A Very Biased List of Cool Tours in Paris
Discovering lesser-known art scenes, finding Napoleon’s handwritten love letters, moveable feasting your way across the Left Bank & more.
At a recent dinner party in the 13th (shoutout to the ladies of my Cookbook Club), Kiana Tiese and I cozied up on a tufted midcentury sofa as she shared some of the requests she gets from Paris-bound travelers. The anxious flyers. The geographically confused. The girlies looking for curatorial cues. The first-time visitors chasing legit Parisian experiences.
Kiana offers a grab bag of expertise—the kind of tailored tips only someone who knows and loves Paris, in all its romantic, chaotic, and capricious moods, can offer. Whatever it is, she’s got you—within reason. Your secrets are safe with her, and no question is too basic.
“I’ve seen and heard it all—no worries.” — Kiana
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about travel advice and expertise—what they are, and who gets to claim them. Some people are triggered by influencers who parachute into a place, spend 48 hours, and dole out travel tips like free scoops of ice cream (on a sidewalk with natural wine, if you follow). I’m more forgiving of this kind of intel-sharing. I mean, I recently posted some of my fav discoveries in Amsterdam, and I’m no expert on the place. If you’re excited about a few spots and sharing them for free, why not?
If I were paying cash money, however, the equation would change. The only guides I’d trust are the ones who actually live in a place; who’ve spent years exploring it obsessively.
I happen to have creative, obsessive friends who are exactly that kind of expert: locals who can lead you beyond the Louvre to galleries featuring lesser-known, promising artists; who know where to find Napoleon’s handwritten love letters; who host cheese tastings guaranteed to curl your nose hairs; and who can get you into natural-wine-soaked pop-up collabs where you feel less like a voyeur and more like a Parisian just living the life.
In no particular order, here they are—with links to book their expert guidance the next time you’re in Paris.
PARIS, GENERAL
Kiana Tiese — Your Paris Planner (and unofficial weather oracle)
If you’ve ever wished your chic friend in Paris would plan your day for you, that’s Kiana. She’s a Brooklynite living in Paris for nearly a decade, sharing daily adventures (and weather forecasts). Keeping it as real, authentic and simple as possible is the goal of her services, aimed at women visiting Paris. You can book a 1:1 call to finalize your itinerary and ask all of the questions (a true “no judgment” zone). Or, you can ask Kiana to guide you around Paris on your first day to help you acclimate, master le métro, and beat jetlag. Says Kiana, “Follow along for weather and fashion reports so you don’t show up with the wrong shoes and a raspberry beret.”
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ART & CULTURE
Alexandra Weinress — Inside Paris’s Contemporary Art Scene
LA-native Alex, founder of The Seen Paris, spent her undergrad years studying art history in New York before her francophile heart led her to settle permanently in Paris. Today, The Seen Paris offers bespoke art experiences that can introduce visitors to the city’s contemporary art scene—gallery visits, artist studios, insider cultural spaces, and charming restaurants, too. Alex has a keen eye for both compelling art and excellent neo-bistros. If you’re interested in finding a piece of art to haul home, consider Alex your trusted advisor.
Jacqueline Ngo Mpii — African Culture & Fashion in Paris
Founder of Little Africa Travel and Little Africa Village concept store, Jacqueline has been a trailblazer in curating immersive group experiences that explore African cultures in Paris. She created the first fashion and history tour of the La Goutte d’Or neighborhood and has also penned two guidebooks. Her tours include Taste of Africa in Paris, where guests taste their way through the local food market, discover standout ingredients and produce, and meet the vendors behind them. The experience ends with tucking into a two-course meal at one of Jacqueline’s favorite local spots. The Made in Goutte d’Or — African Fashion and History Tour is a PFW favorite. It includes lunch or dinner, a signed copy of the city guide Afrique à Paris, and a visit to the Little Africa concept store.
Jessie Kanelos Weiner — Painting Paris in Watercolor
Paris might be an artist’s muse, but Jessie’s intimate retreats make it feel like your studio. The author of Thinking in Watercolor leads relaxed watercolor sessions with some of the city’s most inspiring corners. You’ll leave with sharper skills, a new way of seeing Paris, and a painting that doubles as your own little love letter to the place. Jessie also moonlights as a stand-up comedian, so expect plenty of belly laughs along the way.
FOOD
Sutanya Dacres — Paris for the Solo Girlies
“We’ve been told the best way to experience Paris is with a romantic partner. And while candlelit dinners and romantic picnics along the Seine are beautiful, I deeply believe that Paris is for the girlssss,” writes Sutanya.
The Dinner for One memoirist, podcaster, and exclusive supper club chef-hostess recently launched a tour designed for single ladies and solo travelers in Paris. Sutanya’s tour offers visitors a chance to spend a few hours with her on what she calls a “sensory tour” of her Paris. She’ll take you to her favorite spots, from charming streets to lovely cafés. You’ll sip wine, tear into artisanal pastries, chat life & love, and soak up the Paris that isn’t in the guidebooks.
Max Kreckel — A Left Bank Food Crawl
You might recognize Max of Club des Meals from his viral Instagram reels where he offers candid peeks inside great Paris restos, from excellent bistros like Quedubon to hot spots like Cypsèle. His tours are like tagging along with a Left Bank gourmand planning a dinner party, kicking off with visits to his fav food shops. From the Panthéon to the Pont Neuf, Max guides visitors through the Latin Quarter to meet six exceptional artisans (including three MOFs), tasting along the way and hearing the stories behind every craft. The finale is a private tasting on a historic two-masted péniche, with cold Champagne and the breads, cheeses, charcuterie, and pastries you’ve foraged along the way.
Emily Monaco — Cheese, Markets & French Food Lore
Emily (aka “That Cheese Girl”), journalist and co-host of the Fishwives of Paris podcast, made a name for herself telling meaty (and cheesy), deeply researched stories about French foods and makers. Her Canal Saint-Martin Market Tour is like a trip to the market with a friend who’s on a first-name basis with the cheesemonger, baker, and wine guy (because she is—you’re traipsing through her 10ème arrondissement backyard). Wander along the Canal with stops at Emily’s favorite organic bakery and seasonal chocolatier before finishing with a copious cheese tasting paired with wine from a purveyor specialized in lost or rare grape varieties, all inside the city’s largest covered market – an oft-overlooked gem.
History nerds love her Sweets in the Swamp tour through the Marais, and her Saint-Germain chocolate tour involves minimal walking, maximum cocoa nerdery.
Mathieu Mercier — Edible Parisian History
A former chef turned obsessive Paris historian, Mathieu stages edible time travel, sabering fine champagne bottles in antique Napoleonic helmets and all. In his words, he shares “the kind of stories no guidebook dares to print,” with thoughtful gourmet stops where every bite relates back to the city’s past. (I had the chance to do one of his tours and was legit shocked by all the Marais nooks and crannies Mathieu opened my eyes to—fascinating bits of history and food lore hiding in plain sight.)
Take your pick: Napoleon and Joséphine’s scandalous love story told through the Marais; a floating food salon on the Seine; or Saint-Germain’s revolutionary cafés, where ideas and nations were born. Def come hungry.
WINE
Tanisha Townsend — Champagne, Done Properly
This is not your average wine region tour. Tanisha (aka “Girl Meets Glass”) curates carefully mapped out insider days in Champagne. It all feels very VIP, beginning with a private chauffeur from your hotel and unfolding through a mix of prestigious grand houses and intimate grower estates. You can expect a leisurely regional lunch, with plenty of tastings, and a final glass at a Champagne bar, guided by one of the sharpest wine minds in France.
FLEA MARKETS & FASHION
Kate van den Boogert — The Puces, Decoded
The Puces de Saint-Ouen can intimidate even the savviest shoppers. It can easily feel like you’re getting swallowed up in the labyrinth of vendors—unless you’re with Kate, founder of Mrks. and author of The Paris Flea Market, Makers Paris, and Makers Paris 2. The NYT-featured author and OG local authority transforms the sprawling flea market into a curated visit, connecting you directly with dealers, designers, and the wider creative scene. Whether you’re treasure hunting for investment pieces or just curious to explore a Paris landmark, she demystifies the maze and opens doors you didn’t know existed.
Kasia Dietz — Fashion Designers of the Haut Marais
New Yorker-turned-Parisian, journalist and designer Kasia takes you inside the Haut Marais, where independent designers are still helping to define Paris style. You’ll meet creators in their ateliers, see where samples are made, and discover pieces that can be custom-tailored just for you. With over 16 years in Paris, Kasia bridges fashion journalism and access. Rather than off-the-rack, her tours feel totally couture.
FRENCH
Alexander Partridge — French teacher, fluency whisperer
I’ve been living in France for seven years and still, so many French phrases escape me. I genuinely appreciate my friend Alex’s quick Insta-tutorials, which never fail to teach, amuse—and occasionally feature Kenny G. For an even deeper dive into one of the world’s most beautiful and grammatically deranged languages, Alex is teaming up with Alexia of La French Tribe to host a three-day Paris retreat (just six to eight participants, so sign up quick!). It’s a chance for full immersion, with cultural outings like a true Parisian: the theatre, an art workshop, and plenty of the holy trinity of wine, champagne, and cheese.
Thank you! I'm at my local pub in Australia reading this and just booked the Left Bank food experience with Max later this month. Cheering!
Well, shoot, now I have to go back to Paris. It all sounds so cool and fun, and i love thay Paris means something different to every person.