CityGuide: Paris

Where to Stay

It’s hard to find more convenient accommodations in Paris than Le Méridien Etoile. Next to the Palais des Congrès and within easy walking distance of Champs Elysées, the nine-storey lodging is well-suited for transportation in and around the city. Rooms are spacious and modern, especially on the top two floors, which have a separate concierge and breakfast area. Etoile’s restaurant, L’Orénoc, is known for its innovative seafood dishes, while the hotel’s Jazz Club has played host to B.B. King, Lionel Hampton and other jazz and blues greats. You can redeem Aeroplan Miles for your stay, or earn miles when you show your Aeroplan Card at check-in by joining the Starwood Preferred Guest program and selecting Aeroplan as your preferred earning partner.

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Where to Dine

After training with the likes of three-star Michelin chefs Pierre Gagnaire and Michel Bras, there were high expectations when Guillaume Delage unveiled his own eatery in 2009. Now locals flock to Jadis, an off-the beaten-track bistro in the 15th Arrondissement. Start with the silky smooth oyster velouté before moving on to such tantalizing entrees as ocean perch in wasabi sauce or lamb casserole atop a bed of white beans. Save room for his signature dessert, a warm bittersweet chocolate soufflé.

Yet you don’t have to travel to the far corners of Paris to find gourmet treats in this food-adoring metropolis. Rue Saint-Dominique on the Left Bank is home to chef Christian Constant and his row of restaurants, like La Fontaine de Mars and Les Fables de la Fontaine. Near the Champs Elysées, don’t miss the sublime chocolates at Michel Cluizel or the heavenly macarons at Ladurée. If there’s a chill in the air, make a beeline for Chez Angelina in the Tuileries for the richest hot chocolate you’ve ever tasted.

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Where to Shop

If you’re hankering for a Prada handbag, Balmain jacket or Lanvin cardigan, then head straight to Colette. This haven for haute couture features three floors of the latest French fashions, including galleries that display collaborations between designers and artists, like boots emblazoned with Keith Haring designs. Fashionistas should also visit Avenue Montaigne to see the finest designer shops in the world, including Chanel, Lacroix, Ricci, Dior and Ungaro.

Paris is also known as a hub for cosmetics and perfumes. Check out Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido for its large collection of makeup and skin-care products, and Parfums Caron for its world-renowned fragrances.

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What to Do

Paris is all about satiating the senses, especially sight. If you want to treat your eyes to visionary splendour, you’ll have to visit one, if not all, of the city’s celebrated art museums. Start at the Louvre when the doors open at 9 a.m. Then head across the Seine to the Musée d’Orsay. The wealth of important works includes 14 Van Goghs that hang on the walls. If you crave more contemporary fare — including works by Ron Arad, Anish Kapoor and others — venture to the avant-garde Centre Pompidou.

For works you can take home with you, visit the legendary Artcurial on the Champs Elysées, with its museum quality works by such famous artists as Magritte and Man Ray. Then scamper over to the 11th Arrondisement to Durant-Dessert and their five floors of name-brand wares, including an excellent collection of modern sculpture. The most affordable souvenir, though, might just be the drawings done by Montparnasse artists every Sunday at the Paris Art Market. Who knows? You could be purchasing a painting by the next Toulouse-Lautrec.

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Where to Detour

To get a close-up look of the water lilies that inspired Monet, visit the Normandy village the painter lived in for 43 years, Giverny. Located 50 miles northwest of Paris, Monet’s house and gardens have been restored and are open to the public. Sketch pad in tow, you can view the hundreds of flowers and walk across the Japanese bridge he painted so often, hung with wisteria, just like Monet depicted. You’ll quickly understand why his friends — Cézanne, Renoir, Degas and Rodin — were all regular visitors.

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