Paris-born designer Camille breaks down his city in a bite-size seasonal guide. Where to go when it’s warm out, open-air cinemas and city-centre beach spots, and where to sample the finest hot chocolate and mille-feuille in the colder months. An all-year-round guide to the city with true insider spots.
Paris with Camille Tanoh
Fashion Designer & Founder
Location Officine Universelle Buly
‘Officine Buly is a luxury grooming brand founded by Ramdane Touhami, an amazing creative entrepreneur and polymath. The original was founded in 1803, but Ramdane revived the name and gave it modernity and elegance. You will find luxury grooming blended with a sense of French savoir-faire, presented in a very beautiful setup.’
6 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, France
Location Frédéric Malle
‘When luxury brands and fragrances were focusing on celebrity figureheads, Frédéric Malle was developing smells with stories. One of my favourite fragrances is Vetiver Extraordinaire, it’s about inner sophistication and elegance, and that really embodies French savoir-faire. All of the stores are architectural jewels as well.’
13 Rue des Francs Bourgeois, 75004 Paris, France
Culture Fondation Louis Vitton
‘I love the Fondation Louis Vitton first of all because it’s like an earthbound ship in Paris that was designed by one of my favourite architects, Frank Gehry. And second of all because the contemporary collection inside juxtaposes with the calm lines of the building. It’s truly a gem.’
8 Av. du Mahatma Gandhi, 75016 Paris, France
Culture Perrotin Paris
‘I love the Perrotin gallery for the curation. Emmanuel Perrotin as an art dealer democratized the perception of art. He made it accessible with courageous curations that represent artists’ points of view.’
76 Rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris, France
Food & Drink Angelina
‘Angelina is the perfect place to take a pause in Paris. It’s very French, located in a typical Haussmannian building and with mirrors and paintings all over the walls. Make sure you get a hot chocolate, an amazing croissant and please order a mille-feuille. Angelina might be full of tourists, but it’s worth the time.’
226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
‘I love Paris and I have a personal relationship with the city. Paris is a beautiful eye on the world, where you meet so many cultures.’
Paris in one word
Sophistication.
But when I talk about sophistication, it’s really attention to detail. It’s called the City of Light or the City of Love, but I think Paris is much more than that. It’s an experience that allows you to discover new tastes and sensations.
On where to shop in Paris
Officine Buly is a luxury grooming brand founded by Ramdane Touhami, an amazing creative entrepreneur. It brings new life and some sense of modernity to Saint-Germain. You will find creams and pomades and luxury grooming presented in a very beautiful setup. I love Frédéric Malle. It is really unique. When luxury brands and fragrances were focusing on having celebrities as figureheads, he drew attention to the product itself, developing smells with stories.
Feeling inspired already? Search the best prices for your Paris travel budget.
Hotels
Flights
Car hire
On the best coffee shop in Paris
Angelina is the perfect place to take a pause in Paris. It’s a café in front of des Tuileries. You can get a hot chocolate and an amazing croissant, and please order a mille-feuille. You will have a great time.
On what to do in Paris at night
I love Paris by night. I would start my evening with a drink, with a view of the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower. Then after, you can have a nice dinner in the 16th district. At night, I would recommend going to a nightclub. Also, there are a lot of free festivals. I think the calmness during the summer is very rare compared to a lot of cities in Europe.
On how to spend the warmer months in Paris
Paris in warmer weather is beautiful. You have the opportunity to live like a local and rediscover the city. There are a lot of things to do. You can enjoy the open-air cinema at Parc de la Villette, which is really nice. I would definitely recommend grabbing a bottle of wine by the river with friends. You can have a picture-perfect picnic. And the city of Paris turns the Seine into a beach. So they bring some sand and you can actually hang by the river. I love having a café en terrasse. It’s very Parisian.
On a budget in Paris? Luckily, Camille’s guide covers things to do in Paris for the winter months too. That way, you can make the most of the off-season flights and hotel prices, and end-of-year sales. Plus, the city really comes to life in winter with breathtaking light displays and Christmas markets.
On Paris’ hidden gems
I love the Fondation Louis Vuitton. It feels like an earthbound ship in Paris that was designed by one of my favourite architects, Frank Gehry. The juxtaposition of the modern collection and the contemporary art makes it very interesting. There are four floors of exhibitions and you have an amazing view of Paris. It’s really calm and beautiful. It’s truly a gem. I also love the Galerie Perrotin. Emmanuel Perrotin was an art dealer who democratized the perception of art.
Hack your way
to Paris
Travel to Paris smarter and cheaper with our expert tips and money-saving hacks.
On the concept of soul fashion
There is soul music, there is soul food, but there is no soul fashion. When people design things, it’s rarely for others or for the planet, and most of the time it’s greenwashing. My family are from a tribe in the Ivory Coast that is very spiritual. Our mom told us that we are spiritual beings having a human experience, so it really made sense to focus on sustainability. We talk about linear versus circular. Linear means you take, you make, you use, then you throw away. Circular means you take, you make, you use, then you reuse.
On how travel inspires you
Travelling turned me into a great observer. You see people’s perspectives on life. When you’re traveling, or at least when you’re in the air, you see Earth as a living organism. You understand how the whole machine works, and that you’re part of it. So I think travel gives you a level of humility to question the things that you do.
On how Paris inspires your creativity
Growing up in Paris was a beautiful experience. We were going to the Louvre from about seven years of age. Paris was the foundation for me to develop my taste in art, culture, and music. I was looking at my sneaker collection and I realised that there are so many lines — that was inspired from being born and raised in Paris: the architecture, the symmetry, the geometry. There’s this desire for excellence and quality. Paris definitely inspires me every day in my life as a creative.
‘I was looking at my sneaker collection and I realized that there are so many lines — that was inspired from being born and raised in Paris: the architecture, the symmetry, the geometry. There’s this desire for excellence and quality. Paris definitely inspires me every day in my life as a creative.’
Next stop: paris
Creators
Ruba Khoury
Chef
Our local chef takes you on a whistle-stop tour of all the best secret city eats she’s found in her downtime. From where to find authentic street food to the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants – you better bring your stretchy waistbands for this one.
Ramesh Nair
Creative Director
The streets of Paris are undoubtedly Ramesh’s secret source of inspiration, which is why his walking tour of the city is the best way to find things no one else will. Plus, he shares his favourite local vintage markets and Korean food spots.
For more exceptional creators, visit www.exceptionalalien.com
Try more surprising city guides
New York
Rome
Los Angeles
Paris
London
