Cool Kids Are Into Art: A Paris Guide

Paris has reclaimed its position as the centre of the European art world. Post-Brexit, galleries, auction houses, collectors and institutions have largely converged on the same conclusion: here is where things are happening. I could write ten versions of this guide and still leave out places I love. Consider this a starting point, a love letter, and perhaps a reason to book another trip :)

1. Bourse du Commerce — Pinault Collection

In 2021, François Pinault opened his Paris collection inside a building masterfully adapted by Tadao Ando. A monumental concrete cylinder now sits within the eighteenth-century Bourse du Commerce, creating one of the most compelling architectural dialogues in the city. The exhibitions are consistently excellent, but the building itself is the real masterpiece. It remains my favourite museum stop in Paris.

2. Fondation Louis Vuitton

Frank Gehry's Fondation Louis Vuitton is one of the most extraordinary buildings in Paris. Its glass sails seem to float, appearing almost different from every angle. Inside, Bernard Arnault’s collection sits alongside a temporary programme that consistently delivers major international exhibitions. One of the most influential cultural institutions in the world.

3. Ojii & Bar Omi

Ojii sits discreetly behind a black lacquered door and delivers one of the most beautiful dining rooms in Paris. Gold-leaf details by Jenna Kaes, acid-etched mirrors and deep red lacquered walls create an atmosphere somewhere between a film set and a private residence.

Its younger sibling, Bar Omi, near Place Vendôme, offers sushi and wine in an intimate 1980s-inspired interior designed by Fanny Perrier.

4. Hôtel Costes

Hôtel Costes is as much a mood as it is a hotel. Jacques Garcia’s interiors, from crimson velvet and dark woods to heavy drapery and softly lit courtyards, have defined a certain vision of Parisian glamour for decades. The remarkable thing is that it still works. It feels timeless precisely because it was never trying to be contemporary. The courtyard remains one of the great people-watching spots in Paris.

5. Sainte-Chapelle

Everyone queues for Notre-Dame. Yet just around the corner lies Sainte-Chapelle. Built by Louis IX in the thirteenth century to house the Crown of Thorns, the chapel contains fifteen towering stained-glass windows that make the entire interior glow from within, like the inside of a jewel. One of the most extraordinary spaces in Paris.

6. Institut Giacometti

Alberto Giacometti spent more than forty years working in the same modest Montparnasse studio, even as he became one of the defining artists of the twentieth century. The Institut Giacometti offers something increasingly rare: an intimate encounter with an artist’s world. Sculptures, drawings, archival materials and reconstructions of the studio create a deeply personal experience, far removed from the scale of a major museum.

7. Gallery Hopping — Le Marais & the 8th Arr.

Two of my favourite gallery districts are Le Marais and the 8th arrondissement.

In Le Marais, you’ll find Perrotin, Thaddaeus Ropac and a dense concentration of contemporary galleries, often tucked inside beautiful hôtels particuliers. The 8th arrondissement, particularly around Avenue Matignon, offers a more established ecosystem of blue-chip galleries, auction houses and secondary-market specialists.

8. Mamiche

Mamiche belongs to that category of Paris institutions dedicated to doing simple things exceptionally well. The croissants are among the city’s best, the pain au chocolat is worth the queue. There is no better way to start a day in Paris.

9. Hôtel Massé

Hôtel Massé feels like a collaborative artwork. The founders invited artists, architects and craftspeople to contribute individual elements. Christian Rosa canvases, vintage lighting, burgundy corridors, okoumé wood and 1970s carpets create a space that feels collected rather than designed.

10. Silencio

Designed by David Lynch, Silencio feels exactly how one might expect a David Lynch nightclub to feel: cinematic, mysterious and slightly surreal. Gold surfaces, unexpected materials and dimly lit corners create the impression that something interesting is either about to happen or has just happened. Still one of the city’s most enduring late-night addresses.

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