time to dine. There is a large dining room with classic cuisine. Some dishes have gotten a modern update. Order the steak tartare and enjoy the hard-to-find side service - you can watch and have it prepared exactly to your taste. They also have smaller areas to sit and have a drink with simpler fare. It is simply stunning.
- Rhona, Chef
It's not very big, so make reservations. For big parties, there's a floor level table with big floor cushions and Afghan rugs. The food is just incredible and the owners are wonderful. You can't ask for a better dining experience. My favorite thing is the vegetarian plate, which comes on a piece of bread, with all sorts of different, very beautifully seasoned vegetables. And then you can tear up the bread and use it as a spoon. It's just to die for.
- Lindsey, Art Historian
The desserts are artistic masterpieces, and at lunch, there is a meal special that comes with a fresh salad, a tartine, quiche or wrap, and one of Arnaud's incredible desserts. The price, the quality of the food, and the view can't be beat. The front display window shows off all of the pastries, but there's a whole room to sit in the back. It's a family-friendly place; the owners keep a lot of kids toys in the back room so if you have little ones, you can give them something to occupy them while you eat.
- Lindsey, Art Historian
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When you step in, you can immediately smell many different perfumes of various teas. It almost feels like being brought on a journey far, far away. You can taste a variety of teas and enjoy the atmosphere, which is wonderful.
- Remy, Local Guide
The flower market is an enchanted break during a stroll around Île de la Cité. You can purchase a packet of seeds to take home and carry the memory of fresh, green scents (olfactory memory is very powerful) right from the heart of Paris.
- Remy, Local Guide
Very kid-friendly. The store is often full of surprises; the last time I was there, there was a giant Notre-Dame in Lego. When you leave, you can buy beautiful postcards at a nearby stationery store. Even if you think you’re not into Lego, you might end up buying something.
- Remy, Local Guide
When I first came to Paris, I worked in a variety of restaurants–small restaurants, but also starred Michelin restaurants. I would go to Dehillerin where I wanted to buy every copper pot in the store... I still get lost here, like a kid in a candy store. Even if I'm going for one item, I often end up purchasing a bit more.
- Rhona, Chef
The name is a pun on the French play-on-words for “I have everything." Originally, you would only see professionals shopping, but now any lover of cooking can go. I suggest picking up some chocolates, vanilla beans, and almond flour. They also have all sorts of savory items such as mustards and a great assortment of black peppercorns. Specialty items are what it offers.
- Rhona, Chef
This toy store is located inside one of Paris' famous covered passages, the Galerie Vivienne. The owner is delightful and willing to help you find just what you need. Her shop is full of beautiful French wooden toys and fun games that children of all ages will enjoy.
- Lindsey, Art Historian
Everything is handmade, if not by the owner, then by local artisans. You just have to go exploring because you never know what you're going to find. Everything is so fun and so unexpected in a lot of ways. It's very whimsical, which is why I like it.
- Lindsey, Art Historian
You can take the column path on the top of the Panthéon. This is something I discovered with my little boy. It's a unique view. There are about 200 steps to climb, but it's not a big deal with kids. And you can see Notre Dame, much more than from other places."
- Remy, Local Guide
The building is stunning Art Deco, with beautiful collections to see. The aquarium has a rich array of rare and exotic species that will delight children, and the little ones will love watching real crocodiles! Fascinating. It's also very close to the Vincennes Zoo, by the way.
- Remy, Local Guide
There is a very nice little garden here with games for the kids and you will have very nice restaurants close by. Nearby, there is a street for shopping called Rue de Passy with many nice shops.
- Remy, Local Guide
This is where my son, still a musician today, first touched a violin. They have a lovely guided visit for children, and at the end they give out different instruments to try. When my son touched the violin he said, 'This is it, mom, I have to get music lessons.' And he was five years old. It's a little bit of a trip from the center of the city, but easy to get to.
- Rhona, Chef
Underneath the city streets are streets of sewers, and they're actually marked with the same names as the streets above. Haussmann and Napoleon were trying to rid Paris of cholera, and they were the first people who developed the sewers as we know them today. The museum also offers a history of floods in Paris... If the river gets too high, literal gates will open and let the extra water into the sewers to keep the river from overflowing. It's a really cool history of Paris through a different lens, and I think it can be interesting to every age range.
- Lindsey, Art Historian
