Everything You Need to Do in Paris This December

Our mantra for December ? Chocolate every morning, cosy vibes, and a generous dose of indulgence to keep us going until the Holidays. Time to hit pause on the frantic gift run and make the most of all the magical things Paris has to offer during its most festive month. On the lineup : next-level cream puffs from a top pastry chef, cult films back on the big screen, a poetic and sensual Araki exhibition, Reformation’s new ultra-chic boutique in the Marais, and the iconic musical The Phantom of the Opera in a dazzling new production. Coats on, let’s go.

Even Rebecca Bloomwood from Confessions of a Shopaholic would max out her card to explore the newest address everyone is buzzing about. Reformation has finally landed in Paris — right in the heart of the Marais — with its very first French boutique, perfectly embodying the brand’s DNA : ultra-feminine silhouettes, unapologetic vintage charm, and a more responsible approach to fashion without ever compromising on style.

Step inside and the magic hits instantly: a theatrical staircase, terracotta tiles, warm woodwork, vintage-chic pieces, and Murano-glass touches. No overloaded racks here — just a curated selection designed to inspire, tempt, and make you want to walk out with your new favourite piece. A place where sustainable fashion finally becomes truly irresistible.

Our crushes of the season include : The Monica silk top (€119) : feminine, soft and subtly sexy with its delicate embroidery. Perfect for a girls’ night, a romantic dinner, or a breezy summer evening in the countryside. The Anaiis silk dress (€336) with its long, high-necked and cross-backed, effortlessly elegant for moments when you want to make an entrance (hello chic in-laws Christmas dinner), and the The Dominique boots (€411) : black leather, flat, and perfectly pointed with a refined western twist that elevates any look.

Reformartion, 20 rue des Francs Bourgeois, Paris 3e. Open Monday to Saturday 11am–8pm, Sunday 12pm–7pm.

She’s the pastry chef everyone is watching. After leading the pastry program at the Plaza Athénée (casual), Jessica Prealpato – crowned World’s Best Pastry Chef in 2019 – is now at Hôtel San Régis. This discreet five-star gem near Avenue Montaigne, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, is a destination in itself, with a decor straight out of a Jane Austen novel : floral wallpaper, glass canopy, antiques and carved wood.

And the perfect excuse to stop by? Her cream puffs, the stars of the hotel’s afternoon teas, now available to go thanks to her brand-new Chouroom. Made without refined sugar or flour, these delicate creations come in a pretty box and feature natural, surprising and addictive flavours.

On the menu : Buckwheat (choux pastry, toasted buckwheat seeds, praline and buckwheat pastry cream),  Pumpkin seed (puffed pumpkin seeds, praline and pumpkin-seed cream) and Sunflower seed (sunflower seeds from Ferme des 3 Rois, praline and sunflower-seed cream), €20 for a box of 5 — assorted or filled with your favourite, perfect for showing off at your next tea time.

 San Régis  Chouroom by Jessica Prealpato, 12 rue Jean Goujon, Paris 8e. Sur commande et en click&collect uniquement via le site internet, Tuesday–Friday 11:30am–7:30pm, Saturday 2:30pm–6:30pm.

December means cold weather (yes, it’s time for the faux-fur coat). And what better excuse to hide out in a warm movie theatre ? From 8 to 12 December, cinemas in Paris and four other French cities are hosting the fourth edition of BNP Paribas CinéCulte, this year celebrating the iconic James Cameron.

A full week to (re)discover his most legendary films on the big screen: the ultra-dramatic love story aboard the Titanic, Schwarzenegger’s mythical motorbike ride in Terminator 2, a trip into space with Aliens, or a deep-sea dive with Abyss. Goodbye cheesy Christmas movies.

The closing night will feature a mini marathon of the Avatar saga ahead of the much-awaited release of Fire and Ashes. As always, 1,000 free tickets are up for grabs online. We can’t wait.

BNP Paribas CinéCulte, Pathé BNP Paribas, 32 rue Louis le Grand, Paris 2e & MK2 Bibliothèque, 128-162 avenue de France, Paris 13e. Full program and raffle online.

You may not know this, but singer-songwriter Clara Luciani is a true dessert lover. Her favourite treat ? The succès, a classic pastry made with almond dacquoise and praline cream. She teamed up with Alice Tuyet — co-founder of veggie hotspots  Faubourg Daimant and Daimant Saint-Honoré — who will feature Clara’s version throughout the Holiday season (13 €).

Together, they created the Succès Clara, a dreamy hazelnut take on the original : a soft biscuit topped with toasted hazelnuts, filled with light hazelnut mousseline and a gooey praline heart, finished with a caramelised hazelnut on top : just like the seaside treats we devour in summer.

Even better : 100% of the profits from the Succès Clara will be donated to the Maison des Femmes de Marseille Provence, supporting women victims of violence. And honestly, we’ve never found a better excuse to inhale an entire cake at dessert.

Succès Clara, available until January 4th at Faubourg Daimant (20 rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, Paris 10e) and Daimant Saint-Honoré (24 place du Marché Saint-Honoré, Paris 1er).

Does the name Nobuyoshi Araki ring a bell ? This slightly provocative Japanese photographer has been a major figure since the 1960s, known for his phallic flowers and shibari works. Since October, his universe has been showcased at the Musée Guimet in an exceptional exhibition running until 12 January: nostalgic, poetic and unapologetically erotic.

More than a simple visit, Polaraki is an immersive dive into the artist’s world, with nearly one thousand polaroids created between 1997 and 2024 and displayed in the stunning rotunda on the fourth floor : strictly 18+ during the exhibition.

We owe much of the experience to collector Stéphane André, who spent nearly 25 years acquiring these works before donating them to the museum. The result : saturated, retro-coloured images, blurry compositions, floral and feminine contrasts, and those iconic white borders that make polaroids so unique.

POLARAKI, Mille polaroids d’Araki Nobuyoshi, Musée Guimet, 6 place d’Iéna, Paris 16e. Until 12 January, Wednesday to Monday, 10am–6pm. €13 full price, €10 reduced. Rotunda access restricted to 18+.

An opera house haunted, a golden-voiced soprano and a masked phantom hiding beneath the Opéra Garnier… sound familiar ? The Phantom of the Opera, of course. Gaston Leroux’s legendary novel returns as a brand-new musical, entirely independent from the cult London and Broadway productions.

Adapted by Benoit Solès (La Machine de Turing) and directed by Julien Alluguette (Le Soldat Rose), this French creation is already impressing audiences at Théâtre Antoine. Expect no copy-paste : this is an original take with new music by Marc Demais and Pierre-Yves Lebert : addictive melodies guaranteed to stick in your head on the way home.

In the role of Christine Daaé : Maélie Zaffran, who stole the show in Mamma Mia last year. The entire cast delivers pure talent, giving this French classic a fresh, emotional and intensely romantic edge.

Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, Théâtre Antoine, 14 boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris 10 .  Until January 11, Wednesday to Sunday at 7pm. From €16.

The legendary  Hôtel Costes spa joins forces with Augustinus Bader, promising an ultra-luxurious, high-tech wellness experience. In a sumptuous space of eight treatment rooms, each ritual begins with a custom skin diagnosis conducted by an expert using cutting-edge analysis technology.

Then comes your choice of signature treatments : L’Essentiel (€280), a glow-revealing treatment that softens and brightens the complexion and L’Ultime (€420), an exceptional lifting facial that tones and firms using Raja Medical microcurrents.
Afterwards, visit the Augustinus Bader corner to find the same products used in the treatments. The spa also offers iconic body rituals like Jeunesse des Mains (€130) – a radiofrequency hand treatment that firms and illuminates – or the Massage 60 (€240), a fully personalized massage tailored to your needs and mood.

Other highlights : Bastien Gonzalez, the renowned master manicurist, and Reformer classes with personal trainers for fitness lovers. Extend your wellness escape in the hammam cabin (solo or duo), then unwind in the relaxation lounge with a cup of hot tea.

Hôtel Costes, 7 rue de Castiglione,  Paris 1er. Open daily 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Bookings: 01 42 44 49 12 or  spa@hotelcostes.com.

A hundred years deserves a celebration! To mark the centenary of the 1925 International Exhibition of Decorative Arts and Modern Industry, Louis Vuitton invites visitors to discover how the iconic house shaped the movement in its new exhibition: Louis Vuitton Art Déco.

Starting September 26 at LV Dream, guests can stroll through 8 thematic rooms and admire 300 objects and archival pieces straight from the maison’s heritage collection. From its creation in 1854 to the final gallery La beauté en voyage, the journey unfolds through exceptional works, contemporary creations, and exclusive leather goods that make us wish the voyage would never end.

The extra treat? A gourmet pause after the visit at the Café Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton, just upstairs, where you can enjoy fine pastries, savory creations, and exquisite chocolates imagined by our favorite pastry chef.

Louis Vuitton Art Déco, LV Dream (26 Quai de la Mégisserie, Paris 1er). From September 26. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am–8 pm. Free entry or online booking.

It’s the meeting of two women with impeccable taste. On one side, Alix Depondt-Reynis, the queen of tableware, whose brand Alix D. Reynis offers a contemporary take on Limoges porcelain. On the other, Carine Beigbeder, director of Bourrienne Paris X, whose white shirts are inspired by the history of the magnificent Hôtel de Bourrienne in the 10th arrondissement – now family-owned. Their refined worlds come together in a wildly elegant collaboration celebrating French art de vivre, craftsmanship, and heritage through fashion and décor pieces we’re already obsessed with.

Available from September 3rd: a couture-style shirt with ruffled cuffs, embroidered trim, and lavallière collar (€420), plus a full table set inspired by décors from the hôtel particulier. Think €98 for a dinner plate, €52 for a coffee cup, €58 for a small dish, plus matching placemats and napkins. The perfect gift to elevate your next brunch with friends and play the château hostess in Paris.

Alix D. Reynis x Bourrienne Paris X, collection available September 3rd exclusively online and in their boutiques.

It’s been nearly a year since the magnificent Musée Jacquemart-André reopened after renovations! Following the success of its last exhibition on Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi, the museum now honors French painter Georges de La Tour starting September 11th.

Never heard of him? Normal: this 17th-century master, once recognized as official painter of Louis XIII, fell into obscurity after his death before being rediscovered in the 20th century. This first retrospective since the Grand Palais in 1997 will delight Caravaggio fans. While La Tour learned from the Italian master, his art reinterprets chiaroscuro, radical realism, and spirituality in modern yet timeless compositions.

The exhibition brings together over thirty paintings and drawings, plus several saint busts. Highlights? The Newborn and The Pipe Blower, loaned by the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, showcasing La Tour’s mastery of light as the true “painter of flame.”

GEORGES DE LA TOUR – Between Shadow and Light, September 11th to January 25th, 2026. Musée Jacquemart-André, 158 boulevard Haussmann, Paris 8e. Open daily 10am–6pm.

We already loved their spots at Canal Saint-Martin, Etienne Marcel, and Bastille. Now Bao Family founders Céline Chung and Billy Pham bring Petit Bao to the chic 8th arrondissement, right by Ternes.

From the outside, Petit Bao Ternes (PBT) already stands out with a cute terrace and a playful interior designed by Céline herself: green chairs, pink tables, fish-themed bathrooms, an open kitchen, and warm wood accents.

Must-order dishes include: fried shrimp wontons (€7), Charsiu Pork Baos (€9), meltingly soft Hong Shao eggplants (€13), Dan Dan noodles (€16), and the addictive Shanghai Noodles (€10). Don’t miss the limited-edition Crispy Truffle Mini Baos (€12). Wash it all down with homemade peach hibiscus iced tea (€5) or an Umeshu Spritz (€8), and save room for Mango Sago cream (€7) or Peanut Baos (€8).

Petit Bao – Ternes, 266 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris 8e. Open daily for lunch & dinner.

Stylish stationery isn’t just for students! To make September more fun, head to the Marais to discover Koya, a brand-new stationery shop founded by chef Lorenza Lenzi.

No binders or rulers here, but rather a curated selection of 1,000+ references, often sourced from Japan: Penco Classic pens (€3.50), all kinds of notebooks, Kaweco fountain pens (€27–70), colored pencils, planners, Marvy Uchida felt-tip pens (€2.90), the cult Pentel Sign Pen (€2.50), or even a Hightide clock (€180) to never miss a Google Meet.

Koya Stationery, 26 rue du Petit-Musc, Paris 4e. Open Tue–Sat, 11am–7pm.

It was already a cult play 30 years ago — and the actors were too! The ex-Deschiens from Canal+ — Olivier Saladin, Olivier Broche, and François Morel (also directing) — revive Yasmina Reza’s Art at Théâtre Montparnasse.

The plot? Serge buys a minimalist contemporary artwork — a blank canvas — for €40,000. His old friend Marc ridicules the purchase, straining their friendship. Their third friend Yvan tries to mediate and save their bond.

Translated into dozens of languages and awarded worldwide, Reza’s masterpiece examines friendship unraveling under social differences and time’s passage. With three real-life longtime friends playing the roles, the performance is funny, tender, and refreshingly authentic.

Art by Yasmina Reza, until December 20 at Théâtre Montparnasse, 30 rue de la Gaîté, Paris 14e.

Our crush: the fun, creative ceramic painting workshop at Céramicafé Geneviève in the 11th arrondissement. Pick your canvas — bowl, mug, or plate — then let Geneviève, Paris’s ceramic queen, teach you techniques and guide you step by step.

Once finished, your piece is fired at 1,000°C. A week later, you can take home your creation and proudly display it in your living room.

Discover also 3 new trendy restaurants to try in September and  3 series to watch this september.