Hope & Ivy's Guide
to a rainy day in Paris
While Paris is a beautiful city to visit at any time of year, sometimes the weather can make it tricky to be a tourist! As you’ll know if you read our previous behind-the-scenes story of our Paris shoot, getting caught in the rain can change your plans… and sometimes for the better. With this in mind, we put together our top Parisian places to shelter when the heavens open.
Poulette
Named after the traditional sauce of French cuisine and opulently decorated with Art Nouveau tiles, chic bistro Poulette is the epitome of Parisian charm. Located on the Rue Étienne Marcel, a stone’s throw from the Centre Pompidou, this ambient brasserie serves up culinary classics such as steak frites with home-made desserts and a great wine list in an intimate, friendly and down-to-earth atmosphere that belies the gorgeous Belle Epoque interior.
Musee de l'Orangerie
The Musée de l'Orangerie is known as the permanent home of eight large-scale Water Lilies murals by Claude Monet, which are displayed in the museum’s pair of custom-built oval rooms created by architect Camille Lefevre. Located in the west corner of the Tuileries Garden next to the Place de la Concorde, the art gallery also collects together impressionist and post-impressionist paintings from the likes of Cézanne, Matisse, Picasso and Renoir. Book an early-morning slot to beat the crowds and see the ‘Nymphéas’ at their most mesmerising.
La Samaritaine
A beacon for luxury shopping, La Samaritaine sets itself apart from the many polished department stores that the French fashion capital has to offer with its beautiful ceramic façade, swirling wrought iron staircases and aesthetic light-filled interior. Located in the first arrondissement near the Pont-Neuf metro, this retail haven reopened to the public in 2021 after its original Art Nouveau building was painstakingly restored. Head there for a carefully curated selection of all that’s best in the worlds of clothing, beauty, homeware, and food.
Boulangerie Mamiche
Popping up in 2017 and quickly becoming a popular 9th neighbourhood bakery, Boulangerie Mamiche can now be found dotted in three separate locations across the city. A woman-owned business, it was founded by Victoria Effantin and Cécile Khayat and is now known for its plentiful pastries, including beignets, choux buns and cinnamon rolls, as well as a signature sourdough loaf made with Rouge du Roc wheat flour and chestnut honey.
The Red Wheelbarrow Bookstore
While tourists may crowd out the Anglophone bookstore Shakespeare & Company, we skip the queues and head straight to The Red Wheelbarrow for our fix of fiction. Located in the 5th arrondissement close by one of our favourite Parisian parks, the Jardin du Luxembourg, this beautiful bookshop is literally packed to the rafters with a huge selection of English-language literature. Make sure to chat with the charismatic owner, Penelope Fletcher, who is sometimes described as ‘the book whisperer’due to her uncanny ability to recommend just the right thing for each customer.
We hope you enjoy our selection of cosy spots around the city of light and love! Make sure to save our top tourist tips for your next trip to Paris, and don’t forget to pack your umbrella… just in case!