CURIOCITY | Paris with Ghazal Yazdanparast
Paris, France
Curiocity Guides celebrates cities, travel, friendships and the joy of the journey. We’ve been around the globe, so you can travel like a local.
“The best part of any journey are the friends you make along the way”
Meet Ghazal Yazdanparast
Ghazal is the founder and owner of Bleu Fish Collective - A creative agency that brings together bold ideas, partnerships and brand experiences for global marketing and communications.
Hi Ghazal, Tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hi Susan! I moved to Paris from Miami a little over a year ago, looking for a change in culture and quality of life and it’s been a wild experience so far!
I’m a marketing consultant, I work on brand partnerships and experiential activations. I’ve been working in hospitality and events for the past 15+ years, and love developing a brand's story through unique collaborations and social content. I’ve worked with luxury hotels, restaurants and retail brands and now I’m really lucky that I get to work remotely, taking on clients in the US and globally.
And no, the move was not “Emily in Paris” influenced! ; )
I’ve met incredibly welcoming French locals, and some expat friends as well to share the joys of settling into a foreign country.
Curiocity Guides likes to celebrate friendships made while out in the real world. Can you share with us your memory of how we first met?
We met in Miami through a mutual friend about 5 years ago! And we barely had a chance to talk as our dogs didn’t get along almost immediately. But once we calmed them down, we got to share coffee and have been friends since.
We know Paris is broken down into arrondissements. What are some of your favorites and why?
My favorite is the 9eme, and not just because I live there. The 9th feels central to all of Paris, I can easily walk to La Seine and Tuileries with my dog.
I can walk up to Montmarte which feels like a classic French film scene every time. and its an easy metro ride to the Left Bank. There’s a mix of classic and hipster new, you have all the markets you need on rue des Martyres, and there are also lots of great bars in the Pigalle area.
And it is home to great design architects like Luis Laplace and Joseph Dirand so the design influence is there.
Another favorite neighborhood is the Marais in the 3eme arrondissement, there are charming narrow streets, hidden gems for shopping, and tons of art galleries. I love the Centre Pompidou museum with Atelier Brancusi just in front of it, and walking around Place de Vosges.
Right now the 10th and 11eme are just the best for innovative food & wine. Both have great natural wine bars, and ethnic spots when I’m craving different flavors.
I guess it’s safe to say I’m a Right Bank girl, but there’s definitely favorites on the Rive Gauche!
If we were planning a visit to Paris for a holiday could you give us your top recommendations on where to stay? We know you can guide us in the right direction.
1. I love La Fantasie hotel in the 9th, its whimsical and so well situated in the neighborhood. It just opened in 2023, and they maintained the French charm but with an upgraded They are one of the few hotels that have a rooftop bar and garden. Michelin star chef Dominique Crenn (of SF) has opened Golden Poppy, her first Parisian restaurant. It’s also a great hideaway for some tea or a glass of wine in the garden.
2. I stayed at Hotel Amour a couple years ago before moving to Paris and absolutely love the playfulness vibe, each room is designed different and the service is great. The one in the 10th has a lively bar and music series, with a hidden bar. The one in the 9th has a terrace and lush courtyard for brunch.
3. Hôtel Dame des Arts as a fun rooftop bar, secret garden and views of the Eiffel Tower in the 6th!
Ok, we can’t mention Paris without starting with Coffee! What are your top places to get a great café!
Dreamin’ Man has perfected the art of coffee and they have amazing pastries
KB Roasters is a neighborhood spot in the 9th that becomes the expats office during the day (I work from here a lot) and really good people watching spot on the weekends on the terrace.
If you’re walking around the city, and see a Noir coffee shop, go for it. It’s one of the few chains I would recommend
I love Telescope in the 1st to focus on the coffee and conversations.
Ten Belles has amazing breads and coffee, there’s a few locations but my favorite is the one by the canal.
Passager Café s cozy and everything is so good here
Blondie is new-ish and roast their own coffee, they make great sandwiches and brunch
Since we are talking to a true foodie we would especially love your thoughts here!
What are your top 9 must taste spots?
Double Dragon blew me away with the vibrant flavors. The chefs/sisters are half Filipina, Half French and the menu presents this amazing twist on the classics. They’re also the team behind Le Servan which is also a French bistro with Asian flavors.
Early June is a favorite, they host traveling chefs for a few weeks at a time so its always an experience. They don’t take reservation but you can have a drink next door while you wait.
Le Bon Georges is a classic but elevated bistro, with a long wine list.
Le Dauphin is a French tapas bar and everything I’ve had there has given me an oh wow reaction, and they have incredible wine options
Bistro Paul Bert I feel like everyone knows about Paul Bert, but I think about their steak frites all the time. Everything is so freaking good, it has a classic French ambiance and everyone is super friendly
Les Enfants Du Marché is in an outdoor market called Marché des Enfants Rouges, and has small plates that feel like fine dining but you’re amongst this outdoor energy that lovely.
Kodawari Tsukiji is one of the best ramen spots in Paris, but inside its really like being in a traditional fish market in Tokyo. There’s always a line, but its worth it. It’s fun and chaotic and you’ll love it.
Carnis Cantine is on rue des Martyrs in the 9th, and such a cozy comforting spot thats frequented by locals. It’s home cooking with fresh ingredients, and I recommend going for the special of the day.
Clamato is incredible for raw seafood, but hard to get into as they don’t take reservations. You can put your name on the list and have natural wines at Septime La Cave just across the street, which is another favorite for natural wine and snacks.
Those all sound so amazing and delicious!
We know you are a fellow dog lover, are there any dog friendly café spots?
Paris doesn’t have laws against dogs inside restaurants, so it’s really up to each place to decide but the great thing is with so many terraces, there’s always a place for our furry kids.
I like taking Soraya to casual bistros like Le Mansart, Le Mary Celeste or Juste
We also love going to walk around Canal Saint-Martin, and there’s a small dog park for her to run around a bit. HIP Paris, a local blog just put out an accurate post about having a dog in Paris thats helpful too.
One of my favorite things to do when I arrive in an area is to take a long walk and just absorb all the new sounds, sights, and smells. Do you have any treasured walks to take it all in?
This might be one of my favorite things about living in Paris! You can just walk with no plan, no direction, and you will discover so much getting lost in the streets. I love finding shops and restaurants this way, and its my favorite thing to do on the weekends.
One favorite path is to start at OFR bookstore explore a bit inside, then stop by their new gallery in front of the Carreau du Temple. I might grab coffee at Dreamin Man next door, and stop by the park there.
Then I walk over to Merci concept store which I love. In between this walk, there’s a lot of charming streets and bistros to hang out in.
I also love walking to Le Seine from home, walking through the 2nd arrondissement and I always discover a new Asian spot to try.
On the weekends, I really like exploring Saint Germain, walking through rue du Bac or rue de Grenelle and then finding the smaller streets for hidden shops and galleries.
10 Reasons Rue Du Bac Is The Best Street In Paris For First Time Visitors
Let’s talk art and culture, where do you like to go to get Inspired?
There is so much art & culture in Paris, it’s almost overwhelming but in a good way. There’s always a new exhibit to see, or a gallery to casually walk into. Most of the time I’m just fascinated to see the architecture and understand the history of the museum spaces. I haven’t even seen them all, but some of my favorites:
Centre Pompidou I love it here because you have multiple floors of works, a rooftop restaurant and beautiful views of the city. You actually don’t need a ticket to take the escalator up for the views.
Musée des Arts Decoratifs MAD is on the west side of the Louvre, and focuses on design and decorative arts.
La Galerie Dior I was not expecting to love it here, but the heritage of Christian Dior and his development of the House is so well curated. Then there’s an exhibit of his iconic collection and his successors. It’s just magical and so worth it. Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection
Le Bal This is an independent space for contemporary image in all its forms – photography, video, film and new media.
I love checking out local art, galleries, and of course furniture and antique shops do you have some you can suggest?
The best place for an all day hunting experience is Les Puces de Saint-Ouen This is the largest area of antiques and second hand dealers, the higher end ones are in the indoor markets.
There’s cafe’s and bistros, you can really make a day out of it. It’s an interior designer's dream! @pucesdeparissaintouen
Are there any great day trips you can recommend?
I once took the train to Étretat, which was about 2 and half hours by train from Paris. I got there in the morning, hiked the cliffs a bit, had the most incredible oysters, laid out by the beach and got home by 9pm. It was such a memorable day and I love how the water was just a few hours away.
You can also take a train to Giverny, just an hour away, to see the most vibrant gardens and house of Monet.
There are two bed & breakfasts I really want to try, also about an hour away from Paris: D’UNE ÎLE and Domaine les Bruyères They look so romantic and idyllic.
Merci, Ghazal
I think we all might of just caught the travel bug! I know I am ready to book my next flight to Paris!
If you are planning on getting away check out our curated collection of TRAVEL ESSENTIALS to help make your holiday stress free.
To learn more about Ghazal’s inspiring work, check out the links below.
Check out Ghazal’s work!
