Your Ultimate Paris Weekend Program

© Restaurant GrandCœur by Victoire Terrade.

Stop the laziness and those Netflix & Chill days! Let's make the most of that extra hour and fill up on good vibes with some Parisian activities to enjoy this weekend. Here’s the plan: head to the Salon International du Patrimoine Culturel at the Carrousel du Louvre, hunt for treasures at the best flea markets in Paris, rediscover the GOAT of the Italian Renaissance, try your hand at felted wool figurines, and finally, fill your stomach with a hearty pot-au-feu in the Marais. Put on your best accessories and have fun!

The pot-au-feu, the ultimate symbol of peasant cuisine, could it be the next trendy dish? That’s our bet. Proof: Mauro Colagreco, chef and owner of the 3-star Mirazur restaurant in Menton, unveils a wildly desirable version of it in his other restaurant, GrandCœur (one of our favorite spots in Paris), nestled in the Marais. Lunch and dinner, every day of the week and weekend, it’s time to settle in and order his latest creation: the sexiest pot-au-feu of your life (€45), served in the extraordinary setting of this new-gen brasserie with high beams and exposed stone walls.

Of course, Mauro Colagreco’s two-course version adds Mediterranean touches to this ancestral recipe. Check it out: set the mood with a perfectly concentrated vegetable consommé with vermicelli, accompanied by bone marrow spread delicately on a garlic and rosemary toast. Then the pot-au-feu arrives, majestic, in its large cast iron pot. While the stewed beef is adorned with a green parsley sauce, colorful pickles bring a welcome acidity, alongside particularly flavorful sauces and condiments, the signature of this Argentinian chef. In short: a deliciously comforting option, perfect for big gatherings of friends.

The extra touch : the special attention paid to the tableware for this decidedly Instagrammable pot-au-feu. Special mention for the mismatched, vintage soup tureens and serving dishes that give the impression of being invited to a chic country house.

Restaurant GrandCœur, 41 rue du Temple, Paris 4th. Open from Monday to Sunday from 12pm to 2:30pm and from 7:15pm to 10:30pm.
© Patrick Lazic and Victoire Leriche.

If you hate seeing your little ones glued to their tablets, whisk them away to Yu-Ching’s workshop. On the menu: discovering the art of felted wool. You’ll be able to create your own adorable figurine with just the strength and dexterity of your hands!

Upon arrival, the artist presents her workshop and tools, then introduces the themes for the little creations: forest animals, dinosaurs, culinary temptations... You’ll learn the basics of needle felting (don’t worry, the needle doesn’t hurt—it’s used to shape the wool!) to craft your personalized figurine. Have fun mixing colors to make a funky bird, muffin, or dino. The best part? You’ll take your creation home, along with the know-how. It’s the perfect plan to occupy those rainy afternoons and build your army of felted wool figurines!

The extra touch : if your artistic endeavors leave you hungry, we’ve got the perfect snack! Head over to Sürpriz to bite into a mouth-watering kebab packed with meat from Mehmet, the best butcher in Berlin, whose meat is coveted by all kebab vendors.

Head to the 18th arrondissement of Paris, where in a stunning mansion, the Fondation Custodia presents over 120 masterpieces as part of its partnership with the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. Here, they pay homage to the uniqueness and avant-garde spirit of Italian art, from the dawn of the Renaissance to the 16th century. It’s an immersive experience that captivates at every turn, through different themes such as anatomy, religious canons, and historical scenes.

What’s on display ? The Italian Renaissance is characterized by a return to the artistic codes of Antiquity, seen through the prisms of beauty and nature, to move away from the popular dark Medieval aesthetics. Among the exhibitors, you’ll find: Parmigiano, Da Vinci, Spinelli, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Fra Bartolomeo... From sketches of iconic frescoes depicting the death and ascension of the Virgin, to Saint George battling a dragon, and early scientific studies of the human body, it’s impossible to leave this exhibition without a sense of awe.

The extra touch : make a detour to the Musée d’Orsay to check out the exhibition of Gustave Caillebotte’s paintings, focusing on male figures of the mid-19th century.

Fondation Custodia, 121 rue de Lille, Paris 7th. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm to 6pm. Exhibition "Birth and Renaissance of Italian Drawing" from October 12 to January 12, 2025. Entry €12, tickets available on-site. Guided tours bookable by email, more information online.
© Philip Provily.

Parisians get to enjoy the luxury of walking past a heritage monument every day. This year, Atelier d’Art de France is celebrating its 30th anniversary and honoring its annual Salon International du Patrimoine Culturel at the Carrousel du Louvre. The theme of the year: water heritage! After all, how many monuments are built by the sea, and how many rivers are also heritage treasures? Between conferences, workshops, and restoration trades, you’ll leave this salon with info gems to dazzle in conversations.

The exhibitors and conferences are at the Carrousel du Louvre, but to catch the workshops, you’ll need your Navigo pass! Throughout the weekend, the Salon International du Patrimoine Culturel offers pop-up and continuous workshops to discover the trades that help preserve our historical treasures. Head to the Atelier Mariguet-Carrère in Paris, where you can marvel at a demo of 18th-century faux-marble restoration. On Sunday, at the Centre d’Art Graphique & Patrimoine in Saint-Denis, there’s a workshop on 3D digitization techniques for monuments, used for archiving and preservation. Definitely bring the kids!

The extra touch: take advantage of being near the Musée des Arts Décoratifs to see the exhibition on L’intime, de la chambre aux réseaux sociaux. It’s a journey through time starting in the 18th-century bathrooms and ending on our phones!

Salon International du Patrimoine Culturel, Carrousel du Louvre, 99 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1st. €18 for a day pass. Friday and Saturday from 10am to 7pm, Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Online reservations.
© Alex Gallosi.

The perfect vintage Levi’s jeans in every color, a designer chair to add a touch of style to your living room, flowery plates, and endless silverware to spice up your Sunday brunches, or the perfect Hermès scarf to brighten up your winter: with a little flair and a sharp eye, Parisian flea markets are bursting with treasures, sometimes even luxury pieces at mini prices!

Vintage lovers, this weekend, Paris transforms into a thrift shopping paradise with three flea markets you absolutely must not miss. Head to Avenue Niel (17th), Place d'Aligre (12th), or Rue du Commerce (15th) to shop your next it-bag, find a designer lamp, or discover treasures to impress your dinner guests.

The extra touch : bring large bags to carry your treasures, cash to haggle, and a bit of charm to connect with the antique dealers—so you can keep in touch and score good deals all year long...

Vide-Grenier Avenue Niel, Sunday, October 27, A2I2M0, Avenue Niel, Ternes District, Paris 17, from 6am to 6pm, 50 to 100 vendors, individuals and professionals.
Brocante and Flea Market at Place d'Aligre, Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27, Place d'Aligre, Paris 12, from 8am to 2pm, 40 vendors.
Vide-Grenier Rue du Commerce, Sunday, October 27, 85 Rue du Commerce, Paris 15. 

We’ve found the perfect spot to combine our two greatest passions : food and fashion. It’s all happening on rue des Rosiers at L’As du Fallafel, the iconic restaurant recommended by Lenny Kravitz (no less!) and especially by your devoted Do It team, where you can enjoy the sexiest shawarmas in Paris. But the hot news is definitely the collaboration with their neighbors Sweet Pants, aka the kings of 90s-inspired loungewear.

The result? An already iconic collection mixing street vibes with t-shirts (€60), hoodies (€95 to €120), and caps (€60) in different colors (gray, cream, purple). Nota bene: hurry to grab the capsule collection because stock is ultra-limited!

The extra touch? End the day with a guided street art tour in the Marais. It’s nearby, so why not plan your afternoon ahead?

L’As du Fallafel, 34 rue des Rosiers, Paris 3rd. Open Sunday from 11 AM to 11 PM.
© L’As du Fallafel, ph. Tara Levy

Is there anything more comforting than a batch of warm pancakes for breakfast? Mastering the technique is key! To create your own fluffy Japanese pancakes, head to Agatto Paris. Trained in Japan, pastry chef Agathe will guide you through a workshop where you'll learn how to craft these delightful treats, a cross between a soufflé and a pancake. These light, cloud-like pancakes are perfect with your favorite jam or maple syrup.

After a demonstration by Agathe on how to prepare the batter, you'll dive into the art of cooking the pancakes to perfection, ensuring their signature fluffy texture. The result? A light, indulgent pastry you’ll savor down to the last bite! What’s more, you’ll enjoy your creations with a traditional Japanese tea prepared by the chef herself.

Bonus: Agatto Paris is located near the Atelier des Lumières, where you can wander through an enchanting 360° projection experience. After your fluffy pancake workshop, immerse yourself in the magical world of Japon Rêvé.

Fluffy Pancake Workshop, Agatto Paris, 13 bis Rue Saint-Maur. Online reservations available.
© Agatto Paris (@agatto_paris) by Nastasia Frolow.

Our favorite for the weekend: a ceramic painting workshop to keep your little ones busy! Head over to Céramicafé Geneviève in the 11th arrondissement for a 100% creative experience. Choose from a bowl, cup, or plate as the canvas for your masterpiece. Geneviève, the ceramic expert, will demonstrate various painting techniques and guide you through the process to ensure your designs are as realistic and beautiful as possible.

At the end of the workshop, your creations will head to the 1,000-degree kiln! You'll need to be patient though: your artwork will be ready for pickup in a week, perfect for showing off at grandma's house!

Bonus : After the workshop, visit Pépite, the amazing bakery in the Faidherbe area. We highly recommend their Cookie Ball for €3.70 – a little bomb of deliciousness!

© Céramicafé Geneviève by Celiane Guilbaud.

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