Now more than ever, families, friends and loved ones may be scattered across the globe, making travel for some of us an essential part of our lives. As much fun as it is to try new foods, activities and delight in the sites and scenes of a new destination, for those of us who have forfeited real food for the nearest hot dog or pizza and suffered the digestive consequences, a little culinary research is usually needed before embarking on a journey. Each month we will be featuring a guide to the best food, exercise venues and luxury treatments by our team of like-minded friends abroad. Check in here before your next trip to make sure you aren’t left stranded in a desert of global take-away and coffee joints and of course, please do let us know if you find somewhere you think we should know about.

This month Marissa-Catherine Carrarini, owner of Bermondsey health centre Snowfields Wellness  and her mother Rose Carrarini owner of Rose Bakery in Dover Street Market and Paris give us their guide to holistic Paris.

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PARIS IN A WEEKEND

Mum and Dad (Rose & Jean-Charles Carrarini) live in Paris and own the Rose Bakery (see below for my bias review). I live in London, am a freelance writer, almost qualified naturopathic nutritional therapist and own boutique health store and soon-to-open natural health clinic Snowsfields Wellness (www.snowsfields.co.uk).
Here are a few of Mum’s and my favourite ethical Paris lovelies:

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SHOPPING

Merci

111 Boulevard Beaumarchais - 3rd
+33 (0) 1 42 77 00 33
www.merci-merci.com
Open daily Monday to Saturday 10am-8pm
Metro Saint Sébastien Froissard

A concept store with a conscious. The creators of Bonpoint have created the first bio-concept store in Paris.

Located in a sun-lit loft, you can browse from flower shop to furniture to haberdashery. This 1500 square metre light industrial space even houses a second-hand bookshop where you can grab a tea and read from the donated collection of books. This is lifestyle shopping with a cause. Famous designers have joined the team and are gifting their profit margin to charities in Madagascar. Have we finally found guilt free shopping? We think so.  See more images here

Dalia & Rose
9 Rue de Marchè Saint Honorè
+33 1 40 20 49 58
www.daliaandrose.fr

One to look out for:
Soon to arrive in a tiny shop will be Paris’s first gorgeous luxury, ethical and eco concept store. Desirable fashion with the deepest respect and honour for social and environmental justice, this store is all about timeless and modern imaginative classics. All in all it should be an exciting blend of historic craftsmanship and new enthusiastic designers. Exciting.

Matières à Réflexion Paris

19 rue de Poitou
Paris 75003
+33 (0)1 42 72 16 31
www.matieresareflexion.com
info(at)matieresareflexion.com
Hours 12:00 - 19:00 everyday except Sunday

From the very start in 2002 Matières à réflexion paris and [MàR] UrbanBags collections followed a simple ethos : each bag is hand-made from one single carefully selected vintage garment. It is unique and numbered. Each hobo, tote or purse features details from the original vintage leather jacket or army surplus pants it is made from : a press-stud, a pocket, a buttonhole, a print or a leather-covered button. Take along your no longer worn clothing item and they’ll turn it into a treasure for life.

La Belle Epoque
10 rue de Poitou 3rd
+33 6 80 77 71 32
Métro St Sébastien Froissart.
Hours: 1.30-6.30pm Tue-Sat.

Vintage is high on the list of ways to dress eco-fashionably but finding treasures can take precious time. If you’re on a strict schedule forget the rummaging and go straight to La Belle Epoque. Owner ex-model and theatrical costumier Philippe will joyfully talk about the the joys of vintage - just incase you don’t already know. Look out for everything from Grace Jones look alikes, Yves Saint Laurent collectables and cheap tricks such as victorian coats, 60’s style Brigitte Bardot beach dresses,  ’70s shirts and fake fur coats.

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EATING

Rose Bakery

46, rue des Martyrs 75000 IXème
30 rue Debelleyme, IIIeme

Far from French fiddily food and a mile from the classic Parisian brassiere, Rose Bakery is a unique (organic and ethical) gem that you’ll want to keep coming & coming to: breakfast, lunch and tea. This charming, welcoming, fun and utterly delicious concept is enlightening trendy Parisians on the simple pleasures of treats like carrot cake, date slice, savoury tarts, boiled eggs with marmite on toast and lunches rich in salads (rejoice if you find their beetroot & avocado) and the most perfect risotto in town. Always packed and always spot on, there are two to choose from. The first one near Montmartre is a little higgidly piggidly but bursting with life, while the second, in La Marais is more clean-lined with an industrial but a warm heart.
Whichever one you visit, watch out for the French eating cake with a glass of red and homesick Brits gulping down scones with tea. You’ll also find organic baked beans, cereals, nut butters, teas, apple juices, Lara bars, EmergenC, the freshest organic fruit and veg and the odd vegan or wheat free wonder-cake.

Le Potager du Marais
22, Rue Rambuteau IIIeme
+33 1 42 74 24 66

Literally translated as the kitchen garden of the marsh, this home-style, mostly organic vegetarian restaurant is the perfect place to take a rest from heavy French cuisine, while still staying true to French flavours. Small, rustic and narrow, unlike most vegetarian restaurants in France’s capital, this cosy diner is fresh, honest and creative in its simplicity.
Plenty of vegan options (so great for dairy-free folk too) such as onion or broccoli soup, vegetable tarts and home-style desserts.

Soya
20 rue de la Pierre-Levé
75011 Paris
France
T.: +33 (0)1.48.06.33.02
Opening hours: from Monday to Saturday, from 8am until 7pm

Situated close to the Canal Saint-Martin and tucked away from public pathways is Soya organic restaurant.
With no visible signage this is a neighbourhood secret so make sure you have a map on hand or your french is good enough to ask directions Once you stumble across it you’ll fall in love with the cool glass facade and Parisian loft appeal.

The mainly vegetarian food is approximately 80% organic which is ok with us considering the mainstream alternatives. Teas and coffees are fair trade.

Affordable at 14 € for lunch, you can also get food and drinks to take away. Try the home-made smoothies, lentils and hummus.

Pain Moisan
Various locations
www.painmoisan.fr

A small chain selling organic, fine quality artisan breads, quiches, croissants, tarts and classic sandwiches where you’ll also find store cupboard favourites like honey, olive oil, teas and wines. Everything is fresh and lovely. However, the rumour is that this lovely bio boulangerie has been taken over by some big cheeses in the food world. So far the quality and charm has remained, but it’s something to keep eyes on.

Marché Biologique Raspail

Boulevard Raspail between the Rue de Rennes and the Rue du Cherche Midi

Open Sundays only.

This upmarket wholesome, organic farmers market is the king of chic and the queen of gastronomy.

Perfect for dinner party extravagances as well as the simple pleasures of honest, real-tasting food. Indulge in the finest fruit and vegetables; beautiful bottles of red and white; artisan breads, cheeses and charcuterie. You’ll also find great meat, delicate patisserie and the odd eccentric (but captivating) stall of organic loveliness.
Keep your eyes peeled for the homeopathic remedies.

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SLEEPING

Gavarni Hotel
5,rue Gavarni - 75116 PARIS
+33 1 45 24 52 82
www.gavarni.com

Hotel Gavarni, right by the Effel Tower, is the perfect place to start and end your Parisian days. While it is a little floral and fussy, this is certainly one of the most eco places to rest your head in the whole of the city. Awarded with the European Ecolabel (a certified label for hotels that follow a strict planet protecting criteria), this well equipped hotel runs on electricity from renewable sources, prides itself on it’s energy efficiency, water saving devices, recycling policies and eco friendly cleaning products. Eco-goodness it may be, but don’t expect a lack of mod-cons and comfort. It’s got ‘em all: TV, computers, marble bathrooms, conference rooms and lovely light organic fair-trade breakfasts.

Le studio 22

www.studio22.fr
Contact Marie Thévenin 
00 33 6 60 13 98 20
marie.thevenin@free.fr

If tracking down an eco hotel is difficult. The next best thing is renting a private apartment. By doing so you are supporting small business and meeting the locals, which all adds up to a few of the things travelling should be about. For art lovers one of the best places to stay is Le Studio 22.
The fully equipped studio for 2 is owned by Marie Thevenin an art loving interior designer, who can help you discover Paris from an art angle by organising a personalised art tour of the capital.

Hotel Gabriel

25, rue du Grand-Prieuré
75001 Paris
France
+33.1.47.00.13.38
gabrielparismarais@gmail.com

This art deco hotel has been given an ultra modern zen like makeover. The Hotel Gabriel is the first ‘Detox’ Concept hotel entirely devoted to wellbeing and regeneration. With the focus on your internal ecology, the Hotel Gabriel believes ‘purification of the body, sleep and healthy food are the essential keys to general wellbeing’.

You’ll sleep well with rooms equipped with the the the worlds first Night Cove sleep system, design by Patrick Joulin and sleep disorder expert Professor Damien Léger. Night Cove provides light and sound sequences during the different phases of sleep to regulate the melatonin levels.

Awake to organic breakfast and follow with treatments in the Bioo ‘detox’ spa facialities and finish the day at the detox bar serving a wide variety of antoxidant drinks and teas. We are checking in and never checking out!

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BEAUTY

Coiffure & Nature

1, rue de la Bastille
75004 Paris
+ 33 1 42 72 90 37
www.coiffureetnature.fr

In the heart of the bustling and creative Le Marais, this classy and warm hairdresser is more than just a nice place to get a good organic cut. The rooms are held by XVIIth century stones and beams giving a county cottage feel and the staff are some of the friendliest faces you’ll see in (often rude) Paris. More importantly, the cuts defy the space. Modern, slick and creative, this is the place to push you out of your comfort zone.
All products are pure and kind and include a beautiful hair wash based on Indian nuts, aromatherapy oils and vegetable oils. And there’s no ammonia in sight.
For a touch of makeup colour – this cute and cool hairdresser also has its own range of eco makeup. With strong and earthy colours, you’ll find great organic eye shadows and hard to find items such as organic nail vanish remover.

L’Appartement 217

217, rue Saint-Honoré
75001 Paris
Tel. : +33(0)1 42 96 00 96
www.lappartement217.com

The first to bring entirely organic beauty care to the centre of Paris, Stephane Jaulin has spared no attention to deatil in this boutique style santuary. As with visiting any Parisian apartment L’Appartement 217 is  adorned with fireplaces, decorative mouldings and parquet floors. You are received in the living room,  designed on the basis of the principles of layout and colour advocated by the philosophy of Feng Shui and incorporating the 5 elements of water, wood, metal, air and earth.

The air is purified by the diffusion of essential oils creating a haven of calm. The theme-based beauty treatment salon takes the form of spacious rooms. To instill a total feeling of calm, all electrical waves are channelled in order to neutralise any harmful effects (the cables and operating circuits of the equipment are sheathed with insulating materials).

Facial treatments include the signature Global 217 Facial or anti-ageing treatment with O2 cellar oxygenation. Body treatments include the signature 217 massage, ayurvedic massage treatments and a physio-harmonising massage. The beauty treatment towels and kimonos are made of pinetree pulp microfibres (originating from Scandinavian organic farms). Linen is 100% biodegradable and its entire production chain is in harmony with nature. A select number of items are  available for purchase exclusively at L’Appartement 217 along with skincare products.

Harnn

Spa et Boutique
11, rue Molière
75001
PARIS
+33 (0)1 40 15 02 20
www.harnn.fr

Well known for there natural soaps Harnn now have a holistic Thia spa in the heart of Paris based on fair trade products ans practices. You will be treated to massages by certified students from the Wat-Po school in Bangkok who recreate the traditional techniques of Thai care amongst authentic wood and stone surroundings. On arrival you will be asked to change into a traditional Thai dressing gown for your massage, which starts with a ritual foot bath. All products used are natural and the institute bans product testing on animals.

Rasa Yoga

21 rue Saint Jacques,
Paris V
+33 (0)1 43 54 14 59
www.rasa-yogarivegauche.com

Paris can be a crazy place, where the people speak faster than the speeding cars and there is really very little green space. Fortunately not all Paris is hectic roundabouts and fast-passed shopping. Nor is it all people-watching over espressos and steak frite.
Rasa Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centre is the ultimate space to find strength and be pampered in calming, clean luxury. Skilled teachers teach Astanga, Kundalini, Restorative and Prenatal yoga at all levels. All classes are strong, grounding, strengthening and deeply calming.
Rasa Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centre is also the perfect place to enjoy a detoxifying and revitalizing, sesame oil rich Abhyanga massage or a toning and awakening Udwartana massage that uses an Ayurvedic blend of herbs, chickpea flour and clay.

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To see our other holistic city guides click here