IWC JOURNAL: Ah Paris, je t'aime!

Paris is not just a city for lovers, but a city to fall in love with. You can live there for years and still not be able to see all of it. That’s why you have to return from time to time and explore something new.

WHERE TO STAY

There are few hotels in Paris as iconic and glamorous as Hôtel Plaza Athénée. Opened in 1913, it is now one of the finest hotels in France. Plaza Athénée offers 146 rooms and 45 suites, each of which is exquisite. The style is primarily of the highly ornate Louis XVI period, and features the highest quality furnishings, fabrics and appointments. Christian Dior, the famed fashion designer, loved the hotel so much that he built his boutique just a few doors away on Avenue Montaigne, now one of Paris’ most famous shopping destinations. Many other celebrities, such as Rudolph Valentino, Grace Kelly, and Jackie Kennedy were among the loyal guests.

The Portofino Automatic 34 Ref. IW357401

Dinner view from the Hôtel Plaza Athénée

a. The Portofino Automatic 34 (Ref. IW357401)

b. View from the Hôtel Plaza Athénée

c. Portofino Chronograph (Ref. IW391036)

d. Dinner view from the Hôtel Plaza Athénée

— Librairie F Jousseaume in the Galerie Vivienne

Hidden Gems

Galerie Vivienne (5 Rue de la Banque, 75002 Paris) - Built in 1823 in a peaceful location right behind Bibliothèque Richelieu, it is without doubt the most beautiful arcade in Paris. From the glass roof which lets in the lights to the colourful mosaics on the ground, visitors can hardly take their eyes off the building. There are many unique boutique shops: ready-to-wear clothing store, tea rooms, gourmet food boutiques, wine cellars, grocery shops, old bookshop (see below) and much more.

Bookstores

Librairie F Jousseaume (45-46-47 Galerie Vivienne 75002 Paris) -Entering Jousseaume is like travelling back in time. Opened in 1826, this bookstore is a literary monument, drawing book lovers from all over the world. It has been run by the Jousseaume family for three generations. Many big figures in literature, such as Colette, were once the regular visitors. On the dusty shelves, there are over 40,000 new and used (rare and vintage) books. Some were even older than the bookstore itself.

Shakespeare & CO. (37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris) - Just around the corner from Notre-Dame, Shakespeare & Co. is an English-language bookshop in the heart of Paris. Opened in 1951, by George Whitman, the bookstore was first called Le Mistral. Then in 1964, he named the bookstore after a bookseller he admired, Sylvia Beach, who’d founded the original Shakespeare and Company in 1919. George claimed that he created the bookstore in same way “a man would write a novel, building each room like a chapter, and I like people to open the door the way they open a book, a book that leads into a magic world in their imaginations.” Now, Shakespeare & Co. is one of the most famous independent bookstores in the world. Its charming aged wooden green facade and its stellar collection of books attracts both avid readers and curious passersby everyday.

Cafés and Restaurants

Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole (24 Rue Chanoinesse, 75004 Paris) - One of Paris’ “best-kept secrets”. If you’re looking for a true Parisian experience, then there are few cafés like this left in the city. Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole, meaning “In the Old Paris of Arcole” is as old as its name suggests. Constructed in 1512, around the same time Notre-Dame Cathedral was completed. Not only the cafe has one of the most beautiful exteriors in Paris, but interiors are equally breathtaking. Both two floors are decorated with authentic tavern feel with bright colors and distinctive furniture. Some of the tables offer a view to the Notre-Dame Cathedral.

La Maison Rose (2 Rue de l’Abreuvoir, 75018 Paris) - The most beautiful pink house in Paris. Located in the artist quarter of Paris, Montmartre, this restaurant has been serving up coffee for over 100 years. Laure “Germaine” Gargallo Florentin Pichot, once a muse and lover of Pablo Picasso, opened the restaurant with her husband, the Catalan painter Ramon Pichot Girones after getting married to him. The couple were part of the artistic scene and spent time with Picasso, Albert Camus, Suzanne Valadon and Maurice Utrillo, who all frequented the restaurant. It is open for lunch and dinner nowadays.

La Boulangerie Beaumarchais (28 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75011 Paris) - Don’t forget the bread! This is one of the most beautiful bakeries in Paris. As a traveler, you don’t really read much about this place maybe because no one really knows the actual name of this hidden-gem bakery. But the locals do and they tend to keep it to themselves. Some people call it Boulangerie 28, which refers to its street number, while others refer to it as Boulangerie Beaumarchais since it’s located on Boulevard Beaumarchais. However, who is concerned about the name when there is always a long line trailing out of the door? The Croissant Coco e Amandes with almonds and cocoa and Olive Baguettine are to die for.