If you follow international fashion bloggers on Instagram, chances are, you would have seen Café Kitsuné by Maison Kitsuné on their timelines before. That iconic white cup with a sharp black font – probably taken against the row of trees, or on a squarish black table with some catalogues in the background. Yipe, that is it.

Developed by founders Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki, this small stand-up coffee bar has a clean and simple design with the charm of a quaint European café. This is Maison Kitsuné’s second coffee shop, after the success of its first outlet in Tokyo.

Located in the beautiful Jardin du Palais Royal, Cafe Kitsuné is a hot favourite amongst many, and is coveted for its matcha latte and serenity.

You will see a fair mix of locals and visitors here at this tiny cafe; we may not speak the same languages, but we can appreciate good coffee altogether.

Birds fly low here, and sun rays pierce through the densely-lined rows of trees. Admittedly, Cafe Kitsuné’s outdoor seats are not the most comfortable, especially during the bitter winter. Yet, this lovely spot in the famous Parisian garden is one quaint location to recharge at.

With a good book in hand, and the love of your life, an hour at Cafe Kitsuné can be a marvellous time-out from all that walking in the city.

We were there in autumn and though very chilly, we were completely in love with the serenity and quietness of the cafe; like nothing else mattered, except time with our loved ones over lattes. Of course, the lattes are what you must have.

To be honest though, we did not quite enjoy our Matcha Latte, but that is only because we prefer ours stronger with a heavier matcha taste. But the Flat White was certainly a comforting cuppa on that cold morning; with photogenic latte art, no less.

Cafe Kitsuné Paris
51 Galerie de Montpensier, 75001 Paris
Tel: +33 1 40 15 62 31
Mon to Fri: 9.30am – 6pm, 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Pyramides

Paris is always a good idea. There is something magical about the City of Love; an irresistible charm, an inexplicable beauty. Every turn is a surprise, and every corner is picturesque. Taking a trip to Paris is akin to picking up an international best-selling novel – with every chapter, you get sucked in even more, and you never want to put the book down; you only want to read on. It is like a never-ending quest to reach the ends of the city, and the only wish is for time to stand still so that you can be lost in this awe-inspiring spot on the globe.

Exploring Paris was an exhilarating experience for us, and apart from the language barrier that had us stuck in several situations and left us to communicate via sign languages, our week at Paris was nothing short of fulfilling. For first timers to the city, here are some of the things that you can do and see when you have 48 hours in Paris.

When in Paris, sip luxe hot chocolate at Angelina and queue up for world famous Ladurée macarons. But if you are a fan of heterogeneity, you will be delighted to know that Paris is a land of infinite possibilities when it comes to artisan sweets.

Patisseries and boulangeries are everywhere, and no matter which street you are on, you will be spoilt rotten for choices. You may not have guessed, but even the most basic croissant from any random shop in the regular Parisian neighborhood can easily beat Singapore’s best. We also went to sugar heaven with the best lemon meringue tarts and berry crumbles we ever tasted in our lives.

Paris is also home to many fashion giants. Spend a day or two over endless shopping along Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Montaigne and Galeries LaFayette. You will be thrilled to know that Paris has the most competitive prices for luxury items, so please remember to increase your credit card limit before your trip. Chanel lovers, gear up and be prepared for long queues and don’t forget to visit the one-and-only Coco Chanel house at 31 Rue Cambon.

Take morning strolls along River Seine, and cross over to Notre Dame, also known as “Our Lady of Paris”. Be in awe of the cathedral’s French Gothic architecture and park yourself on the outdoor benches for a session of people-watching and a little chat with your lover.

Never leave Paris without having a meal at Le Relais de L’Entrecôte. This famous steakhouse has only one item on the menu – an awesome steak frites. The queue is easily an hour during meal times, so make sure to get there early.

Cafe Constant is another of our favourite dining spot in Paris. It is a small two-level bistro by Christian Constant (who also owns three other restaurants on the same street), and it serves excellent good. Go during lunch for the value-for-money sets – a 2-course lunch is only €16.

And a trip to Paris would not be complete without endless photo moments with Eiffel Tower – the world’s greatest beauty. No amount of words can articulate the majestic feeling of standing before the iconic structure, for its grandeur is one-of-its-kind, and nothing else comes close to being right there at Tour Eiffel Paris – at that part of the world where everyone dreams to be.

There is really nothing quite like leading the high life in Paris – even breathing the Parisian air is quite a frivolousness that we will indulge in all over again, and again.