Are you planning to visit the City of Light soon? It’s time to add to your list of favorite hotspots in Paris! For the fall of 2023, Shoelifer has selected three places that exude the essence of autumn and freshness : a piano bar cafe, a trendy brasserie on the Left Bank, and a hotel with a garden and a rooftop bar… Step right this way…

Le Gainsbarre

One of the most highly anticipated new locations in Paris is Le Gainsbarre. That’s the name of the cafe/piano bar that has just opened its doors, simultaneously with Maison Gainsbourg (the artist’s former home turned into a museum). Located right across from 5 bis rue de Verneuil, this hybrid venue transports us into this icon’s world: a cozy atmosphere, thick carpeting, dark velvet armchairs, and portraits of the artist himself hanging on the walls…

The menu, crafted by the Paris Society group (known for its exceptional restaurants like Monsieur Bleu, Mun, Raspoutine), aims to be simple and unpretentious. For lunch, you can try the truffle croque-monsieur, Cadoret oysters, or lobster rolls. As night falls, the place turns into a piano bar where you can enjoy cocktails and drinks accompanied by jazz music…

Adress : 14 rue de Verneuil, 75 007 Paris 

Noter : If you plan to visit Maison Gainsbourg, be aware that tickets are sold out until the end of the year. Offering an immersion into the artist’s universe (original manuscripts, vintage portraits), Le Gainsbarre is a good compromise to hold you over.

La Brasserie des Prés

This brasserie, hidden in the Cour du Commerce Saint-André, right in the heart of Saint-Germain des Prés, is one of the most buzz-worthy places in Paris at the moment… After Brasserie Dubillot, Bellanger, and Martin, this is the 4th Parisian location of La Nouvelle Garde, a group of entrepreneurs passionate about regional cuisine and good food. This restaurant, in the Art Nouveau style, spans three floors and features a courtyard terrace as well.

The menu offers classic bistro cuisine: deviled eggs, leeks in vinaigrette, snails with garlic and parsley butter, and more. Main courses include flank steak of beef from Salers, BBQ lamb to share, and much more… As you can tell, at La Brasserie des Prés, you eat well and at an affordable price. Everything is homemade with fresh, local, and seasonally sourced ingredients directly from producers.

Adress : Cour du Commerce Saint-André, 75 006 Paris
Open every day from 9 am to 12 am

La Fantaisie

After three years of renovation, this hotel located in the bustling Faubourg Montmartre district finally opened its doors in the fall of 2023. Behind the understated facade on Rue Cadet, this 5-star hotel takes us to a small bucolic, colorful, and verdant paradise. In addition to its 73 rooms and suites, you’ll find a rooftop, a restaurant (Golden Poppy), and a courtyard garden where you can sit down for a meal or a drink.

The interior design is by Martin Brudnizki, a renowned Swedish designer. The restaurant menu was curated by Dominique Crenn (the only chef in the United States with three Michelin stars), who showcases Californian cuisine. You’ll find dishes as surprising as they are inventive, such as Poutargue flan, abalone tacos, or crispy rice with “tiger’s milk” ceviche. In short, if you want to treat your taste buds to a journey, you know where to go!

On the 7th floor, the Rooftop Bar has more surprises in store for you. In a retro, chic, and intimate setting, you can enjoy delicious signature cocktails like the Japanese Connection (with Kombu-infused gin) or the Mule & The Tiger (made with vodka, “tiger’s milk” ceviche, and ginger).

Address: 24 Rue Cadet, 75009 Paris
Rooftop Bar: open daily from 5 pm until late
Restaurant Golden Poppy: open daily from 12:00 pm to 10:30 pm

Photo (c) : Vogue