The hidden gems of Paris.
We’re following Laila Soares around the beautiful city…
AWAYTOMARS now works with over 10,000 users over more than 90 different countries, making it one of the most multicultural fashion brands of our time. Our community of designers co-create all our collections, sharing inspirations and merging cultures together.
AWAYTOMARS is a huge community of people, all sharing one common passion. To create. We‘ve asked some of our members to share their personal experiences of life in their cities. This week we are having a personal tour of Paris with Laila Soares, a Brazilian fashion designer and director of her own brand.
The best croissants and pastries that I’ve ever eaten. The sugar croissant is the best! They’re also specialised on the sweet which names the store, the Merveilleux. It is a traditional sweet from north of France, Lille specifically, where I lived for two years. It’s made of flour, cream and bitter chocolate. As soon as I came back to Paris, I looked for them, because they’re delicious!
It is a Mexican canteen in the front and a pub hidden in the back. I usually go there to appreciate my friend Nelson d’Araujo, who’s the best DJ in Paris. If you go to this pub by any chance, go when he’s playing and order the “Guêpe verte” cocktail!
I love this restaurant, very pleasant, traditional food from south of France, simples and cosy. I love the Risotto d’épeautre et Saint Jasques. They have more than eighty kinds of spirits. The Pastis is a typical french drink, you really need to like anise if you want to drink it.
The Palais is the biggest contemporary art centre of Europe, and it is my favourite place in Paris. I usually go there to look for inspiration, loose myself (literally, it is enormous and if you walk into the forbidden rooms, you will get lost). Their art bookshop is also one of the best in Paris, with lots of independent fashion magazines.
Photography museum, I don’t need to check in advance what they’re releasing, it is always amazing!
Restaurant and cafe just next door to Grand Palais, I go there to have a cold tea or white wine, kind of the opportunity to pretend I’m on a Fellini movie!
British style park, completely different compared to the french parks, which are too tidy. It is a big park, with many hills, lakes, caverns, the grass is soft and the sunset is beautiful! Every time I go there, I also got o Rosa Bonheur, a pub located inside of the park, in one of the funniest places to dance in Paris. Before going to the park I also go to the Plateau (22 Rue des Alouettes, 75019 Paris), a little contemporary art centre, but fantastic!
I usually go for lunch on Sundays, at the same time that I go to the market (Marché d’Aligre). It is very nice, cheap and warm, plenty of handsome people!
During Paris Fashion Week, Laila will be sharing some of her favourite city spots on the official awaytomars instagram, so don’t miss out! We will also be posting a personal interview on Laila later this week, talking about her work as a designer and what brought her to Paris in the first place!
If you’re visiting the City this fashion week, make sure to check out our Paris picks from our permanent collection.
If you’re part of the AWAYTOMARS community and would like us to do a cover on you and your city, then email us at lydia@awaytomars.com.
