Paris Expat Guide

As any Instagrammer worth their salt will know, the katsu sandwich is having a bit of a moment – and in-the-know Parisians head to Café Panache for their fix. The club sandwich here is a toasted masterpiece filled with omelette, red cabbage and golden-crumbed chicken. It’s the latest hit from the inspired Levha sisters, the culinary duo behind Le Servan and Double Dragon – both also worth a visit.

DIY queen Lisa Gachet has made the tricky transition from blogosphere to bricks and mortar with aplomb. Unabashedly girly, her new shop sits on the ever-trendy Canal Saint-Martin. We love the Hollywood-glam changing rooms, but the veggie coffee shop, stripy jumpsuits and embroidered t-shirts are also right up our street. Crafty? Bag an easy-sew pattern with a retro vibe.

Newly moved in to expanded digs on rue des Archive, La Garçonnière is a one-stop shop for the dapper Parisien. Pick up Scandi holdalls, clever slogan jumpers, or oversized teddies for your mini-me. Linger in the deli corner, before a shave and a trim at the barber’s. The concept store also hosts seasonal pop-ups, whisky-tasting evenings… and spirited table-football matches.

A temple to the candid photographer’s oeuvre, the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson has joined the ranks of cultural hotspots in the Marais – the new locale has twice the exhibition space of the old HQ. Proceedings kick off with a retrospective of Martine Franck’s work, seven years in the making. Expect tender, sculptural work from the prolific photographer who was so much more than Henri’s wife.

The tout-Paris rubs shoulders at this swish granite and marble joint, open right onto the street. It’s standing room-only, and you’ll need sharp elbows to make your way to the bar – but that’s all part of the fun. Wash down small plates (chickpea galette, scallop tartare) with a fine selection of natural wines, then party the night away at Hôtel Bourbon, handily at the same address.