COURTNEY'S CITY GUIDES
Paris
EATS
CRÊPES, CRÊPES, CHEESE & BREAD
We never really eat in restaurants! Just fill up on crêpes at every corner, baguettes and fromage!
Ile Saint Louis
Berthillon
Salted carmel ice cream
Ralph's
173 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris, France
Paul
Bakery with great baguettes and cheese, millefeuilles my favorite, giant macarons
Pierre Herme
72 rue Bonaparte
Most famous pastry chef in all of Paris
Cafe Varenne
36 rue de Varenne
Ina Garten's fave
Le Café de Flore
Saint Germain
Famous french café, chocolat chaud
Ble Sucre
Try the eclairs and tarte au citron, best croissants in town, try the madeleines too
Gerard Mulot
Millefeuilles with berries are a must, gateau de l'opera, tarte au citron, financiers
Angelina
rue de Rivoli
Best hot chocolate and glam millefeuilles
Carette
Famous Paris institution, try the tarte aux framboises or religieuse
Des Gateaux et du Pain
Best brioche, chocolate croissants
Du Pain et des Idees
Best chocolat croissants
SHOPS
Muriel Gateau
rue de Beaune
beautiful table linens
Merci
Paris version of Anthropologie
Zara Home
Home stores are only in Europe, worth going in
Du Pareil au Meme
French children's store
Le Bon Marche
Gorgeous department store, Neiman-Marcus style
Au Printemps
Department store
Louis Vuitton
101 avenue des Champs-Élysées
Diptyque
Perfumes & candles in Saint-Germain
Sabre
Saint Germain
Spoons, bowls, plates heaven
Astier de Villatte
ceramic store with beautiful white dishes
SITES
Rue de Vavin
My favorite street, filled with children's stores, toy store and a neighborhood bakery with delicious chocolate/hazelnut croissants
Rue Cler
Great walking street, yummy crépes, ice cream at Martine Lambert
Tullieres Jardin
Beautiful stroll, purple man's sailboats, trampolines
Luxembourg Jardin
Favorite, scenic park to just sit and eat a croissant
Versailles
the most exquisitely glamorous gardens
Eiffel Tower
Of course, picnic on the lawn is almost as good as climbing it
Four Seasons George V
Lobby is worth seeing, famous floral arrangements
Ave Montaigne
Upscale shopping, purple Dior store
Saint Honore
Great shopping: Hermes, Prada, Chanel, Goyard
Le Pont des Arts
Best gate in Paris
Le Marche aux Fleurs
Old style market
Saint Germain
Favorite area, especially in the evening
Musee D'Orsay
My favorite museum. Monet, Degas and Renoir
Louvre
Big day but worth seeing the Mona Lisa
Musee Yves Saint Laurent
Must see for anyone who loves clothes
Puces de Vanves, Ave Marc Sangnier
Vintage market only open on Saturday and Sunday from 9-1
San Francisco
EATS
Magic Flute
3673 Sacramento Street
Saturday & Sunday Brunch
Lemon crème beignets, Presidio scramble
Tartine Bakery
600 Guerrero Street
Morning buns
Stop on the way from the airport and to the airport
Nick's Crispy Tacos
1500 Broadway
Dinner
Best TACOS ever, order them Nick's Way
Specialties
101 Montgomery Street
Cookies
Milk chocolate chip, most amazing cookies, closed on weekends
Cocoa Bella
Decadent Chocolates, hazelnut crunch
Westfield Shopping Centre
Bi-Rite
3639 18th Street
Salted carmel ice cream
Swenson's
1999 Hyde Street
Mocha chip ice cream, cash only
Town Hall
Be sure you're there for the dinner menu! Don't skip the starters: BBQ shrimp and Faith’s warm ham and cheese toast, poached egg, jalapeño cream. Order the fried chicken to share and specify mashed potatoes on the side!
NEWPORT BEACH
EATS
Café Panini
The best Mediterranean of your life! Order hummus appetizer, chicken kabob with Mediterranean salad. Try breakfast another day!
Gulfstream
Darin's favorite spot! Grilled artichoke (seasonal) is the best appetizer. Heirloom tomato salad a close second! My most favorite cheeseburger ever, with shoestring fries and coleslaw, you cannot go wrong.
Zinc Café
I could eat here everyday! Brie sandwich, toasted, with no peppers. Fresh vegetarian salads are delicious, get a sampler plate and a lemon square on your way out.
Houston's
We always stop here on our way to the airport, my kids love the baby back ribs and 5 nut brownie!
Javier's
Upscale mexican, carnitas a must, rice and beans are divine.
Rose's Deli
Donuts for beach bums, if you're a donut kind of family.
Pain du Monde
Try the turkey club sandwich with gouda and the Coco Loco and chocolate chip pecan cookies are to die for!
R & D Kitchen
I recommend the French dip.
Boudin Bakery
in South Coast Plaza Mall
I love Newport Beach but I left my heart in San Francisco! Best sourdough bread ever, grilled cheese with parmesan crust.
Sprinkles Cupcakes & Ice Cream
Chocolate Coconut, Cuban Coffee and Lemon are my faves!
Bandera
Artichoke appetizer, Macho salad is amazing, homemade oreo for dessert. Very crowded, only open for dinner. Go EARLY!
Sessions
A great sandwich place by 28th Street, perfect for taking to the beach. Try the Summer Zephyr!
Panera Bread
When we lived in Newport, we went here every Monday evening with our family! The best broccoli cheddar soup in a bread bowl, great quick dining.