Paris

Hôtel du Nord welcomes diners in a warm red velvet setting with suffused lighting. It is a bistro offering a variety of traditional dishes such as pan-seared foie gras with mango chutney and French toast or lightly cooked scallops with aubergine caviar.

The quartet of standing room-only wine & small plates bars (the original 'comptoir' is now supplemented by ones "de La Mer", "de la Terre", and "du Marché") are a wickedly exciting find if neither timing, nor budget allow for in-advance reservations but the city's culinary excellence beckons. You'll still be treated to the finest produce from France and beyond: Corsican charcuterie, scrumptious Iberian ham croquettes, along with self-serve bread (by boulanger Thierry Breton, who works exclusively with wheat grown and processed in the Ile-de-France region) and Bordier butter (presumed to be the 'best butter in the world'). You know you're in good hands with legendary head chef Yves Camdeborde, nicknamed "godfather of bistronomy". Browse through the menu cards hanging over the bar to take your pick of pintxo, and pair them with your choice of finest wines.

Le Voltair is, perhaps, among the best places in the 1st arrondissement to come for a quintessentially Parisian brasserie experience: classic French cuisine with dishes polished to perfection, woven bent-wood chairs outside, and a chic ambience with that elusive je-ne-sais-quoi factor.

One of the finest crêpes bretonne in the French capital is, arguably, a Japanese import: Breizh Café was a big hit in the land of the rising sun long before it came to the Marais, where the chain's very successful outpost serves scrumptious crêpes and galettes made with the finest organic ingredients from Brittany. Michelin-starred Raphaël-Fumio Kudaka is the chef behind the enterprise.

Although Japanese prevails in this aptly named Parisian neighbourhood tucked between the 1st and 2nd arrondissement, there is a plethora of Asian cuisines to choose from: restaurants serving everything from Korean bibimbap to bowls of steamy Vietnamese pho pepper the area, enjoying a popularity among both locals and visitors.

One of the best places for contemporary French Nouvelle cuisine, located in a 17th century building near the Tuilerie Park and Eiffel Tower. The chef, Alain Dutournier, is considered to be one of the most ground-breaking chefs in his category.

Hailed as one of the best restaurants in Paris, Epicure offers an unique dining experience. Head Chef Eric Frechon concocts masterpiece French dishes using unusual combinations of exquisite ingredients, producing such meals as smoked oysters with a duck and green tea bullion.

The past few years have turned Le Kong into somewhat of a legend in Paris. Underneath its glass ceiling you can have a lovely dinner, grab a drink and later on dance the night away, all the while enjoying one of the most romantic views over the river Seine.

La Vallée Village is 35 minutes east of Paris city centre and just five minutes from the Disney Parks. Discover superb price reductions on a selection of the leading French and international luxury fashion and lifestyle brands in 115 outlet boutiques.

It might be difficult to let the magic of Shakespeare & Company truly sink in given the abominable number of tourists crowding the tiny space these days, but the place is still definitely worth a visit. "Be Not Inhospitable to Strangers Lest They Be Angels in Disguise," seen above the reading room entrance are words the store lives by, along with its founding motto: "Give what you can; take what you need." Throughout its 70-year existence, the shop has accommodated young writers and artists in exchange for helping out, and an estimated 30,000 people have reportedly slept on the beds tucked between its bookshelves since its opening in 1951, but one doesn't have to spend the night to enjoy the welcoming public reading room. In 2016, the shop published its own history with contributions from the likes of Allen Ginsberg, Jim Morrison and Ethan Hawke.

This is one of the city's most popular shopping areas, home to prestigious department stores such as Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. They are remarkable as much for the wide range of items sold as for their Art Nouveau architecture. You will find a world of ready-to-wear, with appealing boutiques and affordable brands. A good place to start is with a walk from the beautiful Opéra Palais Garnier down to the stores on Boulevard Hausmann.

Located in the city centre, right between the Louvre and Notre Dame, the shopping mall Forum des Halles features a heap of good shopping spots in a fascinating and crowded underground complex. This is a good source for affordable clothing. Not far away, Le Marais carries many handicraft and antique shops and is always a safe bet to find some unique artifacts.

One of the most charming shopping activities in Paris consists of walking along the rows of bookstalls perched against the parapet of the Seine River. Here, if you have time and good bargaining skills, you may find some ancient and valuable tomes or collections of old stamps.

This world-renowned flea market in the North part of Paris attracts over 70,000 Parisians every weekend. Here you can find terrific bargains on everything from vintage clothing to antique furniture.

Paris' most spectacular department store is famous for its unique stained-glass dome. It hosts the most prestigious designer and cosmetics labels, as well as the largest European space entirely devoted to men’s fashion. It is also home to huge toy, jewellery, house ware and delicatessen departments.

This tourist strip is lined with fast food chains, banks, airline offices, cinemas and malls, such as the futuristic Drugstore Publicis near l'Arc de Triomphe, or Gallerie Marchande des Champs-Elysées near Georges V. The Guerlain Parfumerie, with its turn-of-the century elegance and curved staircase, as well as the neo-classical Virgin Megastore, a huge retail haven for recorded music and books, are highlights.