SoPi (South Pigalle)...
SoPi used to be better known for its risqué past; the precinct with the most sex shops per capita, by-the-hour hotels and flickering neon lights on every street corner. However, like all real-estate goldmines, SoPi has fast become Paris's hottest up and coming district. The real charm is that it doesn't have a single 'sight' that will attract the tourists; instead, it is an actual neighbourhood where you will find all the real Parisians.
29 Rue Victor Massé, 75009
The Grand Pigalle is sitting pretty on avenue Frochot, in the private estate where Toulouse-LeTrac once lived. The hotel captures the casual debauchery of its neighbourhood, diluting it into a chic hotel and downstairs-bar. The rooms re-imagine what it truly is to be in Paris, from their art-deco design, to the iconic Parisian terraces overlooking quaint cobblestone streets.
The ground-floor eatery - Rino's - is home to a selection of over 300 Italian wines that have no equal in Paris. While the menu draws inspiration from French cuisine, it is the chef's Italian heritage that is the spectacle. The space is candle lit, with a retro motif; and is where you will find the local creatives on a school-night.
You're just moments away from Montmare, Sacré-Coeur and other iconic precincts, but we recommend staying local, and experiencing a different kind of Paris.
The 16th arrondissement...
The 16th arrondissement likens itself to the Upper East Side of New York; the precent is home to a sense of classic Parisian grandeur. It is in the 16th where you will find the iconic Tour de Eiffel and Arc de Triomphe, alongside cultural wonders like the Museum of Modern Art and Musée Marmottan Monet (where the world's largest collection of Monet's work resides).
19 Av. Kléber, 75116
The Peninsula Hotel is located on Avenue Kléber, and it only takes a stroll around the precinct to realise this is right where you want to be; a mere moment from the Arc de Triomphe, while in walking distance to some of the most elaborate museums and luxury shopping districts in Paris.
Upon arrival, we recommend taking the lift down to the very bottom floor – it is here where The Peninsula's luxury appointed relaxation rooms and spa awaits. The space is made up of treatment booths, private suites, two vitality pools and a 20-metre indoor lap pool.
The Peninsula is also home to three restaurants, with Le Lobby greeting you at entry level, the perfect spot to enjoy an elaborate afternoon-tea. Or try Lili, for a traditional Cantonese dining experience, offering a refined selection of dim sum, and sophisticated seasonal dishes. If you want a more iconic experience, make your way up to the very top, where you will find L'oiseau Blanc, the Peninsula's rooftop restaurant. Boasting an incredible view of Le Tour Eiffel, this is the spot for a romantic dinner for two.
Make sure you don't leave without taking the Peninsula bicycles for a sunset ride around Paris; or simply slow things down a notch, and spend your afternoon sipping whisky at Bar Kléber or enjoying a cigar in Le Lounge Kléber.
Saint Germain des Prés...
This is the perfect pocket of the 6th arrondissement in Paris. Saint-Germain-des-Prés refers to the French intelligentsia and is where you will find endless streets of art galleries and the kind of Parisian café-culture you read about. Home to the iconic Café-de-Flore and Deux-Magots; this is the place to stay if you want a little extra whipped butter on your morning baguette.
3 Rue de Montalembert, 75007
A well-polished boutique hotel, that feels a little more like a private apartment. Ideally located in Saint Germain des Prés means an array of Michelin-starred neighbours, and a mere crawling distance to Ralph Lauren and Christian Dior. The hotel itself is covered in marble finishing's, sleek woods and embodies a passé palate of navy and yellow. The rooms are bright and open, filled with local art.
Within the quarters is Le Restaurant, which has a strong Asian influence, which is a welcomed surprise, for when you simply cannot handle another croquet. The wine list is an elegantly curated menu, offering bottles of Alsace and Bordeaux.
Be sure not to sleep in for too long - the Breakfast is worth getting out of bed for. Think caramelised-banana porridge and some seriously good scrambled eggs.