coffee walk is a series where i'll be sharing snippets of my mini adventures in different cities, usually while on tour. since i'm a musician, i'm on tour quite a bit and one of my favorite things about tour is that it takes me to some amazing places all over the world. the only catch is, since soundcheck usually starts around 3pm, the only stuff i really have time to do in most cities is get a coffee and take a walk.

this past spring i was on tour in the UK and Europe, and stopping through Paris was definitely a major highlight. since we got into town the night before the show, i had the next morning and early afternoon to wander around and drink the shit out of some Parisian cappuccinos.

our hotel was up in Montmartre, at the top of the city, so the first thing i did was buy a few metro tickets at the Abbesses station so i could head down to see the Seine river before the show.

once i hopped off the metro in the Marais neighborhood, my first stop was La Cafeotheque, which was rumored to be an awesome coffee spot. my first cappuccino of the day did not disappoint, and neither did the accompanying pain au chocolat. i did, however, make an idiot out of myself trying to figure out how you pay for your coffee at this place. my French is pretty minimal, and i'm pretty sure the barista laughed at me, but in case you find yourself in the same predicament YOU PAY AT THE COUNTER. noted for next time.

the day was a little cloudy and mysterious, but honestly i think Paris is so beautiful in this light. after my first coffee stop i walked over to Ile St. Louis and Ile de la Cite to say hi to Notre Dame.

the architecture of this place never gets old. since my favorite thing to do in Paris is eat (yes, probably even more so than shop) i stopped for lunch at St. Regis on Ile St. Louis, which was recommended to me by a girlfriend who spent last year living in Paris.

this place was the perfect stop for cappuccino #2 and a ridiculously awesome croque monsieur. the rule about not eating cheese before you sing goes out the window if you're in Paris.

while i had zero time to go inside the Louvre, i really wanted to see it before i had to head back up to the hotel, so i took the metro over to Tuileries. the lavender colored trees were so perfect.

and finally, since it's so close to the Louvre, i snuck in a trip to Colette on Rue St Honoré. it's a major weakness of mine. i found an amazing skirt that i can't wait to wear this summer.

i hopped off the metro back in Montmartre just in time to climb some serious steps and check out Sacre Coeur before the gig. not a bad way to spend a show day.

have you ever been to Paris? any favorite spots or neighborhoods?

Coffee Walk: Paris In May