Shopping in Paris is exhilarating, but without a plan, it can quickly become overwhelming. With endless boutiques, beautiful streets, and impossibly good window displays (the French really excel at this), it’s easy to wander for hours and still walk away empty-handed.
As a self-proclaimed Type A traveler, I’m the one with an icon-coded Google map, a meticulously organized itinerary, and at least three backup restaurants for every meal. So, spending an agenda-free afternoon in Paris felt like I was rebelling against my natural wiring. It was equal parts liberating and mildly terrifying—with a definite emphasis on terrifying.
There’s a particular moment when researching Paris restaurants, a point where the sheer abundance of options begins to blur, dining details get disorganized, and only a select few restaurant names consistently surface.
As 2018 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on my travels and adventures throughout the year. I am incredibly grateful to have a chance to visit those places that are familiar and those that were foreign, but extraordinary. While I was doing so, I realized that I had not shared one of my most memorable moments of 2018. Although there are quite a few, this one was certainly momentous.
After a long day spent wandering the Parisian streets, there’s something especially satisfying about unwinding with a glass of fine wine or a meticulously crafted cocktail.