15 outings that turn Paris in August into a proper luxury holiday
Paris in August breathes differently. The streets are quieter, the days feel longer, aperitifs stretch on and on, and there’s actually room on the metro, not to mention in the city’s most beautiful parks. Far from a punishment, staying in the capital this summer opens the door to 15 outings and brilliant ideas that will make your friends on holiday genuinely envious.
A secret garden and a rooftop yoga session to start Paris in August on the right note
Freshly crowned with its new Palace designation, Fouquet’s Paris hides a secret on the first floor of its five-star property on avenue George V. Restaurant Joy presents itself as a hidden garden in the heart of the Champs-Élysées, open throughout August, with refined cuisine from chef Claudia Rivera Valdez. At lunch, expect langoustine carpaccio at €36, wagyu beef tacos at €28, or sea bass served in its copper dish at €48. On weekdays, a three-course lunch menu is offered at €64.
For those who want to start the day above the zinc rooftops, Staycation is partnering with Riise on the rooftop of the Hôtel Dame des Arts, perched on the ninth floor. On 26, 27 and 28 August, a 50-minute vinyasa yoga session runs from 7:45 to 9:15am, followed by a generous breakfast with views over the Seine and the Parisian skyline. Tickets are €49, with bookings opening from 16 August.
Each participant also leaves with a limited-edition co-branded yoga block. It’s a gentle and memorable way to kick off a beautiful summer day in the capital.
“I like the way the picture reveals itself gradually,” Speedy Graphito confided at the opening of the exhibition We are (still) Here at the Petit Palais.
Two photography exhibitions not to miss this summer
The Jeu de Paume is showing two powerful exhibitions until 24 September. The first, Fragile Beauty, unveils the photography collection of Elton John and his husband David Furnish: more than 300 photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe, Diane Arbus, Irving Penn, Harley Weir and Ai Weiwei, alongside a monumental installation of 149 prints by Nan Goldin.
The second is the first retrospective dedicated to Madeleine de Sinéty, a self-taught French photographer who long remained in the shadows. Over four decades, she captured more than 50,000 images of a rural world in the midst of transformation, workers, farmers, women living alone, with a light and delicacy that makes every scene deeply moving.
Meanwhile, the Petit Palais is hosting We are (still) Here until 20 September, bringing together 75 French and international artists including D*Face, Invader and Shepard Fairey, for more than 200 works. Entry is free, Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
Sport, swimming and free dancing to make the most of Paris in August
Just a short walk from the Grands Boulevards, Ember Studio offers Hot Pilates in a room heated to 35°C. Several 50-minute formats are available: the Signature class for beginners, Total Burn for a cardio session, or recovery-focused classes. The introductory offer is €80 for 5 days in the Hot Room plus one recovery ritual. A Recovery space with compression boots and an LED mask also lets you leave the studio with light legs and a fresh complexion.
For a quietly luxurious experience, the Jardin du SAX at Sax Paris, LXR Hotels & Resorts, now opens its pool to outside guests. The day package at €300 includes pool access with robe and slippers, a three-course lunch by chef Emile de France, and access to the hammam and sauna. Reservations are recommended on 01 81 69 07 40.
- Vinyasa yoga on the rooftop of the Hôtel Dame des Arts on 26, 27 and 28 August at €49
- Hot Pilates at 35°C at Ember Studio, introductory offer at €80
- Outdoor pool at Sax Paris accessible without a room booking at €300 per day
- Free swing and charleston classes with Les Chatons Swingueurs every Friday and Sunday in August
- La Nuit des étoiles and the Perseids on 12 and 13 August in several Paris parks
Paris in August also swings along the riverbanks. With Les Chatons Swingueurs, introductory swing, charleston and solo jazz sessions are free and require no registration, every Friday from 7pm to 11pm and every Sunday from 6pm to 10pm at Quai Saint Bernard. No partner needed, one will be found for you on the spot. Seine Swing also runs sessions on 23 and 30 August from 4pm to 6:50pm.
Evening events, terraces and ice cream from a Michelin-starred chef
To spice up your evenings, the collective LA CH!CK hosts themed pop nights every Thursday at Badaboum: Reggaeton All Stars on 6 August, Bieber Fever on 13 August, BBL Party on 20 August. Entry is free before midnight. The Croisière Disco Disco sets sail every Tuesday from Quai Saint-Bernard from 7pm, with a mandatory sequins-and-colour dress code.
On the terrace front, the Jardin Tropézien at the Hôtel du Collectionneur is serving Mediterranean tapas until September from 3pm to 9pm, with a glass of Château Minuty Rose et Or at €16 and chickpea panisses at €12. An artisan ice cream trolley from Carette is also stationed outside the hotel until late September, at €11 for two scoops. Equally, at Cira, the terrace of the Paris Marriott Champs Elysees Hotel offers a Menu Ensoleillé at €35 on weekdays and a Sunday brunch.
Finally, for a genuinely new taste experience, the FUMO pop-up in the Marais brings together pastry chef Tessa Ponzo, winner of the Prix Passion Dessert at the Michelin ceremony in Monaco, and the organic ice creams of Terre Adélice. Toppings such as burnt rice, wasabi seeds and Espelette pepper elevate every cup, starting from €7.50. The pop-up is open until 20 September, Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 9pm, at 59 rue Charlot in the 4th arrondissement.
Shooting stars and shopping to round off Paris in August in style
The 36th edition of La Nuit des étoiles takes place on 7, 8, 9 and 12 August across several Paris parks: square Louise Michel, Jardins d’Éole, parc Montsouris and the Cité des Sciences. Observation workshops let you spot Saturn, the Moon and nebulae through a telescope. On 12 and 13 August, the Perseids deliver the most spectacular meteor shower of the year. No equipment needed, though a light jacket is recommended for the cooler late evenings.
For shopping, the We The Free collection by Free People is available at a pop-up in Galeries Lafayette Haussmann until 25 August. Highlights include the Meet Me In The Middle satin miniskirt at €50, the Fable jeans at €138, and the Emerson soft leather bag at €198. Meanwhile, DnuD has opened its first Paris boutique at 5 rue du Cherche-Midi, stocking swimwear in Oeko-Tex certified Italian fabrics, including the asymmetric black Casino one-piece at €176.
Staying in Paris in August is no sacrifice at all. Between rooftops, lively riverbanks, free exhibitions and under-the-radar addresses, the capital offers a summer programme as rich as it is varied, for those who know where to look.
