My Paris Favorites - July 5, 2025

Bonjour from Paris!

I should say… bonjour from very hot Paris! In my last email two weeks ago, I mentioned the heat, well, I had no idea what was coming. This week, temperatures soared to 102°F (39°C) in Paris. The atmosphere was stifling: streets nearly empty, shutters closed across the city, and everyone on a mission to find air conditioning, which, as you may know, isn’t very common here.

France collectively headed to cinemas or Picard (our frozen foods store). And those lucky enough to have AC at work? I envied you!

But thankfully, the heat broke on Wednesday. In 10 minutes, temperatures dropped to 73°F (23°C), and it was like a weight lifted. With blue skies and a gentle breeze, Thursday then felt like a gift. So I decided to take the day for myself and spend it wandering through Paris. And of course, I brought back some new discoveries for you!

❤️ My latest favorites in Paris

I headed to Montmartre with one challenge in mind: to find the corners where locals go, the Montmartre beyond the crowds. And I did!

The first gem I found is a small square at the intersection of rue Lamarck and rue Caulaincourt. It’s lively but charming, with locals sipping coffee at Café Suzanne and chatting, while the neighborhood greengrocer carefully arranges fruit outside his shop. Yes, it’s a street with traffic, but it is real Montmartre. I stayed nearly an hour, first having a tea at the Café then sitting on a public bench with a croissant I had picked up earlier. Sometimes, that’s all you need. Café Suzanne, 64 rue Lamarck, 75018 Paris

For lunch, I had a shortlist of restaurants to try and decided to let fate choose, I'd go to the first one I stumbled upon. And lucky me, it was La Bossue. This quaint little place has a warm, vintage ambiance and a great-value lunch menu: €12.90 for starter and main, €15.90 with a drink. Everything was super fresh and delicious. They call themselves a patisserie–tea room, but they’re open for breakfast and brunch too. The vibe was half tourists, half locals, a great balance. And yes, I’ll be back to try the Saturday brunch! La Bossue, 9–11 rue Joseph de Maistre, 75018 Paris

✨ Discover France: handpicked travel reads

This week’s feature isn’t an article, but a collection of maps to help you explore Paris in unique ways. Perfect if you enjoy themed strolls!

• Paris self-guided film locations walk
• Film trails curated by the Paris Tourism Office
• Famous people and their Paris haunts
• Speakeasies in Paris
• Most historic bars and restaurants in Paris 
• Best bookstores in Paris
  

And who knows, maybe one day I’ll create my own maps with my personal recommendations!