My Luv Letter to Paris: A City Trip with Slow Mornings, Sweet Nostalgia & Solo Wandering

Isabella Drenthen
Mar 24
5 min read

Updated: Jul 2

Dear Paris,

I think this was my 8th visit to your magical city in the past 10 years. Safe to say, we’re in a long-term relationship at this point. Blair Waldorf once said, “Paris is always a good idea,” and I may have taken that just a tad too literally.

I've been to Paris with family, with friends, with my mom, and solo. I've visited as a pitstop on the way to the South of France, for a city trip, a six-week adventure that turned into one week (thanks, Covid), and even just a one-day course. At this point, I should know Paris pretty well—but somehow, every time I return, there’s always something new to see, eat, or stumble upon.

Day 1: Spilling the tea (literally)

Already two weeks ago, my mom and I went for a little Christmas gift I gave her: a course in Paris. We turned it into a four-day getaway and started off strong with a proper high tea at Hôtel de Crillon—a dream stay that’s still on my bucket list, but for now, sipping tea under a gold ceiling will do just fine.

The room was stunning: purple chairs and sofas, a giant floral centrepiece, and the kind of quiet elegance that makes you sit up straighter. I loved the teas (Palais des Thés, in case you're curious) and the pastries were next-level. I’m not usually big on the savoury part of high tea, but a lobster roll, guacamole cracker, and truffle croque monsieur? Say less. The sweet treats were even better: raspberry cream brioche with the perfect sweet-sour balance, a zingy lemon pavlova, rich chocolate cake, a flaky millefeuille, and a selection of tiny crackers. Safe to say, it was the perfect start to a mother-daughter trip.

We stayed at Maison Armance, a hidden boutique gem tucked behind a big green door just opposite Jardin des Tuileries. That night, we kept it cozy with a little Italian dinner at Capri—super cute, very dolce vita.

Day two: Shop 'till you Drop is a Must during a Paris City Trip

I’ve had my dream heels on my wishlist for ages, and finally—finally—the stars aligned. I originally wanted to buy them at the flagship store, but Galeries Lafayette opened earlier and was blissfully quiet, sooo… easy decision. My mom also scored her dream shoes (cue happy dance), and as a bonus, I impulsively found the jacket I'd been hunting down this season. Obviously, I wore it right away.

Lunch was at Le Petit Beefbar, a new fave since my last girls’ trip. One of my besties has a sixth sense for the prettiest (and tastiest) restaurants, and she nailed this one. After lunch, we strolled over to Saint-Germain, and on the way, we caught the tail end of the Zimmermann show—cue crowds of influencers and models in full fashion-week mode. I had totally forgotten it was Fashion Week, but the black vans, camera flashes, and crowds outside hotels quickly reminded me.

We wandered into Bon Marché (somehow still a first for me), and the store had transformed into a full-on dog wonderland. My mom picked up a toy for our potential new pup, and I couldn’t resist a huge stuffed bulldog with its tongue hanging out that reminded my of my own (old) dog, Mickey. Meet Koos—short for cozy—my new cuddle buddy.

Next stop: La Grande Épicerie, aka the fanciest grocery store I’ve ever seen. If I lived in Paris and had an unlimited grocery budget, I’d be there every week. Everything smelled divine, looked picture-perfect, and felt straight out of a foodie fairytale. Worn out from all the walking (and shopping), we headed back to the hotel and ended the day with some simple ramen. That night, I slept like a baby—with Koos tucked in next to me.

Day three: Diamonds (Gems) are a girls best friend

We started the morning in Montmartre but arrived before the artists had fully set up, so we sipped a quick coffee and wandered a bit. Then it was time for the course! Quick detour for some lightning-fast pizza (still surprisingly good), and a Starbucks pitstop because—of course—we were early again.

When we arrived at the course, I randomly bumped into a friend from school who was also attending! Love a surprise reunion. The course was about gemmology and hosted by L’École School of Jewellery Arts. We learned how gems are formed, where the best ones are found, and how to compare them up close. We even saw raw gems still embedded in their rocks. If you're ever in Paris and don’t know what to do, please check out one of their workshops—they also offer hands-on classes like jewellery sketching and history-focused lessons. As a jewellery lover, it was a dream to see the artistry and stories behind these sparkly treasures.

Dinner that evening was at Brasserie Rosie Lou. The interior was a cozy dream, and the food was good, but wow... service in Paris is fast. Like, five minutes from order to plate fast. It was not exactly the lingering dinner vibe, but it was still a nice ending to the day.

Day 4: And just like that, it was time to say au revoir.

But not before one last necessary detour: the La Vallée outlet village. I mean... we clearly hadn’t done enough shopping yet. Luckily, it paid off—my mom scored a stunning jacket, I found a school/laptop bag at a dreamy price, and we both stocked up on basics. After a quick lunch at Pret and a coffee at Ralph’s, it was time to leave the French and return to the Dutch, with a car full of goodies.

I’ll always love Paris for a good city trip, but I know I’ll never live there. I don’t know why—maybe it’s the scale, or the constant buzz—but still, it’s forever my go-to city break, and I already can’t wait to come back.

Spread the Luv,

Isabella

P.S. Here are some tips for Paris! (Also from previous experiences)

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