Paris is a city that never stops giving – from its photo shoot-ready streets (hey did you know we do photo shoots in Paris? Get in touch here!) to its iconic landmarks, there’s something magical to discover around every corner. That said, as a traveler or a new parent here, navigating the City of Lights like a local isn’t always effortless. That’s why I’ve put together this resource guide – a little treasure trove of tips from a long time Paris Photographer and a parent of two young kids. Here are some of the best apps, restaurant recommendations, photo specific recommendations, and other info from a local to help you experience Paris with ease. These recommendations are for locals living here and tourists experiencing Paris during vacation.
Use this as a tool and save it in your phone. It’s a bit all over the place but it’s all things I’ve been asked before by clients or friends and so it’s a bit of an ever compiling list.
Whether you’re wondering how to skip the lines, find the best croissant in town, or hop on the metro without breaking a sweat, this Paris resource guide has you covered. It’s packed with all the essentials I personally recommend to my friends, family, and clients to make their Paris adventures smoother and more memorable. Ready to dive in? Let’s get you strolling those cobblestone streets like you’ve lived here all along!
Where to Eat and Drink in Paris:
This is my Paris Restaurant map that I’m always updating as I eat my way around the French capital, here’s the link to it to see all the categories: LINK TO MAP
This Paris map has my favorite restaurants, cafés, bars, the best bakeries, quick restaurant reviews, and best places to photograph all around the major tourist attractions as well as smaller more village-y parts of Paris that you might not have been to.
It’s a great tool and a great way to pinpoint places you might to stop in an area you’re already walking through. We have some favorite restaurants and café’s around the Eiffel Tower, sale for Notre Dame. If you’re into Space Invaders, you’ll find a ton all around these places on the map. You can find both my favorite spots and places that I might not have tried yet but have heard recommended from numerous foodie friends.
Making Reservations in Paris for restaurants is pretty easy.
I have two main ways that I do it: I look on Google Maps and click the “reserve” button. It will bring you to their website or the restaurants desired booking platform. You can also use the app called The Fork or La Fourchette in French. If it prompts you to call, just do it, usually they’ll speak english or if they don’t you can ask your hotel concierge.
Online via google maps you can often see sample menus in the photos that people have posted in their reviews. I definitely prefer the reviews of local restaurants in Google Maps over say, Yelp. I don’t know any local French person who uses Yelp so if you want a non-tourist review of the place, stick to Google Maps.
Here’s a rundown of the best restaurants in the 5th and 6th Arrondissements in Paris (Saint Germain des Pres and the Latin Quarter/City Center). These are all conveniently in the neighborhood of my Paris Photo Studio:
My Favorite French Bistro in Paris: La Petite Perigourdine, 39 Rue des Écoles, 75005 Paris
My Favorite Steak in Paris: Gueuleton, 21 Rue Guisarde, 75006 Paris
My Favorite Brasserie in Paris: Le Grand Colbert (not in the 6th but by Palais Royal in the 2nd. SO GOOD), 2 Rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris
My Favorite Gluten Free Café in Paris: Le Pont Traversé, 62 Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris
My Favorite Modern Italian Restaurant in Paris: Marcello, 8 Rue Mabillon, 75006 Paris
My Favorite Pizza Place in Paris: A braccetto, 19 Rue Soufflot, 75005 Paris
My Favourite Sushi Place in Paris: Blueberry Maki Bar, 6 Rue du Sabot, 75006 Paris
My Favorite Wine Bar in Paris: Avant Comptoir du Marché, 14 Rue Lobineau, 75006 Paris
My Favorite Modern French Restaurant in Paris: Colvert, 54 Rue Saint-André des Arts, 75006 Paris
My Favorite Croissant in Paris: La Maison d’Isabelle, 47ter Bd Saint-Germain, 75005 Paris
My Favorite Brunch Spot in Paris: Loulou, 90 Bd Saint-Germain, 75005 Paris
Best Travel Apps and Taxi Recommenations for Paris
We always recommend walking around Paris to enjoy the views, but sometimes we need to take a taxi or use public transportation. We have several trusted vendors to get you around Paris safely and great apps to find the best route via transport to your destination.
BabyCabs
This company offers a reliable service with rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seats for safe travel. The ideal option for traveling with your family.
Gilbert Renon
gilbertrenon@yahoo.com
+33 7 86 05 67 86
Glibert is a multilingual driver with a seven passenger van. He offers airport transfers to all local airports and train stations or he can take you around to several locations during your portrait session.
Blacklane
We highly recommend this global transportation service. You can book drivers to and from locations, or hire by the hour. Both sedan and van options are available.
This is the offical Paris Taxi, you can book and pay in the app like uber. You can also order cars with up to 2 car seats or booster seats. We have used this service countless times going to the airports if we don’t want to take the RER B there.
Navigation Apps:
Check out our blog post about how to use the Paris Metro:
www.katiedonnellyphotography.com/blog/paris-metro-navigation-guide/
This is the Paris metro app with all of the real-time updates. Great for getting around the city and getting the most up to date information. Beware if you need an elevator, many metro stations are not accessible via an elevator. You can now use this app to purchase tickets directly on to your phone.
This is the app I use to make my phone a navigo metro card that’s added to your apple pay! It’s really easy. Here’s a video of how to do it.
City of Paris and Translation Apps We love:
Bonjour RATP App
This free app will find you the best public transport routes in Paris, in real time. This app will help you avoid the delays and get to your destination as quickly as possible via public transportation.
CaoCao Taxi
For big groups we highly recommend this taxi app. This app offers taxi services using six passenger London-style hackney carriages to get you around Paris. All of their vehicles are accessible to passengers with a disability. They are fitted with an access ramp and step for easier boarding by people with reduced mobility. BONUS: Their fleet of cars are made up of electric, plug-in hybrid and petrol hybrid engine vehicles.
Uber is a great app to get a 4-seat taxi, van taxi, car share, or book an electric bike.
WhatsApp is a widely used communication app used by many business around the world, especially in France. You can often reach out to businesses via WhatsApp to get quotes for services or communicate about a product or service they offer. You can share documents easily like your boarding pass or tour confirmations. When you’re using your data or WiFi you can also use it to make voice and video calls.
Google Translate will easily translate text from pictures, it will translate from voice to text, it’s so handy for restaurant menus in places where you might not speak the language (no one expects you to come here on vacation and learn the language fully). The language barrier can often be a part of travel that feels uncomfortable, this is definitely your best option to help you along in a language you might not totally know!
Google Maps and City Mapper: You Probably already have one of these if not both on your phone. They are free apps that are SO useful in any major city. What I think is the best part is that you can actually download maps for offline use. If you don’t have data plans this is perfect for you when you visit Paris.
Looking for more apps? Here’s a full blog post about it!
https://www.katiedonnellyphotography.com/blog/10-best-apps-i-use-to-navigate-paris-from-a-local
Trip Planning + Tour Guides
There is SO much to do in Paris that sometimes it can be daunting to know where to start. If you want to take the guessing out of planning your trip we have some trusted itinerary planners that can help you!
Charlotte, Bacchus and Clio – Bespoke Luxury Tours and Creator of Unique Experiences
If I were to ask anyone how to figure out how to say, shut down the Louvre for a private event, or source 200 bottles of Dom Pérignon overnight, or to list out 25 unique museums in Paris, Charlotte would be my first call. She is a creator of unique tours and experiences that you didn’t know existed. Please tell her I sent you!
Everyday Parisian, Paris Blog and Downloadable Guide
Rebecca Plotnick of Everyday Parisian is an expert on all things Paris. Her blog will tell you what to pack, where to stay all meticulously organized by area and season! She will be someone you continue to follow after your trip because she always includes the best tips to “Frenchify” your life at home from your wardrobe to your kitchen! Rebecca has an incredible Paris Guide that’s available for purchase a printed copy or digital download.
Anna Kloots, Paris Comme Moi Downloadable Guide
A 50 page, digital download filled with all her best tips on how to have the best trip ever to Paris, no matter your age or budget. This guide is suitable for solo travelers, couples, friends, and even families! There are recommendations at every budget and plenty of free things.
Megan Donovan – En Route to Reverie, Bespoke Travel Planning
En Route to Reverie offers personalized Paris trip itineraries and full trip planning based on your preferences to make your next trip to Paris the best one yet. If it’s your first or tenth time visiting Paris, I promise you will find it very useful! Megan provides curated recommendations you won’t find on the web and her agency will book all of your travel for you. I would HIGHLY recommend En Route to Reverie
Zoe, Le Petit Guide – Family Specific Paris Itineraries and Private Family Tours
Zoe is your family-friendly local guide in Paris! She offers assistance with the best neighbourhoods, ideal activities based on age, family-friendly restaurants, tips on tackling museums with kids and anything else that maybe stumping you!
Paris and Beyond Tours – Curated Tours for Paris and all over France
Ferit and Josephine, founders of Paris and Beyond are amazing. The kindest nicest people and incredible tour guides and planners. They can do a simple Louvre tour for kids, or plan a 5 day tour and tour you around the regions of France. Their knowledge in art history and being offical tour guides in the city of love will allow you discover new places. They are great for families and kids!
Professional Makeup & Hair Services in Paris
We all want to look and feel our best when we’re having our portrait taken. Here is a list of our favorite artists to make you shine the day of your session!
Hair and Make-up – They will come to you
Hair Salon
Franck Provost
If you’re looking for a blow-out you can visit one of the many Franck Provost salons in the city that is closest to you. Visit their site linked above to make an appointment online.
Amazing salon for a hair cut or style. Maria is a wonderful stylist! Would highly recommend for adults or kids.
Make-Up
Paris Travel Babysitters
Tripsitta
This service connects you to local babysitters so you can enjoy an evening out or a trip to a museum! All of the babysitters have been verified with a criminal record check. You can browse profiles of the babysitters available on your desired dates. Each profile will outline their experience, additional qualifications and language they speak. The profiles even includes a video from the babysitter giving it a very personal touch!
Personal Training & Sport
Studio MC, Ryan Gillet Personal Trainer
The Studio MC is a private personal training studio dedicated to optimizing your health and your performance. Located in the center of Paris, right next to Opéra Bastille, the studio also offers recovery services with state of art equipment.
Originally designed for high level athletes, the studio is now open to clients looking to train like athletes or seeking the same requirements when it comes to health or performance. You have a state of the art ice plunge, sauna, infra red light and other recovery equiptment. Ryan can also come to your hotel or home to train you. Ryan speaks French and English.
Stanlowa Ballet School, Private Intensive Ballet Classes
We can personally recommend Janine Stanlowa ballet school in the 8th. It’s very professional and is affiliated with the Opéra. They offer lessons from 4 years old to adult. I would start by sending an email to see if they can arrange for private lessons while you’re in town.
Reformer Pilates in English, The New Me
I’ve been going to the New Me for a while now and have really enjoyed this chain of Reformer Pilates studios around Paris. My faovrite locations are the Marais, Bosquet (Eiffel Tower), and the newly opened Vavin studio. There are specifically english speaking classes in the Marais location however every class I’ve been to the instructor has always had to translate into English for at least one student! You can easily book a one off class via the Mind Body App or their website, just search for New Me. If you want a private session, I would HIGHLY recommend Jennifer, you can contact her via instagram HERE.
Paris Flower Delivery
L’arrosoir
The oldest flower shop in Paris, owned by Adrienne Ryser, LA Native and Paris transplant and incredible floral stylist.
Tips for buying flowers at the local market:
I buy flowers almost every week when I’m doing my Sunday market haul. My daughter loves choosing them and I love having fresh flowers around the house! After you go to the vender and choose your flowers they will ask you if the bouquet is “pour offrir” or “to gift” and if you want them to actually style the bouquet you must say “oui” or “yes”, otherwise they will NOT style the bouquet as a normal flower shop would and will let you style the bouquet to your wishes at home.
French Clothing Boutiques
Classic French Embroidered Smock Dresses and Vintage Clothing for Children, Ile aux Fées
Handmade vintage french smock dresses and dress for kids, this boutique truly is a slice of heaven! The quality is exceptional, each design is only ever made in each size once so every piece is unique! They will work with you to design multiple outfits for siblings too. Charlotte and her team are fantastic and I cannot recommend this boutique enough! You can pop into their boutique on rue notre-dame-des-champs 75006, Paris, or see their online store here: https://www.charlottesydimby.com/ and on our blog HERE
French Designer for Women: Heimstone
Alix, the designer and creater of Heimstone has a unique way of using color and texture together that create stunning statement pieces of the highest quality. Take a pop into their boutique on Rue du Cherche Midi, 75006 (about a 10 minute walk from the studio) and I’m sure you’ll find something to bring home!
Questions? Looking for something that’s not here? Get in touch with us via email at hello@katiedonnellyphotography.com or IG message and we are happy to help!
