Paris Design City Guide
During a recent visit to Paris, I took a deep dive into the earliest examples of design culture in the city's almost endless museums. I went back to visit some old friends (Les Arts Decoratifs) and got to know new ones (Musee des Annees 30). Along with some easy and elegant lunch and dinner options — and a fantastic hotel stay — we’ve crafted a guide that won’t disappoint or overwhelm.
Museums
From the unlimited options of culture available in Paris, each visit brought new inspiration, showcasing the best of France’s past and present. For this trip, we skipped the big obvious museums (and queues) for smaller, design focused visits.
Villa La Roche
Designed and built by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret between 1923 and 1925, Maison La Roche became an iconic example of modern architecture, showcasing Le Corbusier's "5 points of a new architecture" thanks to innovations like reinforced concrete. Serving both as a gallery for Raoul La Roche's art collection and his private residence, the building has earned its place as a historic monument in 1996, and UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2016.
8-10 Sq. du Dr Blanche
75016 Paris, France
Buy tickets here.
Hotel de la Marine
This newly opened museum is located in central Paris at Place de la Concorde. It is the former home of the royal Garde-Meuble, the appointed office responsible for storing the King's furniture, tapestries, and art objects. The Hôtel de la Marine invites guests to discover the 18th-century living quarters of the Garde-Meuble officials, meticulously restored to their original state, in rooms perfectly restored and decorated from floor to ceiling.
2 Pl. de la Concorde
75008 Paris, France
Buy tickets here.
Musée des Arts Décoratifs
A design academic’s dream, the collection spans from the Middle Ages to contemporary design. It features impressive period rooms, objects, jewelry, textiles, and special exhibitions within this remarkable institution. The Art Deco and Art Nouveau rooms are particularly fantastic, as is the stunning recreation of Jeanne Lanvin’s private apartment which is viewed from a window, a unique outside-looking-in perspective (though we do wish we could get a better look). The iconic chairs collection is accessible through a winding trip up to the top floors and should not be missed. Another great aspect of the museum is its fabulously curated shop on the ground floor, which offering an excellent selection of fashion, design, and architecture books.
107 Rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris, France
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Musee des Annees 30
About a 30 minute metro ride outside of Paris, the Musee des Annees 30 focuses on furniture, fine arts, decorative arts, and industrial arts of the 1930s. It’s a small, quick-visit museum and an excellent way to discover the Boulogne-Billancourt neighborhood. Visit Sundays and pass through the Marché Escudier flea market on 9 boulevard Jean Jaurès.
Médiathèque Landowski
28 Av. André Morizet
92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
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Petit Palais
Constructed for the 1900 Paris Exposition, the Petit Palais was designated as a fine arts museum to display the City of Paris's extensive art collections. Spanning works from Antiquity to the early 20th century, the museum offers a broad artistic overview of furniture. The Art Nouveau collection is also quite unique and features an array of exquisite pieces that highlight the innovative designs and craftsmanship characteristic of the era.
Av. Winston Churchill
75008 Paris, France
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Galleries
Moving into the city’s contemporary scene, here are our go-to galleries, our selections for anyone interested in the latest trends in materials and visual culture.
Ketabi Bourdet
A newer addition in the historic art and furniture gallery district of Saint Germain des Prés in Paris's 6th arrondissement, Ketabi Bourdet features French and international design from the 1980s and 90s, including works by Philippe Starck, Martin Szekely, Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Robert Wilson, among others.
22 Pass. Dauphine
75006 Paris, France
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Galerie SCENE OUVERTE
One of our favorite galleries, run by the lovely Laurence Bonnel, Scene Ouverte presents young artist/designers who create uber-conemporary and unique furniture and objects of art. We’ve discovered some of our favorite designers here, such as Léa Mestres and Rino Claessens.
72 Rue Mazarine
75006 Paris, France
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Galerie kreo
One of the most influential galleries in the world of design, kreo features contemporary works by established designers like Virgil Abloh, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, as well as French and Italian 20th century lighting. Always a good exhibition to see here.
31 Rue Dauphine
75006 Paris, France
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More Favorites
Galerie BSL
14 Rue des Beaux Arts
75006 Paris, France
GALERIE JAG
14, Avenue de la Bourdonnais
75007 Paris, France
Galerie Negropontes
14-16 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau
75001 Paris, France
Galerie Patrick Seguin
5 Rue des Taillandiers
75011 Paris, France
Galerie Lefebvre & Fils
24, rue du Bac
75007 Paris, France
Where We Stayed
We loved our stay at the SO/Paris, the perfect hotel for pampering and relaxation after trekking miles from gallery to museum. Read our full review here.
SO/Paris
10 Rue Agrippa d'Aubigné
75004 Paris, France
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Where We Ate
Butterfly Pâtisserie
The recently opened lunch spot at the famed Hôtel de Crillon was everything we wanted for an elegant and fabulous midday break. We highly recommend the salmon, the pâté, and of course any of their perfect pastries.
Hôtel de Crillon
10 Pl. de la Concorde
75008 Paris, France
Slowe wellness house
If you find yourself arriving to Paris via the Gare du Nord, you can pop over Slowe for a coffee, healthy lunch, and a catch up on your emails in a cute designed space (in a not-so-cute part of town). They also offer pilates and yoga classes.
30 Rue d'Enghien
75010 Paris, France
Residence Kann
Recommended to us by our Paris-based contributor Linnéa Ruiz Mutikainen, this casual coffee spot is another healthy lunch spot for anyone eager for a healthy LA-style lunch, in a French bistro. environment.
28 Rue des Vinaigriers
75010 Paris, France
Recoin
Another suggestion from Linnéa, Recoin is an ambient neighbourhood bistro in the Saint-Ambroise area, ideal for the natural wine enthusiast or whoever seeking fresh, seasonal cuisine. Perhaps both. Opt for an evening visit to experience the vibrant restaurant-to-bar transition, filled with tapas-inspired treats on the menu. And for those driven by nostalgia, they play The Doors.
60 Rue Saint Sabin
75011 Paris