Paris is maligned enough that it is underrated

Paris is one of my favorite cities and one that I always long to return to. You don't need to stay at palace hotels or eat at Michelin stars to have a great time. Here what I try to do to ensure I have a nice trip.

Nice lunches and casual dinners

From a French exchange I did in HS, I learned that in France that the main meal of the day is lunch. When I go to Paris, I aim to have my "fancy" meals at lunch and do a tiny, simple dinner. But not too elevated! I hate fussy fine dining with the long meals, tiny morsels, high price tag, and gratuitous foam. We've really enjoyed Pantruche, Parcelles, Clamato, and Mokonuts which are lovely options for 3 course-ish lunch. My favorite place has to be Les Enfants du Marche which is even more casual. Countertop seating, it's no frills other than the really amazing food. You don't need a lot of food, the baguettes sopping up the flavorful sauces is plenty to fill your stomach.

My favorite complement to fancy lunch is simple dinner at Cosi. Tasty sandwiches was amazing bread with nice options for soup and salad. To finish it off, a lovely carrot cake that wasn't too sweet.

Following your interests

I was leading the charge planning a visit with my parents, I was trying to find some activities that catered specifically to their interests not just the "top" spots for the city. For my dad who is a scientist, I thought he might like Musée des Arts et Métiers, which has old measurement devices and very large Foucault's pendulum. He ended up describing it as the "best museum he's ever been to". He was happy as a clam to have gone to here over the Louvre. I don't know if it's because of the extreme fame of some of these touristic sights but people treat Paris as a checklist and not reflect upon what they really like. Paris has a lot of breadth, don't forget to find what is exciting for you.

Early morning magic

If your interests aren't strongly aligned with staying up late, Paris in the morning is just lovely. It's a lovely time to explore and take pictures of the iconic architecture without the huge throngs of people. If you like running, there are some scenic parks to explore like Buttes Chaumont. When you are done, it's an optimal time to relax at a cafe with a warm beverage or beat the crowds at popular boulangeries.