24 hours in Paris

This Saturday, I'll be spending the day in Paris. A bit decadent, I know... but I'm in need of a visit to my favourite city. So how do you spend a perfect day in the French capital? Here are some of my favourite things to do:

1/ first stop - getting a caffeine kick. Paris has a lot of cool coffee bars all over town. Try Merce and the Muse in Rue Dupuis, Coutume Café in the Rue de Babylone or Café Madam in the Rue Saint-Denis. Fancy a healthy smoothie? Bob's Juice Bar in the Rue Lucien Sampaix has great juice combinations.

2/ time to shop - à la française. Score great basics at Uniqlo Opéra and American Vintage in the Rue des Francs Bourgeois. Beauty products at Aesop in the Rue Vieille du Temple and perfume at Diptyque on the Boulevard Saint-Germain. Books and magazines at Ofr in the Rue Dupetit-Thouars and at Shakespeare & Co in the Rue de la Bûcherie. Don't forget to stop by Le Bon Marché - and discover the world's finest food in La Grande Epicerie.

3/ hungry? let's lunch - eat healthy salads and tasty quiches at the Rose Bakery in the Rue Debelleyme. Visit the market stalls at Le Marché Des Enfants Rouges or opt for a bento box at Nanashi. Another favourite is Mamie Gateaux on the Rive Gauche, in the Rue Cherche-Midi.

4/ how about sniffing up some culture - and not at the usual suspects. Paris has some of world's most famous museums, some take days to explore. Keep it cosy and special by visiting one of the lesser knowns: Hôtel de Ville hosts free exhibitions right in the middle of the city, in the Musée de la Vie Romantique you discover the Romantic era and can have tea in the garden and at Hôtel Carnavalet you explore the city's history in one hundred rooms. 

5/ want to beat the afternoon slump? Find a tranquil spot in one of the many jardins, close your eyes and listen to the sounds of Paris. My favourite quiet corners are found in the Tuileries, the garden of the Musée de Cluny, the famous Jardins de Luxembourg and the Parc André Citroën.

6/ let's have a romantic dinner - Hotel du Nord has a candle-lit dining room and a tasty menu. At Bozart Bistrot you can get the perfect glass of wine to complement your menu choice and La Cocotte is renowned for it's delicious dishes in stoneware 'cocottes'. On a budget? Order a pizza at Pink Flamingo and eat it on the borders of the Canal Saint-Martin.

7/ the end - a stroll at the Champ de Mars with views of the Eiffel Tower, wandering along the Seine and perhaps eating an ice cream at Berthillon on the Ile de la Cité. Sweet dreams!