Get a Taste of Paris Without Leaving NYC
French culture is present and strong in New York City, and much more than Lady Liberty, France’s gift given to the U.S. in 1884 to signify the Franco-American friendship. You can truly have a little bit of France without leaving especially now that Little Paris, on Centre Street, was officially recognized summer of 2021, and the fact that between 70,000 and 80,000 French nationals live in New York City doesn’t hurt in creating that French vibe.
The northern part of Centre Street is home to many French businesses as well as Coucou French Classes, a language school instrumental in getting the street recognized as Little Paris. It’s like waking up in the middle of Paris with the old police headquarters building – its design inspired by Paris’ L’Hotel de Ville (City Hall) – takes up a large part of one side of the street.
If you find yourself on this part of Centre Street, you will find great French pastries, lite bites, and great coffee at Café Maman. Next door to the café, Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels is a cute wine bar with one of the best selections of French wines in the city. And the French fashion boutique, Clic, is located on the corner near Spring Street. Literally, signs of Paris are all around, Little Paris has Paris-inspired street signs and plenty of French flags up along the street. Making a strop here, you could probably convince some friends and Instagram followers that you have hopped across the Atlantic and that you’re living it up in Paris.
Not far from Centre Street on Spring Street you will find The French Cheese Board, which has the best selection of French Cheeses at perhaps the most affordable prices I’ve ever seen in the city. They tell me this is because the French Agricultural Ministry helps to subsidize the prices to encourage Americans to appreciate amazing cheese – and it works! I’ve shopped there about four times in the last few months! It’s so good!
Elsewhere in the city, you can find more wine, at the Burgundy Wine Company, which sells a variety of wines from France’s Burgundy Wine Region. They have my favorite of course, Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Head over to 143 W 26th Street and tell them I sent you!
For great French bread, I recommend Mille Feuille Bakery, which has the most authentic baguettes I’ve ever had. There are a few different locations around the city. You can purchase pastries as well as grab a cup of coffee and breakfast. Just remember to take a moment to relax and dream of France while you bit into your fresh French baguette or pastry.
Further uptown, not far from the Guggenheim Museum on 5th Avenue, is the French Embassy, home to a wonderful bookstore, Albertine. It is the only bookstore in New York devoted solely to books in French and English, including more than 14,000 contemporary and classic titles from 30 French-speaking countries. It’s one of the most beautiful bookstores I have ever seen. They have some amazing gifts and postcards, too.
So, visit New York City to explore its popular French spots. Let the French culture inspire you to visit Paris one day.
Catch up with Vacationer’s new web series, Check Your Luggage Ep. 3, where host Justin T. Russo shows you how to have a very French day out in New York City.
