Maria Thomas

When? JulyWhat? Operas, concerts and more. Where? Chateau de Versailles. The Versailles Festival returns for its 7th edition, bringing concerts, operas and more to the opulent palace and its gardens. This year look out for a grand fancy dress ball in the Hall of Mirrors and a ballet performance of Snow White with costumes designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier. Don't miss the sensational open-air concerts to be held in the vast Orangerie gardens. For the full programme and tickets, click here.

When? July 7-8 2017.What? House, techno and electro fest with an international line-up.Where? The Parc Floral The Peacock Society Festival brings techno, house and electro music to the Parc Floral this summer, featuring some of the biggest international DJs. This year, the programme spans Ibiza headliner types Nina Kravitz, Dixon, Kaytranada, Marcel Dettman, Apollonia, The Black Madonna, The Martinez Brothers, Carl Craig set to bring a splash of Balearic sunshine to the French capital. For more information, click here.

When? June 18-July 16 2016. What? Concerts and conferences in honour of Chopin.Where? Parc de Bagatelle, Bois de Boulogne. An annual tribute to the Polish composer, this year's Chopin Festival brings concerts and conferences to the Orangerie in Paris’s verdant Parc de Bagatelle. The 33rd edition gives visitors a chance to enjoy the magic of the maestro's classic compositions through interpretations by some of the most impressive young pianists from around the world. The festival is also a great opportunity for Chopin fans to discover original compositions inspired by his work. For the full programme and tickets, click here.

The 13th annual Dimanches au Galop brings family fun to the Auteuil and Saint-Cloud hippodromes every Sunday between March 27 and April 17 2016. Starting at 12noon, kids can enjoy horse races and pony rides, as well as games and a grand treasure hunt. Also on offer are workshops run by equine experts and the chance to meet riding coaches to learn more about all the horses and jockeys involved. For more information, click here.  

Though the Marais neighbourhood is no stranger to cute coffee shops, Le Peloton on Rue du Pont Louis Philippe is a welcome addition with its funky tiled floor and cosy corners. Founded in September 2015 by biking enthusiasts Christian Osburn and Paul Barro, who also run the tour company Bike About, the space is decorated with colourful bike-themed illustrations, a shelf bearing beans from Belleville Brûlerie, and bright yellow chairs that you’ll recognise easily if you follow all the Parisian Instagrammers in the know.  Take a seat at the wooden bar to watch the friendly owners in action or perch on the stools by the window for a great view of the pretty balconies across the street. Our noisette (€3.50) was perfectly balanced, a lovely early morning treat along with a salted caramel doughnut from hip caterer Boneshaker (€4). Le Peloton’s menu also offers homemade sweet and savoury waffles, as well as tarts and cookies made by the popular Mokonuts café.

Set up by Christine O’Sullivan and Chris Wilson in 2014, Broken Biscuits started out by supplying Paris’s hippest coffee shops with gorgeous baked treats, and a year later opened up their own small space on the charming and peaceful Passage Rochebrune. Inside you’ll find a narrow wooden table that faces the cobblestone street outside, providing the perfect background for the meticulously-crafted cakes and pastries on offer. The open kitchen allows you to watch the chefs in action as they make everything in-house, from the financiers, muffins and cookies to the tasty sandwiches for lunch (one vegetarian version and one with meat).  The duo creates something new every day and it’s worth following them on Instagram to see what’s available (or where they’re headed – you can find their treats at cafes like Honor and Cuillier, among others). Our roasted chicken and avocado sandwich (€7.40) was perfectly balanced and wholesome and made for a delicious light lunch along with a well-made café crème (€4). Choosing just one thing for dessert was unsurprisingly a struggle but the vanilla sponge layered with praline cream was a delight and utterly Instagrammable to boot. 

Unless you’re the kind of person with thousands of euros to spend on a whim, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré is probably not your regular hangout. But don’t let that deter you from visiting Paris’s first outdoor coffee shop, hidden inside a pleasant and peaceful courtyard in the 8th arrondissement. Inside their quirky self-contained stand, all glass panes and stark black frames, the English and Australian owners Daniel Warburton and Angelle Boucher prepare rich and creamy flat whites and espressos and serve luscious treats to a chic crowd of office-goers. Tucked at the back of the stand are tiny tables and chairs but the best seat in the house is on the high stools that face the counter, all the better to watch the expert baristas in action. The stand stocks donuts from new-about-town bakery Boneshaker (a real hit, they tend to sell out fast) and there are also pretty cakes from Broken Biscuits.

Tucked away on Rue de Grenelle, with a gorgeous view of the ornate exterior of Musée Maillol through its glass windows, the third outpost of Cuillier (after Montmartre and Galeries Lafayette) takes coffee very seriously. Take a seat on the wooden bench by the black-tiled wall and you’ll spot beans harvested from Brazil, Ethiopia and Guatemala, sold under the store’s own brand. There are also numerous coffee-making contraptions that double up as part of the space’s edgy décor, alongside sculpted wooden chairs, industrial-chic lamps, and hip magazines like Kinfolk and Design Anthology. Here the coffee is strong, with a velvety body and slightly fruity aftertaste, both of which are tough to find in Paris, despite its much heralded coffee shop revolution. Also on offer are desserts from pastry company Broken Biscuits (the lemon cake was dense but zingy, €4.30) and a range of lunchtime quiches, salads and soups that change daily. Swing by in the morning for some quiet time with a book, but be sure to bring friends in the evening because it gets noisy and lively.