Lady’s Guide to Paris’ Right Bank

Paris’ Right Bank is synonymous with the establishment. From the Elysee Palace to the elegant shops on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, it represents all things traditional. In a city with as much history and culture as Paris, tradition can often mean great things.

Paris’ Right Bank

However, my own traditions on Paris’ Right Bank got into a bit of a rut over the last few years. My stays at the same hotels and dinners at the same restaurants needed some mixing up.

Paris Right Bank Hotels and Restaurants

After my amazing time at Hotel Le Bristol, I was excited to try some new Paris hotels on the Right Bank.

The first of these came in the form of Hotel Beauchamps in the 8th arrondissement, which invited me to stay for a complimentary night.

Hotel Beauchamps was ideally located right off the Champs-Elysees and only a few blocks from where I lived when I worked in Paris.

The staff was friendly and welcoming, and the room was a spacious corner number with contemporary decor and a large bed, desk, sofa, and armoire.

The bathroom had a tub shower with a head that came with a somewhat mysterious neon light that changed colors as the shower progressed.

Overall the room was great, particularly the amazingly comfortable bed and quiet ambiance.

The lobby had a large sitting area, a library and business center, and a restaurant called Lily Wood.

I was invited to dine there with a friend on my last night in Paris, and I was thankful the window-walls on all sides were open to alleviate the heat of the day.

My meal consisted of a cold green pea soup with lemon ricotta and hake followed by hand-cut beef tartare with lettuce and homemade fries.

My friend had an excellent octopus salad and steak frites. All the food was delicious, and I was sad I didn’t have time for dessert before running to catch my train back to London.

Speaking of the train, I tried another new Paris Right Bank restaurant-and-hotel combination right after my train from London pulled into Gare du Nord.

The Shangri-La Hotel, Paris invited me for a tour and lunch in its La Bauhinia restaurant.

The hotel was housed in a palace in the 16th arrondissement that formerly belonged to Napoleon’s grandnephew.

It had all the French opulence one would expect from such a residence, and the hospitality Shangri-La hotels are known for.

I took a tour of one of the rooms, which was split between two levels and offered a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower across the Seine.

I also saw several beautifully restored function rooms, the secluded lobby bar, and the hotel’s other restaurant.

I met a friend for lunch at La Bauhinia, a gorgeous light-filled space decorated in a blend of French and Asian schemes. We started with blue lobster salads with green beans, peaches, and almonds. They were divine.

Our mains were Asian-inspired steamed codfish with yellow curry paste and coconut milk, and classic grilled Black Angus beef.

We both had the lemon panna cotta with red berries for dessert. The meal was thoroughly enjoyable, and the service attentive.

Picnic in the Parc des Buttes Chaumont

Beyond eating in restaurants, my Paris Right Bank food experience included a picnic lunch in the Parc des Buttes Chaumont. The beautiful hilly green space was filled with people enjoying the summer sun.

As I watched the world go by, I enjoyed my baguette, cheese, ham, and apricot tart, all of which came from the shops and bakeries on my beloved Rue des Martyrs.

Montmartre, Paris

Near that street I explored Montmartre’s famous Sacre-Coeur and the little side streets that alternate between being packed with people and deserted by all but the locals.

Parc Monceau and Beyond

When I wasn’t exploring the hills of Paris’ Right Bank, I stuck to the flats. Starting in Parc Monceau, my favorite park in Paris, I walked down to the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore.

I continued along it, passing all the luxury goods shops and the presidential palace until I came to the Palais-Royal in the heart of Paris. It was beautiful in the summer sun.

The Marais, Paris

Close to there was another of my favorite parts of Paris’s Right Bank: the Marais. I spent two of my nights in the city in a Paris apartment in the neighborhood on a complimentary basis.

The apartment was ideally located right on the Rue Vieille du Temple, and was a spacious one-bedroom with a balcony. While it got loud with the nightlife on the weekend, it was a great place to stay, and a nice alternative to a hotel.

In fact, it was so comfortable it made me want to move in and stay forever. But while I love the neighborhood and Paris’ Right Bank, I’m not sure I could ever choose between the two sides of the Seine.

Paris’ Right Bank

While my trip to Paris gave me ample time to decide whether I liked the Right Bank or the Left Bank better, I think I might need a lifetime of trips before I come close to knowing which I prefer.

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