Oh la la! 24-hours of glamour
in Paris
Paris, the city of love, light and... glamour. In fact, there's so much glamour, it exudes from every picture perfect café, tiny boutique and hidden cocktail bar.
But there’s one little secret about Paris…those Parisians are keeping the best for themselves. So during a 24-hour whistle-stop tour, I swapped the well-trodden tourist paths for the sexy side of the city.
And what better way to start than with the perfect hotel, which came in the form of the three star "Hotel De Pantheon", a boutique hotel in the St. Germain area.
Only opening its door in August after a heavy refurbishment, each of its six floors are dedicated to the great women of France. Our fave is the ‘cocottes’, devoted to the high-class escorts of the 19th century. Think low lighting, velvet-esque wallpaper and some lavish free-standing baths. Not tacky…but oozing sophistication.
A beautiful suite at the Hotel De Pantheon
The hotel is a ten minute walk from Pont de l'Archêvché, also known as lover’s bridge, a place where sweethearts lock padlocks onto the railings and throw the key into the river Seine, forever locking their love. The backdrop is breathtaking; Notre Dame sits moodily ahead.
And it also means you can tick off a tourist triple with Notre Dame, Pont de l’Archêveché and the Seine…and all in less than an hour, if you so fancied.
But what I’m really interested is the little bars, which line the backstreets of St. Germain. And I discover a gem called "PLAYTIME", an intimate cacoon boasting a 50s style, which is fast becoming a favourite with the trendy St. Germain set due to the in-house and extremely talented mixologist. The drinks list split into four sections; sweet, sour, intense and more floral cocktails.
Not sure what to drink? A little tip; ask for the Joker and the bartender will whip you up a personalised cocktail. But for me, the stand out was the classic mojito. It was one of the best I’ve ever tried. And the location, just off the hustling Rue de Siene, is the perfect spot for people watching, with cocktail in hand, looking tres chic.
A 1950s cocktail cacoon
For dinner, there really is no better place than "KONG", a Japanese infusion restaurant, which is counted as the créme de la créme of Paris’ most sought after eateries.
But most importantly, it’s the restaurant where Carrie meets her Russian lover’s ex-girlfriend in the final double episode of Sex and the City. And it feels almost compulsory to re-watch the episode after visiting.
The décor is Paris-meets-Tokyo, with orchids throughout and Louis XV armchairs. But the biggest selling point to KONG is the glass rooftop, with Paris laid out in full show below. It’s breathtaking.
And when you’ve peeled your eyes away from the view, the menu is incredible; lobster with udon noodles, roasted seabass with clams and black cod with miso. It’s risky to play with French cuisine but KONG somehow manages to get away with it. And tucking into a fillet mignon of veal, with a glass of champagne and the sun setting, I am transported to a world usually inhabited by the rich, famous and glamorous. Oh so glamorous.
Sunset at KONG is a must
After finishing dinner, it was time to make our way to the best part of the trip; "Crazy Horse", the home of the uninhibited. A cabaret show with so much bang that in recent years it’s made world famous Moulin Rouge look like a poorly performed school play. It’s sexy and arty and oh so French…tastefully celebrating the female form with a series of short shows, all enjoyed with a bottle of champagne, seated in what feels like a 1920s theatre.
The show opened with their iconic “God Save Our Bareskin”, which features Royal Horse Guards. Well, kind of, if Royal Horse Guards were aesthetically blessed woman who marched in a very risky, boob-baring uniform.
During the 80-minute performance, there’s a range of “stories”, in which these goddess-like beauties work with light shows and props to put on the most titillating show of all time.
Crazy Horse is a titillating show!
After the show has finished, there’s no doubt what the next port of call is. Sat a short distance away, with an orange glow, sits the Eiffel Tower. It would be criminal not to make the obligatory trip. And just after midnight, away from the bustling crowds, it’s pretty breathtaking. A perfect end to a perfect day.
The following day, I started the day with a walk through Jardin de Luxemburg, a beautiful park which is just a ten minute walk from the hotel, to "Pierre Herme",known as the Picasso of pastry, to pick up gifts.
Yes, it is on the pricey side but – and this is a big but – these sweet treats will probably be the best you will ever taste, from melting caramels to bitter chocolate truffles. Oh and of course, the macaroons, all lined up in different colours looking more like art than dessert. Simply, this is heaven for those of us with a sweet tooth.
Now, time is ticking, with only a few hours left before having to leave sweet gay Paris, it’s time to enjoy an afternoon tea. And yes, we all know that Laduree is a must go, with its famous macaroons but it’s time to move away from the tourist trap and to "Angelina", the original French tea room.
Feasting on club sandwiches, camembert and the most delectable lemon tart, all with a glass of champagne, it was the only way to end the most amazing 24-hours in Paris. And I left thinking; why oh why can’t every day be filled with cheese, bread and champagne?