Romantic things to do in Paris

Le Derriere (‘behind’, in English) welcomes locals and tourists with its warm décor inspired by a bohemian Parisian apartment. Pick either the living-room, the bedroom or the kitchen to enjoy an exquisite lobster whilst cozying up to your loved one on the comfy sofas.

After stints at some of the city’s coolest neo-bistros, chef Sota Atsumi has opened his own place – a pared-back, 40-seater restaurant, already tipped for Michelin stardom. Grounded in classic technique, his cooking’s boldly inventive; cuttlefish ragoût with French toast, perhaps, or crème caramel with grilled corn. Looking to impress the loved one in your life? A table here should do the trick.

Dress up for lunch at this resplendent two-star restaurant, modelled on the owner’s château in Bordeaux. Aperitifs are served in the Grand Salon, with its gilt-framed portraits and antiques, after which you’re ushered down to one of three stately dining rooms. Chef Christophe Pelé’s cooking is exquisite but audacious – including his eyebrow-raising ‘sweetbread KFC-style’.   

With not one, not two, but three shiny stars twinkling in its firmament, chef Alain Passard’s Arpège is a gastronomic legend. It’s also been a pioneer of high-end, vegetable-focused cooking, with exquisite dishes such as cauliflower velouté, delicate raviolis and the house bouquet de roses apple tart. Ingredients come direct from the restaurant’s own organic gardens.

Be whisked back to a more romantic age at this elegant mansion in Montmartre, built in 1830 by painter Ary Scheffer. The artistic and literary greats of the day attended his Friday-night soirées, including George Sands and Charles Dickens. Today, it’s an atmospheric time-capsule of mementos and objets d’art, with an utterly charming tearoom set in the rose-tangled courtyard, making it the perfect spot for a cup of tea this Valentine’s Day in Paris.

For jewellery that’s handmade in the Marais, drop by Nadia Azoug’s bijou workshop, where every piece can be customised on request. Her designs exude Parisian cool, without being overstated – like the tiny, eye-imprinted amulets and artfully-stacked gold bracelets. Rings run from simple, sculptural bands to proposal-worthy numbers, scattered with coloured gemstones or studded with tiny diamonds. Ideal for a Valentine's day gift.

The city’s fashion crowd adores florist Pierre Banchereau, who’s worked with the likes of Vuitton and Valentino. Known for his bold, generous bouquets, he often champions unlikely flowers; thanks to him, even the humble chrysanthemum’s made a comeback. Blooms are arranged on sculptural white plinths in his South Pigalle HQ, while a pair of resident parrots chatter in the background.

Scores of bridges cross the Seine, but Bir-Hakeim offers the ultimate backdrop for a Valentine's day in Paris selfie. It’s a soaring, steel-spanned affair with the metro running on the upper level, famed for its heart-racing views of the Eiffel Tower. Halfway along, a flight of stairs leads down to the Île aux Cygnes, a narrow, car-free islet, with a tree-lined promenade and benches for quiet tête-à-têtes.

The decadent cocktails at this Pigalle hotel bar reflects its racy past, with drinks named after celebrated courtesans and sirens. The signature Belle Otéro has a sprinkling of caviar powder, while the Dita blends yuzu liqueur with champagne and cardamom vodka. Jacques Garcia’s interior design is equally lavish, from the velvet-swathed, wood-panelled Reading Room to the gilded, Moorish-inspired lounge.