1 SUSTAINABLE DAY IN PARIS: ORGANIC FOOD, ECO-FRIENDLY SHOPPING, AND GREEN HOTELS
There a few places more romantic than Paris and we love the idea a sustainable honeymoon in the City of Lights while enjoying organic food, eco-friendly shopping, and green hotels. Today the lovely Alden Wicker, Editor in Chief of Ecocult, is sharing her curated list of great ideas for 1 sustainable day in Paris. With Ecocult dedicated to, “sustainable and eco-friendly living in NYC and beyond,” we are especially excited for Alden’s recommendations!
Hello friends! I know I’ve been away for a bit. I’m currently touring around Europe with my honey. And he’s been so sweet about letting me drag him around to check out some sustainable restaurants and shopping in each city we’ve visited.
Our first stop on our grand adventure was in France for a wedding weekend at a chateau outside of Paris. Because I’ve spent so much time in Paris (a weekend after a study-abroad in Nice, a full summer in college, and then a week visit when I was I think 24) I only gave us one full extra day in the City of Light.
Here’s my biggest tip: look for the word “bio.” It’s French for organic!
28 Rue de l’Arc de Triomphe
I couldn’t think of a better place to stay in Paris with your honey than this cozy and sustainable hotel, located a three minute’s walk from L’Arc de Triomphe and the grand shopping avenue, Champs-Élysées. Contrary to how many Parisians deal with Americans – with a barely concealed sarcasm and boredom – when I called to ask if we could arrive after midnight, a most cheerful receptionist assured us he would be there all night. When we did finally arrive, he told us the fully stocked bar was open 24 hours. We could take a drink there, or call down using the phone located right above the bed to have something taken up. Then he escorted us upstairs to our room.
We were elated. It was a small room, but as Illich the architect pointed out, cleverly designed to maximise the space. The bed, tucked into a blonde wood dividing wall and flanked by white curtains, had fluffy white pillows and comforter, and a supremely eco-friendly Coco-Mat mattress (they have a store in NYC and I’m seriously considering heading there). A wonderfully deep bathtub shower was next to it. I didn’t have time to take a bubble bath, but the shower had great pressure and was temperature sensitive. The sink basin was stone. The windows opened out onto the quiet and pretty street. We don’t have TV at home, so we switched on the flatscreen at the end of the bed to a nature station for a half hour while we got ready for bed.
The smoking area outside
In the morning we slept in, and then I called down and talked to another incredibly cheerful receptionist, who carefully took down my order from the continental buffet: organic yogurt, green tea, mimosas with fresh squeezed orange juice, chocolate crunch cereal (for Illich), and a huge bowl of fresh fruit and watermelon slices.
They provided tap water and glasses for us, instead of plastic bottle water
I checked out downstairs, and found several comfortable spaces to work and eat, plus – this being Paris – a beautiful outdoor space for smokers to enjoy a quiet smoke.
My only regret is that we couldn’t stay longer in such a wonderful hotel! Next time we come back, it’s this place, hands down.
Other Sustainable Hotels:
Solar Hotel – 22 Rue Boulard, 14th
Gavarni – 5 Rue Gavarni, 16th
I was determined to see the city with fresh sustainable-blogger eyes, so I split up from my fiancé (he went to check out the Pompidou) and met up with Holly Rose of the gorgeous blog Leotie Lovely. I pulled out a bike from Velib, it being the fastest way to travel in the city, even though it was raining. Luckily, Holly had the same idea so we both looked like drowned rats! The café we wanted to try, Gentle Gourmet Cafe at 24 Boulevard de la Bastille, was closed. Such is Paris – they do not care about your feelings or schedule – so we skipped breakfast and walked over to the offices of Veja, the popular French sustainable shoe brand.
Other ways to get around: Walking (it’s a gorgeous city; do it) or taking the Metro.
Veja has a beautiful, light-filled, four-story office building that you access through a courtyard. An employee made us some organic green tea in the break room while we waited for Sebastien to finish his meeting. He took us to the showroom, where we peeked at the latest collection, which uses a satin-y silk instead of leather.
Then he took us up to the next floor, where we interrupted a lunchtime yoga class. On the top floor, we found the office, where Veja employees get down to the business of selling and promoting the brand. It looks out over the French Army’s stables – Sebastien showed us a picture of a dozen horses being groomed in the morning, their shining dark-brown bodies contrasted against the grey cobblestones.
We could have walked to our lunchtime destination, but it was raining, so we took the metro a few stops to the 3rd arrondissement.
If you want a place to just wander around in, the 3rd arrondissement seems to be the place to be for the conscious set. Containing part of the upscale historical district (even more historical than the rest of Paris) Le Marais, it has plenty of organic cafés and juice bars, plus sustainable fashion.
Re-posted with permission / See original post here
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