C’est parti! A Connoisseurs Guide To Art Basel Paris

The Classic Connoisseur: For those who savor the timeless beauty of Old Masters and crave a VIP cultural experience.

Visit: Le Grand Palais

The newly minted Art Basel Paris lands at the revamped Grand Palais this Wednesday 16 October. With 195 galleries from 42 countries, curated by Director Clément Delépine, this year’s edition signals a fresh and dynamic evolution. “There’s an intoxicating energy in uniting artists and galleries in this iconic space,” Delépine reflects, highlighting the fair’s expanded vision and its 26% growth in exhibitors.

Stay: L'Hotel

Nestled in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, L’Hotel is a true cultural treasure. Once home to Oscar Wilde, the hotel’s 20 unique suites and theatrical interiors designed by Jacques Garcia blend Parisian elegance with Wilde’s eccentricity. With dramatically draped four poster beds, Parisienne cityscapes, and an intimate subterranean hammam, L’Hotel has attracted luminaries from Frank Sinatra to Tilda Swinton with its old-world grandeur.

Dine: Le Voltaire

A short stroll along the Seine leads to Le Voltaire, a beloved institution steeped in history. Occupying the ground floor of Voltaire’s former residence, this family run, ‘secret canteen for artists and academics’ honours French history in its own right. Helmed by Chef Tony Ducroq crafts French classics from sole meunière to profiteroles as timeless as the philosopher’s musings.

Shop: Maison La Collection

Belgian-French designer Florence Cools has mastered the art of translating elevated materials into sleek, versatile silhouettes with Maison La Collection. Using Japanese silks and refined wools, her designs embody a timeless elegance, masterfully so. Flowing, straight-line dresses and layered knits blend modern utility with classic luxury, creating pieces that are both city-ready and built to last, destined to be cherished for years to come.

The Surrealist: For those enchanted by André Breton's 1924 Surrealist Manifesto and the dreamlike, mind-bending visions of Salvador Dalí and Dora Maar.

Visit: Surréalisme at Le Centre Pompidou

Commemorating the centennial of Breton’s Manifesto, the Pompidou presents a mesmerizing 14-part exhibition curated by Didier Ottinger and Marie Sarré. Following a ‘maze-like’ journey featuring works by icons like Dalí, Joan Miró, and Dora Maar, the exhibition weaves together paintings, drawings, photography, and archival film. With a fresh lens on the origins and evolution of the surrealist movement, the show running until 13 January 2025 is not to be missed.

Stay: Madame Rêve Hotel

Up in the clouds casting views across the Eiffel Tower to Montmartre, Hotel Madame Rêve is situated in the city’s historic central post office. Under the direction of Laurent Taïeb, the 82-room hotel dazzles with its fusion of French artistry, from murals to modern design touches that set the tone for contemporary luxury in the city.

Dine: 19 Saint Roch

This culinary gem, guided by Chef Pierre Touitou, marries quality and minimalism, influenced by his father’s iconic Parisian brand APC. The mise-en-scene menu, featuring current standouts from saffron cuttlefish to barbecued pear, strikes a balance between precise preparation and subtle innovation.

Shop: The Parisian Vintage

A haven for fashion collectors, The Parisian Vintage offers rare gems like Christian Lacroix surrealist brooches and Courrèges two-piece sets. Curated with an eye for drama and originality, this boutique is a treasure trove for those seeking bold, statement pieces that blend fashion history with avant-garde flair.

For the Expressionist: For those captivated by the intense emotional and spiritual connection between humanity and nature, seeking bold, modern statements with historical resonance.

Visit: “Jackson Pollock: The Early Years” at Musée Picasso

Opening 15 October 2024, "Jackson Pollock: The Early Years " explores the American painter’s early career (1934-1947) and the cross-cultural influences that steered his iconic style. From Native American art to European avant-garde, Pollock’s work becomes a rich study of mid-century expressionism. The show is on until 19 January 2025.

Stay: Cours de Vosges

Cours de Vosges, nestled in Le Marais, reimagines 16th-century aristocracy through a modernist lens. The hotel’s 12 rooms, brimming with artistic influence from ceramics to sculptures, invoke an intense sensory immersion. Designer duo Yann Le Coadic and Alessandro Scotto channel French history’s drama while weaving in touches of contemporary elegance.

Dine: Ogata

In a 17th-century hôtel particulière, Ogata distills Japanese culture into a refined dining experience. Paris meets Kyoto as Chef Shinichiro Ogata crafts dishes that honor ingredients' purity and a philosophical approach to food. It’s a harmonious melding of art, food, and craft, from red snapper with shiso to ritual tea ceremonies.

Shop: Pierre Augustin Rose

Known for their timeless, iconic pieces, Paris-based design gallery Pierre Augustin Rose is celebrated for the curvilinear '280 Sofa' and modular boucle chairs. From October 16-27, a special showcase curated by Alexander May highlights contemporary collaborations that cement PAR’s reputation as a leader in modern-day interior collectibles.

The Modern Eclectic: The type to have (or wish for) Warhol’s Campbell’s Chicken Soup Iconography above the entry mantel? Are you looking for a restaurant bolthole away from the crows with an equal level of POP? Follow us west of the Eiffel Tour into the reviving 16th arrondissement.

Visit: “Pop Forever” at Fondacion Louis Vuitton

Opening 17 October at Foundation Louis Vuitton, “Pop Forever” takes you from Tom Wesselmann’s iconic imagery to Andy Warhol’s collectibles like ‘Shot Sage Blue Marilyn’ (1964). Guest curators Dieter Buchhart and Anna Karina Hofbauer give new perspectives on how Pop Art shaped national identity and redefined brand culture through paintings and sculpture. This vivid, technicolor immersion into one of art’s most playful eras is on view until 24 February 2025.

Stay: Brach Paris

“Sensual and rigorous… raw and modernist,” defines designer Philippe Starck’s contemporary vision at Brach Paris: a new luxury incomer for the 16th arr. With Bauhaus-inspired furniture, contemporary art-filled rooms, and a rooftop garden, it contrasts the district’s classic bourgeois charm. Sunday brunches here feel like an insider’s treat, where art and lifestyle blend effortlessly.

Dine: Dandelion

Dandelion, originating from the French term “dent de lion” or “lion’s tooth,” is the neo-bistro making a roar under ex-Parcelles chef Morgane Souris and ex-Septime’s Antoine Villard. With a vintage 1970s ambiance and standout dishes from caramelized veal sweetbreads to chou tropézien, this energetic bistro brings a welcome retro Parisian flair back to the neighborhood.

Shop: ReSee

Did you miss last year’s coveted Phoebe Philo drop or search for a rare Hermès Constance? Fashion veterans Sofia Bernardin and Sabrina Marshall elevate your sourcing journey with curated pieces steeped in history. Their stucco-detailed showroom offers a one-on-one appointment experience, blending rich fashion expertise with personal storytelling. Book an appointment for a one-on-one at the showroom.

The Fashionphile: View your wardrobe as an art form in itself. For those who treat street style at Art Basel as an art installation, this trend-forward itinerary offers a chic fusion of fashion, food, and cultural highlights to complement your style.

Visit: Musée Saint Laurent

Fashion digs deeper at the Musée Yves Saint Laurent with The Flowers of Yves Saint Laurent exhibit. Join a rare conversation with Jérôme Sans and Sam Falls to explore the late designer’s lifelong fascination with flora. This crossover between fashion and nature embodies the quiet elegance of Yves Saint Laurent, perfect for those who find inspiration in his enduring legacy.

Stay: Hotel Thoumieux

Situated on the Left Bank, Hotel Thoumieux is the hedonistic and playful ‘younger sibling’ to Thierry Costes’s namesake restaurant/hotel across the river. Seeking inspiration from nostalgic French film influences like Claude Chabrol (the ‘French Hitchcock’), the inimitable India Madhavi evokes the joie de vivre of classic French cinema. With decadent leopard print upholstery and bold wallpapers, this 15-bedroom hotel and buzzing ground floor bistro sing a lively hum of front-rowers.

Dine: Sugaar

What’s a Fashionphile without the perfect post-Basel escape? Sugar is where fashion insiders slip away after dark. Owned by Alexis Poivre and Joachim Rappaport, with artistic direction by model and photographer Cate Underwood, this candlelit haven captivates with its effortlessly chic ambiance. The restaurant continues to charm with its stylish crowd, magnetic vibe, and dishes that invite conversation (and perhaps a bit of flirtation). At Sugar, dining is as much about the experience and atmosphere as it is about the food.

Shop: Marin Montagut

Marin Montagut’s atelier is a treasure trove for the stylish wanderer. From hand-painted porcelain to artisanal tarot decks, each item is a keepsake of Paris’s bohemian soul. Browsing this artful boutique feels like unearthing a collection of heirlooms passed through generations of chic Parisians.

84 Rooms recommends: A Guide To Paris' Saint-Germain Neighborhood, and The Best Neo-Bistros In Paris.