City of the Month – Paris

Each month on the Britannia Emigration blog we look at a popular expat city and highlight a few of the reasons so many people move there. This month we’re going to take a look at the romantic capital of the world: Paris.

The food and restaurants

Paris is home to some of the best restaurants and food markets in the world. The quality of produce and food available is unparalleled anywhere else in the world. From the grande Le Meurice to the smaller more cosmopolitan Spring there is something to suit every taste, style and budget.

Shopping

Paris is home to some of the most fashionable people in the world. This is why it will come as no surprise that the city is also home to some of the best shops in the world. All the major fashion brands like Prada, Chanel and Gucci have flagship stores in Paris. But there are also plenty of stylish boutique stores that suit those who don’t have a designer budget.

As well as designer stores Paris is also home to many concept stores. These stores create a whole new style and are written about and photographed by bloggers and journalists from all over the world due to their authoritative sense of style and cutting edge designs.

Cafes

Along with famous restaurants, Paris can boast an amazing cafe culture. Whether you want a morning coffee and a croissant or a late afternoon tea and pastry you will be able to find a cafe on every corner in central Paris.

The Parisian jazz scene

For decades, Paris has been the home to jazz music and musicians from all over the world. On any night of the week you can find beautiful jazz music flowing through the air from one of the city’s many jazz bars and clubs.

For any jazz fan, new to the city, there are a number of bars that you simply have to see. The Caveau de la Huchette is a medieval cellar that has been a renowned fixture in the jazz world for over 60 years. For those looking for more contemporary and modern music New Morning is certainly worth a visit. The modern venue hosts new jazz nights as well as world music from across the globe.

See some art

Artists from all over the world have relocated to Paris to hone in their skills and develop their art. This has lead to an abundance of art galleries in the city. The most famous painting in the world, the Mona Lisa, also calls the city home. An afternoon stroll around Paris will almost certainly involve some art spotting. But if you want to see some more prestigious galleries you should visit some of the high profile galleries.

The Musée d’Orsay is a converted railway station and features many of the great impressionists that worked between 1848 and 1914. The Musée Jacquemart-André is run by banker Edouard André and his wife. The gallery was originally built as a hotel but now features work from the Italian Renaissance and 18th-century France. Both of these galleries are well worth a visit for a new, art-loving, resident of Paris.