In 2019, I spent a summer in Paris living with my then-boyfriend (now husband!). Below is a blog post about date ideas in Paris that I wrote during that time, but just got around to publishing now. Enjoy!
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One thing I learned about moving to Europe with my boyfriend is that having date night in Paris was super important for our relationship. Reserving a special night, just for us, outside the usual living routine gave us the perfect excuse to be cheesy romantic and discover hidden gems in Paris.
If you’re looking for fantastic date ideas in Paris, you’re in luck! This post is not going to be another article listing out tourist attractions and claiming they’re the best date ideas in Paris. These dates were actual things that my boyfriend and I planned out and went on—no tourists allowed!
My favorite dates in Paris
Dinner at Derrière (3rd arr.): This quirky restaurant was just down the street from our apartment in Le Marais. We made a reservation (they book up quick!) and got there early to enjoy a cocktail at Andy Wahloo. Happy I dressed up nice (no tennis shoes or T-shirt’s to be seen here), I fell in love wit the eclectic décor with a ping pong table in the middle of the room. The menu is artistic and constantly changing. I had possibly the best risotto I’ve ever tasted as well as amazing dessert.
Pink Flamingo Pizza on Canal San Martin (10th arr.) This date idea is possibly the most adorable and the most Parisian all at the same time. On any given night during the summer, hordes of Parisians can be found picnicking and drinking wine on the Canal San Martin well into the evening. The best way to do it we found is by ordering a thin crust pizza from Pink Flamingo Pizza, getting a pink balloon (for €2) and sitting on the canal. The delivery guys will find you based on the hot pink balloon and bring fresh pizza to your spot. It’s so fun and unique! We were even lucky to find a bottle of “Pink Flamingo” rosé at a nearby grocery store to complete our meal. The date was so perfect!
2022 Note: while the pizza spot has since closed, the canal is as adorable as possible and a great spot for a picnic.
Boating at Bois Du Boulogne (16th arr.): In the running for my favorite park in Paris, Bois du Boulogne makes for a perfect Parisian date! At the north lake, you can rent boats and picnic on the water. Rowing boats was so fun. We saw otters, swans and views of the Eiffel Tower! Boat rental is open most days from 10am – 6pm, but you should go early to avoid a line or wait on weekends. Bring an ID or €50 with you as a deposit on the boat. We happily spent 2 hours out on the water enjoying the sun. Nearby you can also grab a drink on the Chalet des Iles island restaurant.
Pack a picnic (anywhere!): Picnicking in Paris is the national sport of Parisians during the summer. Upon arriving to the city, I’ve quickly adopted this popular Parisian pastime. Nearly every week—sometimes several times a weekend—my boyfriend and I could be found a bottle of wine in hand lounging in the grass and people watching. The key to picnicking in Paris is finding some shade, slowing down, and bringing enough wine. If you want to get super cheesy, you can go to Champs de Mars and rest in front of the Eiffel Tower (there’s several picnic delivery services that cater to that area), or you can take a more local route and head to some of more chill parks like Place Vosage, Parc Butte Chamont or Parc Monceau (SP!!). Here’s a complete list of all my favorite places to picnic in Paris.
Cocktails at Candelaria (3rd arr). Finding a good beer, let alone cocktail, in Paris proved somewhat difficult. Parisians seem to prefer wine above all things. Nevertheless we fell in love with THIS LIST of speakeasys and made an evening of trying out a few. Lavomatic (hidden behind a laundry mat) was fun to visit. But the legit tasty cocktails of Candelaria were hard to beat. Hidden behind a taco shop, this speakeasy bar is upscale and classy. The tacos are worth a try, or head over after dinner just for drinks.
Museum LVF (16th arr.) I’m obsessed with this museum. OBSESSED. I hands down think it’s the best museum in Paris and a fantastic date night at that! We went on a Friday evening when the museum was open late and had a series of jazz shows planned. We snacked on bites from a food truck and sipped on limoncello spritz and beer from the vendors. Regardless of whether you can attend on a scheduled event night, the museum has a wonderful collection of immersive modern and contemporary art. The building is impressive. We happily got lost exploring its glass sail architecture and commenting on the art.
Live music at La Felicita Food Hall (13th arr). Any restaurant by the Big Mamma Group is amazing in my book and worth of a date night. Throw live music into the mix and you’ve got yourself an amazing evening ahead. Visiting La Felicita Food Hall exceeded expectations on all fronts. During the weekends, the food hall plans all sorts of live music and DJs to accompany its amazing Italian food. Roam around the hall to select between fresh made pasta and oven baked Neapolitan pizza to charcuterie boards and even poke! They have an excellent selection of beer, wines and some of my favorite cocktails in Paris. Pro tips: Grab a table by the live music, bring cards and save room for dessert.
“How to be Parisian in 1 Hour” (9th arr.) Whether you’re living in Paris long term or just visiting, a trip to see this show is a well spent date! Tickets cost about €30 each and guarantee a boatload of laughs. Told by a Parisian in English, the show describes how Parisians act in different situations like on the Metro, in a restaurant, at a club. I was legit crying throughout the show because the one-man act was so funny. If you’ve spent any amount of time in Paris, the show will resonate and make for a great date night.
