Oh la la… Paris! The city of love is a string of romantic nooks and crannies. From hidden shopping arcades to a wall of love: we have selected some unique Valentine’s Day attractions. And because fine weather cannot be guaranteed in February, most recommendations are indoors.
A Valentine’s Day trip to Paris of course starts with a romantic hotel, and Hotel Le Relais Saint Germain just oozes Parisian charm. Every room is named after a writer who has left a mark on the French capital: Honoré de Balzac, Hemingway and Proust to name a few. Fun fact: you will always find a book by the author of the homonymous room. Each room is uniquely decorated and boasts a très French balcony with a great view of the stylish Carrefour de L’Odéon.
Owned by celebrity chef Yves Camdeborde, this hotel puts the culinary experience at the front and centre. In addition to the fabulous adjacent restaurant Le Comptoir, you will also find two charming tapas bars: L’Avant Comptoir and L’Avant Comptoir de la Mer. The latter specialises in fish and seafood inspired dishes. Both bars only work with French ingredients and of course French wine. The selection includes up to two hundred wine labels.
From Hotel Le Relais Saint Germain it’s just a ten minute walk to the Notre Dame.
Savour the romance of this spot and look for the secret that is hidden in the paving bricks outside the impressive cathedral: Pointe Zero. This point marks the exact centre of the city from where every distance between Paris and the rest of France is measured.
But Pointe Zero is much more than an official measuring point: over the years, a number of romantic rituals have cropped up around this copper marker. Kiss your loved one over the marker to ensure eternal love and devotion, or turn around on one foot to make your biggest dream come true. Sometimes the marker does double duty as a wishing well as people toss coins here for good luck.
Paris is home to thousands of patisseries but none as beautiful as Patisserie Stohrer, located only a 15-minute walk from the Notre Dame on the elegant Rue Montorgueil. This delightful temple of sweet delights has been around since 1730 and was founded by Nicolas Stohrer, the official pastry chef of King Louis XV. Inside, dozens of fine cakes are on display amidst shining mirrored walls and a magnificent 19th century ceiling.
One of the house specialities is the Puit d’Amour, a delicacy with vanilla bourbon. Although sold year-round, this fancy sweet is the absolute bestseller on Valentine’s Day. It’s definitely worth the splurge!
Take a walk from the Rue Montorgueil to the Grands Boulevards. This part of the city is filled with covered shopping arcades, the precursors of our modern shopping centres. These 19th century passageways connect one street to the next, protecting pedestrians from the rain and wind.
You will find many fine examples but the loveliest one is the Galerie Vivienne, built in 1873. Mythical mosaic figures and a glass cover house delightful boutiques, delis and the splendid Librairie Jousseaume: a bookstore that would fit right into the world of Harry Potter.
Ahh Montmartre… is there anything more picturesque than this Paris neighbourhood with its charming steps and winding cobblestone streets? A Valentine’s Day stroll here is a must, but there is one place that loved up couples can’t miss: Le mur des je t’aime, or the ‘I love you wall’. This wall with more than 40 square metres of blue glazed tiles has been covered in 311 versions of ‘I love you’ in 250 languages. Behind the wall lies the stunning art nouveau metro station Abbesses, famous from the film Amélie.
Taking your Valentine’s date for dinner at a train station restaurant doesn’t scream romance. Except when you’re in Paris. Is it the ballroom of the Versailles Palace? No, this is Le Train Bleu, the stunningly beautiful restaurant of the Gare de Lyon station. Salvador Dali, Coco Chanel and Brigitte Bardot have all dined here. The beautiful staircase in the impressive station hall leads you to a solid wooden revolving door. Step into the dining room and travel a century back in time. Copper luggage racks, chandeliers and endless frescoes: dinner at Le Train Bleu is an unforgettable experience. The restaurant serves a special Valentine Day’s menu.
