A Parisian Insider's Guide to 72 Perfect Hours

Alice Moireau's life revolves around taste. Raised in a family that treated meals as an event, she later trained in design in Paris and worked as a food stylist in New York. Now back in France, she co-founded the tableware brand TABLE and runs Le Chalet Olivet, a renovated house by the Loiret River. Her work crafting experiences for houses like Chanel and Ralph Lauren has sharpened her eye for detail. Here, she maps out an ideal three-day visit, from where to rest your head to where to find the city's pulse.

For a place to stay, Moireau favors character over sheer luxury. She describes L’Hôtel as a discreet secret, with theatrical bedrooms wrapped in silk and lush wallpaper that feel plucked from the 19th century. La Cour des Vosges offers quiet opulence and a prime view over the Place des Vosges, mixing 17th-century bones with 1970s accents. Those seeking an intimate, artsy vibe might prefer Hotel Massé, a haunt for Fashion Week insiders and passing creatives.

Château Voltaire, she says, is her top pick for romance, defined by wood-paneled walls, custom carpets, and vintage fixtures. If a green escape is the priority, the Saint James Paris feels like the countryside, with sprawling gardens designed by Xavier de Chirac featuring yews, hydrangeas, and Japanese maples right in the city center. For authentic neighborhood energy and bold Art Deco style, she returns to Hotel Rochechouart in the 9th arrondissement, steps from lively restaurants and the slopes of Montmartre.

This selection provides a foundation—a set of doors opening onto Paris's storied streets, chosen by someone who judges a place by its atmosphere and artistry as much as its amenities.