How I fell in love with Paris in 2 days

I can’t believe my last blog post was a recap of last year’s travels. It’s not like I have nothing to say or haven’t traveled to new, exciting cities. So far this year, I’ve visited Fuerteventura, the Algarve in Portugal, Krakow, Prague, all over Israel, and even Paris for my 40th birthday. Yet I can’t seem to keep up with this blog!

Oh well. I can’t beat myself up about it. It’s been a tough year. In January, my work visa was finally approved in Berlin after waiting almost six months in limbo. Then I worked my butt off to start a new business that ended up less successful than I’d hoped. German culture is not easy. On June 28th, my father passed away suddenly, though not entirely unexpected, and I had to go home to Texas for a few weeks. Dealing with an estate when a parent doesn’t leave a will is difficult, to say the least. All while trying to mourn and grieve.

So this blog fell to the bottom of the to-do list. But I will try to catch you guys up so you know how lovely the world is, and that you will never be without delicious vegan food options

Today I’ll start with a momentous occasion in May – my 40th birthday. My dear friend Nicole, from A Dash of Vegan, came all the way to Berlin from Toronto to spend time with me. I wanted to go somewhere new and special, so I chose Paris for the weekend. Parisians get such a bad rap, and people are stuck with the false belief that France isn’t vegan-friendly. Boy was I glad I didn’t listen to the naysayers. Paris is packed with vegan options, and (almost) everyone we met was lovely.

And it’s so clean and beautiful! Literally everywhere you turn is a lovely building with adorable balconies, a monument or statue, a cute market or flower shop, cafe-lined streets with stylish people sipping espresso, people hustling down the street with baguettes…and the subways are some of the coolest, most artistic I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to go back and spend more time there.

Things to Do in Paris

We only had two days, so we tried to hit as many sights as possible. My phone said we walked 12 kilometers in one day! This isn’t my usual travel style. Normally, I would go to a new city and stay at least a week to immerse myself in the culture. But Nicole only had five days to explore both Berlin and Paris, and Paris is quite expensive! While we didn’t get to hit up all the important sites, we made a nice dent and were happy with our choice to get off our feet in the afternoon rather than kill ourselves. I can always go back since I live a short flight away

No visit to Paris is complete without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Hopefully, you have perfect weather as we did in May. No need to pay money to go inside; have a walk around the bottom then head across the water to the Trocadero Gardens for the best views.

The Louvre is surely at the top of your list of things to do in Paris. Even though it comes with a hefty €17 price tag, it’s totally worth every penny. This museum is huge, 675,000 square feet, so plan on at least 2-3 hours. The Mona Lisa is definitely underwhelming, but the rest of the art from around the world is impressive. Be sure to go back after sundown to see it lit up.

One of my favorite things to do in any city I visit for the first time is to simply walk around for hours to see what I stumble upon. Paris is full of stunning architecture and beauty around every corner. You’ll want to visit when you have good weather so you can take in the city by foot. Wander through a market and be swept away by the sights and smells. Make it a point to visit Rue des Martyrs for one of the largest running markets in the world – over two hundred years old!

Not to sound morose, but I really love visiting cemeteries. Especially in Europe. They are elegant and elaborate, unlike the simple cemeteries in the US. Take a stroll through Père Lachaise and visit some world-famous graves of Jim Morrison of the Doors, Oscar Wilde and Chopin.

Paris is easy to walk in good weather, but the subway system is so cool it’s worth checking out. Each station has its own feel, mostly doused in bright colors and Art Deco style. Even the trains are well-designed and fashionable. But it is Paris, so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised! If the weather isn’t great, it’s a good excuse to head underground and take the metro.

As expected, Paris has lovely parks, too. One that we visited on our way out of town was Parc Des Buttes-Chaumont in the 19th arrondissement. It’s the 5th largest park in Paris. I wish I had time to sit on a blanket and read a book in this lovely park. There’s an island with a bridge, stunning views, waterfalls, lots of wildlife, and a beautiful temple on top of a hill. If you are into parks or you want to take a rest with a book definitely stop by here.

As I said, we walked a TON, so we saw so much more, like the Arc de Triomphe and Palais-Royal Gardens, and we even did the Bateaux Mouches boat tour because it was a nice way to travel between the hotspots and see the city from the water. There’s plenty to do in Paris, but it can keep you busy if you only have two days, as we did. Now onto the food!

Vegan Food Options in Paris

NOTE: This post is from 2019, so these places may no longer be open.

We arrived at 12 pm on Saturday and left at the same time on Monday, giving us about seven meals to taste what the vegan food scene in Paris was like. We stuffed ourselves silly (and emptied our wallets)! A few places were closed (like Cloud Cakes sadly), but we had many great meals with the time we had.

La Potager de Charlotte

First, we had lunch at La Potager de Charlotte, a world-famous vegan restaurant with two locations. The food was creative and beautifully presented, but I wasn’t a big fan of what I chose. Nicole loved her salad, though. Be prepared for the high prices. It’s closed during midday, and we found many places had this policy.

Kapunka Vegan

An unexpected surprise was to find some of the best vegan Thai food I’ve ever had at Kapunka Vegan. We started with rice paper rolls and both had curries that were absolutely amazing. The service was great, but it is a bit expensive for what you get. The place is tiny so definitely make a reservation.

Bodhi Vegan

If you are into Asian food and mock meats, definitely visit Bodhi Vegan. The menu is expansive and includes traditional favorites like kung pao tofu, fried spring rolls, and noodle dishes, but also battered fried shrimp we couldn’t pass up. This is one of the more affordable restaurants in Paris, so if you are looking for a hearty meal give it a try.

VG Patisserie

You can’t come to Paris without visiting VG Patisserie. If you miss fancy desserts and buttery croissants as a vegan, this place will take you to heaven. We stopped in for breakfast and had several croissants and pastries, plus a lovely chai latte. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it back for their elegant desserts, so this will be my first stop when I go to Paris again.

Aujourd’hui Demain

Nicole had just read an article in VegNews about this cafe and store, so it was at the top of our list to visit. We went for weekend brunch, which gives you a few options to choose from. Since we arrived early and I was starving, I started with their avocado toast. It had guacamole, edamame, a creamy cheese, and veggies on top. It was so unique and quite tasty. For brunch, I had a breakfast sandwich with tofu eggs & rice paper bacon, plus a juice, coffee, and croissant for €18. I recommend getting there early to beat the long queue for their popular brunch. Take a stroll around the shop to find some great vegan finds.

Grounded

A quick shout-out to Grounded Coffee, an all-vegan coffee shop with amazing coffee, good vibes, a small menu, and vegan treats and pastries like cinnamon rolls, zucchini bread, scones, and cookies. I wish I had time to try the menu but we were rushing out of town. Definitely make a stop here – even better if you can stay nearby!

You will have no problem finding vegan places in Paris. There’s so much variety too! On HappyCow, you’ll find 72 vegan options and 82 vegetarian options. You’ll be stuffed, to say the least. Have a blast!