week 2 + 3 in pari!
adjusting to my new apartment + neighborhood, trying so many new spots, and having lots of fun doing my THING!! let's get into it!
Hi everyone!
Happy Monday! I’m sitting at a cool little coffee shop, Bonjour Jacob, as I type this. It is a bit gloomy in Paris today and I’m honestly so happy about it - it’s been HOT AF. If I’m gonna be honest I had a little bit of the Sunday scaries of feeling lonely, anxious, tired yesterday. I have really been NONSTOP for the past two weeks - and trust me I know how lucky I am to be frolicking around Europe. I seriously feel so much gratitude every single day. But, I just came off of a little bit of a Paris bender weekend right after getting back from Italy, and I think I just majorly crashed out. But, the older I get, the more I realize that life is really all about the highs and lows, you gotta have a little bit of both.
I officially moved into my apartment on the 9th, 2 weeks ago - woah time flies. This has truly been the most incredible experiences ever. I’ve learned so much about myself in these past couple of weeks. Moving somewhere new and taking on a big adventure like this really forces you to live outside of your comfort zone, figure things out by the fly of your seat, and really just be more open to the people and experiences around you. My space is INCREDIBLE - after unpacking my stuff, I just sat on my couch and was like damn, what did I do to deserve this. I love being in my apartment - you can see some pics on my IG + Tik tok :) My good friends know that all of my NYC apartments have been pretty shitty, so it really feels like I deserved this amazing space; it makes me so happy. I will obviously share all the info once I move out!! I also absolutely love my neighborhood - I am living in the 11th and it has such a local, cool vibe. I’ve gotten to explore so many new places so let’s get into it!!
FOOD, COFFEE, DRINKIES!
One of my favorite things about being in solo in Paris this summer has been that almost every single day I’ve gotten a text or DM from a friend/peer in NYC being like hey I’m in town, want to hang!? Which is honestly so fun because I think in New York, I have gotten to a point with my friendships and community where I probably wouldn’t necessarily take all these people up on hanging. (nothing against ANYONE, but you know what I mean) But here, I’ve just been saying yes to everything and it’s so fun to have all these little moments with all of these fun people that I don’t always get to spend time with. But anyways, that means trying a lot of good places - going to list them all and my honest reviews!!
Clown Bar - obsessed with this spot, the most adorable bar seating for a drink and also the food is delish. Very authentic, yet friendly and cute Parisian vibe.
Thoumiex - a chic, boujee dinner spot perfect for a girls night - there was a live piano bar with people dancing and right outside there is a perfect view of the Eiffel tower for pics.
Le Petit Lutetia - the rigatoni dish here is one of my absolute favorites. I have come here on almost every trip I’ve taken to Paris - gorg view gorg vibes gorg food, great for lunch or dinner.
Bouche - new wine bar spot that I tried with a friend in town. Such a cool, funky neighborhood feel - absolutely loved the vibes and food!
Buddy Buddy Coffee - a friend of mine recommended me to go to this spot and the peanut butter latte was INSANE - like a perfect sweet treat. I am constantly in search of iced coffees here, so I will take all the recs I can get. Another one I love and go for all the time is Cafe Kitsune - basic, but it always hits.
La Marine - adorable spot for drinks and dinner on Canal St Martin. This has been one of my favorite areas to walk around in my neighborhood - such a vibe everyone sitting outside and enjoying life. And SO many cute wine bars around to pop into.
Cafe de La Poste - this place may have had the worst service out of anywhere I’ve ever been LOL. I went for brunch yesterday and that may have contributed to my scaries, but I will say the food was delish and it’s in a great location. Maybe go on an off day.
Caves Saint Giles - most adorable little Spanish spot, right around the corner from Chez Janou, one of my favorite little squares in Paris, so dreamy to walk around at night.
Cafe Charlot - I know this was in my last one, but its just always a damn vibe here. Went w/ friends on a Friday night before going out and it’s just always going to be that easy, go to spot for me.
SHOPPING AND EXPLORING!
I did so much shopping in my first week that I needed to take a baby pause for the sake of my bank account, but here are a few new spots I have been loving.
Jovem Archives - the sickest vintage designer showroom in Paris omggg. This is where I borrowed the insane Cavalli dress from. DM them to make an appointment - they are so fun and fab and also are doing a pop up this week for fashion week on Rue de Turenne!
Louise Paris - one of my fave vintage stores in Paris! The owner Louise is the sweetest person and she has such an amazing, girly curation of designer vintage. Video coming on my IG today touring her store!
Rouje - one of my favorite French brands!! They invited me into their store to come pick out some goodies and they had SUCH a good selection of summer pieces. The store is also on the cutest street so def go check it out - I left with this gorg pink crochet + adorable blue polka dot dress!
Jimmy Fairly - another brand that was kind enough to invite me in!! It has been so fun to connect with new French brands/friends - they have the best sunnies. I left with these FAB oversized pink ones as well as these Miu Miu esque fake ones that I am wearing right now to look smart and cute LOL.
Maliluha Swimwear - the founder of this amazing brand DMed me to come in and they seriously have the COOLEST swimwear. And she was so cool and sweet. I picked out this insane halter tankini situation which I can’t wait to wear in the SOF this weekend.
Merci, c’est vintage - coolest gal who curates vintage and amazing emerging designers - such a great account to follow for inspo. She does pop ups in NYC + Paris all the time and had one this weekend that I stopped by with so many incredible brands - def keep up to see when their next one is!!
PARTYING! BC DUH!
You guys know I love a good night out. ESPECIALLY in a foreign country. And somehow I’ve managed to hit every club in Paris in the past week and a half spontaneously. Well not ALLL of them, but I went to a few good spots, and I’m always getting questions on where to go out here, so I figured I would share! (also I’m realizing all of these pics look the same because everywhere here has that sexy red light vibe LOL but I promise these are all diff places)
Silencio - this is probably my favorite place to go out in Paris. It is such a cool vibe and always a cool scene. I heard that Thursday nights are the best to go and that is when I went this past week and it was great. Definitely a hard door, so try any in you may have, but you can also buy tickets online. It feels like a club mixed lounge with lots of different rooms to explore and a main dj area.
Serpent a la Plume - really cool cocktail bar that I found out has a jazz night on Wednesday’s. I went this week and it was such a great vibe.
Raspoutine - this feels like a TRUE club, club. But in a chic, epic Parisian way. Really fun and cool spot that kind of makes you feel like you’re in a movie. Very hard to get in, I was with someone who had an in, but definitely worth a shot.
Bonnie’s - this I believe is a restaurant in a hotel that turns into a club at night. I actually had so much fun here, they played amazing music (with lyrics. which is always a plus for me) very dancy and you have a full view of the city of Paris. It reminded me of Public hotel in NYC.
Monsieur Bleu - this is a restaurant, but there’s a little loungey outdoor area that has a DJ later at night. A lot more chill of a spot, but great vibe looking out at the Eiffel tower to hit before you hit one of these other spots. A bit boujier, but love that it’s outdoors too.
Matignon - I went to Monsieur with a friend from NYC on a Tuesday and somehow we ended up here after with a random group of people. The best kind of nights TBH. This is a restaurant that turns into a club downstairs, very chi, great music, had a lotttt of fun!
WHAT I’VE BEEN WEARING AND VIBIN W/!!
As I said in my last Substack, I’m going to do a more in depth post on my Europe outfits, but I always like to include what I’m vibing with at the current moment. In the same way that my overall mindset has been more free, easy and open, I feel the same way with getting dressed. The style over here is just more effortless and I’ve been fully leaning into that. I go for the first piece that comes into my mind. I’ve been gravitating towards easy slip dresses CONSTANTLY. I just want to feel light and comfy and cool in this heat. And then you add the right accessories and you’re out the door. Once again, I always am going for my vintage pieces first. You guys, I swear Zara copied that blue and brown skirt with their new polka dot one!? Am I going crazy!???? I’ve been so into my chunky resin bangles too rather than heavy stacks - I throw a couple of those on and a big gold hoop and throw my hair in a claw clip and I feel natural yet put together. See all fit details from last two weeks in Paris below :)
Let me know what else you want to see on Substack/IG/Tik Tok! Trying to feed you guys with all the content I can give you! On tap this week is my first visitor! My bestie Lea is about to be here and I can’t wait to do all the girly things together. We are going to Antibes on Thursday too so stay tuned for all the SOF recs + content. I cannot wait!!!
Have a great week!
xoxo,
Soco <3