How to Enjoy a Perfect Day in Paris

Growing up in the suburbs of Paris, sisters Kimberley and Anne-Cécile Blanchot, who keep a close watch on travel and design trends through their public relations firm August 28 Studio, learned that Sundays were for ‘relaxing and preparing for the week ahead,’ especially since many places in the city close on Sundays.

Nevertheless, Paris has much to offer on these quieter days, particularly when the weather is pleasant—and the Blanchots make the perfect guides. From bakeries, trendy shops, and crêperies to the best hotel recommendations, here are their insider tips for an ideal Sunday Funday.

Option 1: Breakfast in Montmartre and Shopping in the Marais

When we’re both in Paris (with Anne-Cécile based in New York and Kimberley residing in Paris now), we enjoy staying or meeting at Hôtel Rochechouart; it embodies a quintessentially Parisian feel with its blend of modern and retro design. Located at the base of Montmartre, it’s conveniently near numerous fantastic shops, bakeries, and restaurants. We usually kick off our day with a croissant or brioche from Le Pain Retrouvé or Mamiche; if we’re in the mood for a treat, we indulge in a pistachio babka from Babka Zana.

When the weather is nice, we explore most of Paris on foot; it’s the best way to truly experience the city. Our first walking route takes us along Rive Droite as we head east toward the Marais and Bastille neighborhoods. We’ll stop by the Jardin du Palais Royal for a cappuccino (for AC) and a matcha (for Kimberley) from Café Kitsuné. We love to relax in one of the green chairs by the fountain to catch up if we’re together or enjoy a good book if we’re on our own.

Since it’s Sunday, we’ll visit Gramme, a charmingly small “café-cantine” that offers simple, delicious dishes that change daily based on seasonal ingredients. (One day it might be a bahn-mi dog, the next an exquisite chocolate pear cake.) Afterward, we’ll walk off our meal... unless we find ourselves at Glaces Bachir for atcha, a traditional Lebanese ice cream flavor combining milk and orange blossom topped with crushed pistachios. We’re also big fans of Maison Aleph for their delightful little pastry “nests” (that’s what they call them!). These are crunchy angel-hair pastries filled with cream and confit. The salted butter caramel with bourbon vanilla is divine—good thing we’re planning to walk about 20,000 steps on this itinerary.

Alternatively, we’ll save room for tea time at Le Loir dans la Theière (perhaps better suited for a chillier day) to enjoy their homemade cakes and pies; their lemon meringue tart and savory tarts have reached legendary status.

Fortunately, many shops in the Marais remain open on Sundays. Ysé is a French lingerie label known for its delicate and sustainable pieces made in Europe; they also boast an impressive selection of summer swimwear that we love to explore. This neighborhood is home to many emerging French brands, making it perfect for a leisurely stroll or flâner in French. Magnanni offers high-quality leather shoes from Spain, with their loafers being particularly noteworthy.

While we’re in the vicinity, we may visit the Musée Picasso, set in a stunning 17th-century building; it showcases over 5,000 works from Picasso’s personal collection and hosts intriguing exhibits year-round. After that, we might head to the concept store Merci or call in advance to schedule a visit to the Saint-Lazare workshop in the 9th arrondissement—it’s a must-see for their unique accessories, prints, and stationery (perfect for gifts). It’s truly the coolest atelier in Paris, although arranging a Sunday visit could be tricky, so we might save that for a weekday.

As we wrap up our Rive Droite adventure, we arrive in Bastille with a few essential stops. First is Frappe, a new bakery run by the talented couple Thomas Padovani and Solenn Le Squer. Thomas is a good friend (he and Kimberley met while working for Alain Ducasse in New York), and everything from his breads to pastries is delightful. We have a special fondness for the honey brioche, which features honey sourced from his hometown in Corsica. Speaking of Ducasse, just nearby is his original chocolate workshop, Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse, where you can watch the chocolate-making process while picking up gifts for family, friends, or yourself (we recommend the non conché bar).

Option 2: Rive Gauche, Musée Rodin, and other southside adventures

For our second option, we’ll cross the Seine and explore Rive Gauche for some delightful southside escapades. Our first stop will be the coffee shop Noir for our favorite morning brews (a cappuccino and matcha, bien sûr) before heading into Le Bon Marché to check out the latest collaborations. As the world’s first department store, it always features emerging designers, making it a joy to browse the one-of-a-kind pieces. We also love visiting the children’s section to pick up a few little treasures for our kids.

Sundays are perfect for museum hopping, and we adore Musée Rodin. Nestled within the stunning grounds of a historic hôtel particulier, near Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower, the gardens, sculptures, and architecture create a truly relaxing Parisian retreat. After our visit, we’d enjoy lunch at the Italian restaurant Marcello, which boasts a charming terrace, or at Sauvage, known for its authentic French cuisine and excellent wine selection. Once lunch is finished, we’ll relax in the Jardin du Luxembourg and perhaps treat ourselves to an afternoon pastry and tea from Treize Bakery before crossing back over the Seine.

On our way, we’ll swing by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, which always features fascinating exhibitions; the latest one pays tribute to graphic artist Étienne Robial with a retrospective running from November 10 to June 11, 2023.

If we’re feeling particularly Fancy (with a capital F, indeed), we’ll enjoy an apéro at Loulou in the Tuileries gardens. By now, our day will be winding down, so we’ll get cleaned up and possibly grab a drink on the Rochechouart rooftop before dinner. On Saturday nights, we would have oysters next door at Citrons & Huitres, but a fantastic nearby spot open on Sundays is Café Compagnon, where we can savor simple, seasonal French dishes, like the house-made smoked salmon. The owner even crafts his own wine and coffee blends. The desserts here are to die for, and given our sweet tooth, you might have noticed we can’t resist them!