Paris, Shortlisted
Hi all,
Happy December! To close out 2025, I have a very special Shortlisted for you that includes a big, beautiful overhaul / refresh of Paris, Shortlisted (see below!) + the launch of Short Stays (coming to your inbox later this week). While I love writing every city shortlist, Paris hits, quite literally, close to home: I began splitting time between Paris and NYC in 2015 and, while I never imagined I’d still be here 10 years + three French cookbooks later, here I am indeed. It’s a city with some of the very best food and wine and art and fashion and stays and thus recommendations can get overwhelming quickly: expanding with time but also remaining full of classics not to miss.
The below is a long-planned (but still as tight as possible!) edit of all my top spots including new favorite restaurants + old standbys + all the coffee spots, wine bars, shops, museums, outdoor spaces and stays you need to plot your first or 30th visit. I also included a bonus wellness section of my personal spots should you care to book an actually great massage, facial etc. while visiting town. I’ve also reformatted the organization for this particular shortlist by arrondissement to make it easier to plot your days AND created a much-requested Paris, Shortlisted the MAP for you to use next time you’re on the ground (link in the shortlist below).
A bit more on the impending Short Stay launch later this week: Short Stay features one-off, highly-recommended properties that I love / think you would love too. Sometimes they’ll be within driving/train/cab distance from an existing Shortlisted city; sometimes they’ll be standalone getaways somewhere nowhere near a relevant Shortlisted city and yet worthy the visit all the same. Less formal review, Short Stay is formatted in the way I would describe a property to an inquisitive friend who cares about f&b, a good massage, a comfortable bed, excellent service and so on. Look for it in your inbox later this week!
Finally, if you are looking for a holiday (or birthday or hostess or or or) gift for a traveler in your life, I hope you'll consider gifting a subscription to Shortlisted:
Thank you so much for your support, it means the world to me,
xR
[11ème]
À La Renaissance | a newly-opened and much-needed lunch spot (and dinner and drinks — it’s all day) in a century-old Bistrot. The space is refreshed yet still holds its heritage and charm + the menu is classic dishes done right
Tarántula | one of our favorite spots in Paris owned by dear friends. Definitely try to make a reservation and if it’s nice out, ask for a table outside. Get a michelada with clamato, a mezcal marg or a glass of natural wine to start. For food, the menu changes seasonally but if the tacos cantineros are on there, get them (on repeat). Same with the demi coquelette in chile japonés butter (I mean!). Also order extra flour tortillas (they make them in house and they’re phenomenal)
Folderol | right next door to (and also owned by the same team behind) Rigmarole. One of my natural wine bars in Paris *and* they have some of the best ice cream in the city. It gets busy and there can be a line but they open early (4p) so I tend to go for a pre-apéro apéro and linger