A relaxed arrival: from train tracks to Parisian streets
We took the train — because honestly, it’s still the most civilized way to enter Paris. No check-ins, no lines, no obligatory security undressing. Just coffee, a good book, and a smooth arrival straight into Gare du Nord. One taxi ride later, and the city started unfolding itself street by street.
Not rushing was the key. When Paris gives you a soft morning, you take it.
Hotel Cabane: Your Colorful Hideaway Near Rue de Thermopyles
Hotel Cabane Paris feels like a secret garden disguised as a hotel. Tucked away on a quiet side street, it has the easy charm of a countryside guesthouse.
Inside, the style is casual chic: earthy tones, handpicked vintage furniture, linen curtains moving with the breeze. Every corner feels lived-in, but thoughtfully so. The standout feature is its private courtyard garden — an unexpected pocket of green where you can have coffee under the trees, and for the brave (or nostalgic), there’s even a tiny wooden cabin you can book to sleep in.
The atmosphere is deliberately low-key. No big lobby scenes, no hotel hustle. Just a friendly welcome, a breakfast nook with homemade cakes, and the quiet feeling that you’ve stepped into someone’s (very stylish) countryside house — only you’re still in Paris.
And the location? A short walk from Rue de Thermopyles Paris — one of the city’s last real “village” streets — where ivy, cobblestones, and silence remind you why taking the slower path always pays off.
The 14th isn’t built for sightseeing marathons. It's built for taking your time.
Savoring Paris: Dining, drinks, and sweet treats
We checked in, dropped our bags, and immediately started thinking about dinner (no surprise there).
Altro Frenchie was the choice — a laid-back little spot that hits the sweet spot between bistro and trattoria. It’s the sibling of Frenchie Pigalle, but with an Italian tilt: handmade pastas, seafood with a French twist, natural wines without the attitude. The vibe inside: soft lighting, timber tables, and a buzzing local crowd that looks like they all secretly work in fashion.
Later, we tried our luck at Little Red Door. It’s good. Still is. Although it’s hard to ignore it’s slid onto every cocktail tourist's checklist by now. Worth one round — just don’t expect to stumble on a hidden gem. (Unless your idea of a hidden gem involves a 15-minute wait and someone Instagramming their martini next to you.)
Exploring the Heart of Paris: From the Seine to the Tuileries
Mornings in the 14th arrondissement hit differently. No heavy sightseeing agendas, just sunlit streets and the occasional Vespa breaking the silence.
We made a slow loop through Rue de Thermopyles, grabbed coffees at Café Hexagone — small, simple, no Wi-Fi signs screaming from the wall. Exactly how a café should be.
Breakfast part two (because why stop at coffee?) was at A. Lacroix Pâtissier. Their pastries have the kind of quiet precision that doesn’t need TikTok videos to sell out by noon. We lingered longer than planned.
By mid-morning, we drifted north towards the Seine. Paris is best seen like this: without a real plan. A detour here, a bridge there, a five-minute stop to watch all the tourists.
At Café Marly, with the Louvre’s pyramid looming in the background, we surrendered to tourist prices for the sake of the view — zero regrets. People-watching here should count as an official sport.
Afterwards: Palais Royal, a little shopping detour (heavy on the window part, light on the shopping part), and a slow, sun-drenched walk through the Tuileries Garden. Textbook Paris, but somehow it never feels tired.
An evening under the Eiffel: Dining with a view
For our last night, we headed west towards the Eiffel Tower. Milagro Paris— the second project from the team behind Zia Paris — is exactly the kind of restaurant you hope to stumble across in a residential Parisian street. Casual bistronomie at its best: a short, inventive menu changing with the seasons, thoughtful plates like lamb with fennel caramel or handmade profiteroles with Maldon salt.
The room is intimate, the wine list leans natural without being preachy, and the service feels like you’ve been invited to a local’s dinner party. Exactly the right note to end on.
Afterwards, we wandered over to see the Tower sparkle. No rush, no real agenda. Just a quiet walk, a few bad photos we’ll pretend are artistic, and that familiar, slightly smug feeling of knowing we did Paris right — without ever trying too hard.
Wrapping up: 36 quiet hours well spent
Paris doesn’t need a checklist. A good stay, a few slow walks, a dinner or two you’ll think about later — sometimes that’s enough.
Hotel Cabane gave us a quiet base. Rue de Thermopyles showed us a different side of the city. The rest was just letting Paris do what it does best: unfold, slowly, if you let it.
We’ll be back. Probably with less luggage. Definitely without a plan.
