Unmissable restaurants and favorite watering holes?

Sequoia Scavullo: Le Bec Fin – Chez Saïd feels like you’ve walked into someone’s home, where tradition meets a touch of elegance. The couscous they serve isn’t just food – it’s like a warm embrace. I didn’t even like merguez sausage before, but here it’s something else: perfectly spiced and comforting. The vibe is relaxed and unpretentious. The décor is very pleasing to the eye. The serving dishes for the sauces are also beautiful, if you’re someone who takes pleasure those kinds of details.

Kémia is all about simplicity, and that’s what makes it so good. The menu is short, so there’s no stress in choosing, you just know everything is fresh and thoughtfully made. It’s a lesson in how, sometimes, less is more. The focus is on the quality of each dish. It’s a little reminder that restraint can create clarity – in both food and life.

Apolonia Sokol: A nice, casual place for carefully selected natural wines and fresh food is La Chope des Artistes. It has a very lively ambiance – one of a kind in Paris – and lots of artists hang out there, from musicians and performers to filmmakers, painters, and models. It’s a place where everyone is cool and friendly. The night can never go wrong at La Chope!

La Corvée is a non-profit gallery founded in a laundromat. Featuring shows by up-and-coming artists, such as Inès Di Folco Jemni and Camille Soualem, La Corvée offers workshops for children and adults as well as a residency program for experimental chefs of haute cuisine. So, if you happen to pop in, you might be lucky enough to experience delicious food, great art, and a quick wash!

A fun place in Montmartre near my studio is L’Hôtel Particulier on Avenue Junot. It’s quite a pompous mansion but has a pastoral twist, with chickens walking around freely. I enjoy going there for a cocktail, especially when Paris is so hot during the summer; the garden is beautiful, lush, and very refreshing. My studio is next door at Le Bateau-Lavoir, where Pablo Picasso painted Les Demoiselles d’Avignon in 1907.

The best places to shop?

SS: There’s something magical about lighting a Diptyque candle. It’s not just the scent, it’s the whole process: from the packaging to striking their long matches to watching the flame slowly melt away the candle. Walking into a Diptyque store is like stepping into an old attic full of forgotten secrets. Each fragrance feels like it holds a story, unlocking memories you didn’t even know you had.

Then there’s Buly. This place is like stepping into another century, but with a modern twist. It’s got this old-world elegance, yet there’s something rebellious about it, too. Their lotions and perfumes feel like something kings and queens would have used, but somehow they feel current.

The Puces de Paris Saint-Ouen is a universe of its own. It’s gritty, chaotic, and sometimes full of knock-offs, but that’s all part of the magic. You’ve got to dig through to find the treasure.  The little shops around the long red carpet are the most fun. It’s all about the thrill of the hunt, finding something that still carries the energy of its past life.

AS: The most iconic vintage shop in the city is definitely the legendary Noir Kennedy. It’s owned by Sandrine, a strong, outspoken person and a very punkish Parisienne. The pieces she has there are as wild as they are rare. She also has classics such as vintage Thierry Mugler and Yves Saint Laurent. Going to Noir Kennedy will never disappoint.

The artist Vava Dudu makes beautiful upcycled outfits; she paints her poems on gorgeous creations, from silk dresses to Dr. Martens thigh-high boots. I adore her work, her creativity, her style, and her approach. It’s quite beautiful how people who are familiar with her art recognize each other on the streets. We are a community.

Rather than buy things, I prefer getting dressed by my stylist Harmony Coryn (that is her real name). She lends me outfits from her fashion bureau – it’s more sustainable that way. I own a handful of pieces that I consider art.

Nightlife hotspots?

SS: La Chope des Artistes is the kind of place where you leave your stress at the door. You come here to unwind, to talk about big ideas, or maybe just to get lost in the moment. The owners’ smiles are warm, like bright sunflowers on a cold Paris night. I’ve seen so many first-time lovers meet here – I swear the place has some kind of magic.

La Perle is like a bar in a well-tailored suit, always ready to turn into an impromptu party. You go in expecting a quiet drink – a margarita, maybe – and, before you know it, you’re part of a spontaneous street celebration. It’s the kind of place where you plan for a chill night and end up on some unexpected adventure.

Silencio isn’t just a club – it’s an experience. And it was designed by one of my heroes, David Lynch. Stepping inside feels like entering a parallel universe, where things are just a little off-kilter. There are two locations, and the vibe at both is equally fun.

AS: I don’t go out much at night; but I do make an exception for ParkingStone, the wild parties organized by my friend Simone Thiébaud. She brings together niche musicians and performers from all over the world, and anything can happen at these events. Anything!

What are your hidden gems in the city?

SS: Liquides Imaginaires isn’t just a perfume shop, it’s a place where you reinvent yourself. You walk in thinking you’re one person and leave with a scent that rewrites your personal story. It’s a great place to go after a breakup or a big life change.

Another place close to my heart is sans titre gallery, right next to the Centre Pompidou. You can always count on finding a good show here. The energy of the city feels like it’s buzzing just beneath the surface of the works.

Lastly, the Saint-Germain-des-Prés church. I went there once with my mom, and the place hit me hard. The air is thick with history, centuries of whispered prayers trapped in the stone. And, if you love the color blue, you’ll feel like you’ve found your own secret heaven.

AS: My hidden gem is a classic: the Musée de Cluny. It’s home to medieval art, and I am utterly fascinated by it. I can stay there for hours, learning more about those times I relate to so deeply. I’m convinced that the term ‘Dark Age’ is completely unfounded – I’m very inspired by medieval graphics and theories, and one of my heroes is Hildegard of Bingen.

The gallery representing me, The Pill, is opening a new space on Place de Valois. So, I guess Palais-Royal will be my next area of preference. There are a lot of priceless secrets to discover in the heart of Paris …