The end of the summer is nigh! So, let’s splash out and treat ourselves to something wonderful from the world of beauty. No matter what the weather, here at House of Coco we always see glorious sunshine, especially when we’re investing in new hair products, skincare or cosmetics. Bring on the beauty counters; we’re coming to get ya!
Our first must-have pick me up is by Khadi, an Ayurvedic Face and Body Oil. The face and body oils are packed with aromatherapy oils and are an excellent skincare alternative to lotions and creams. They are absorbed quickly and transport nurturing ingredients directly into the skin providing intense skin care and protections without feeling oily. Our stand out favourite from the 8 oils in the collection is Viola, which contains Violet, Vanilla, Liquorice, Vitamin E, Wheatgerm Oil and Almond.
Khadi Ayurvedic Face & Body Oil is suitable for normal skin, is available online from Pravera and is priced at £11.90 for 100ml.
Pick me up number two is by Clarol, a new way of treating acne, and the Clarol Sebopure works by targeting sebum (oily skin). Sebopure contains a natural plant active derived from Wild Mustard Leaf Oil called Pixalia™, this works on the skin by decreasing the amount of serum produced while at the same time keeping sebum pure and clean. It does this by neutralising the oxidisation process and preventing bacterial build-up. Sebopure also increases the skin’s natural moisturising deposits called glycerides, aiding the skin’s elasticity and smoothness while protecting from breakouts.
Clarol Sebopure is suitable for oily or combination skin, is available online from Clarol and is priced at £12.95 for 50ml.
iz Beauty of London and the collection of berry nail colours are our third beauty pick me up here at House of Coco Magazine. As talk is of the weather and we are moving between summer and autumn we need a pick me up that helps us seamlessly stroll between the seasons, iz Beauty of London achieves this perfectly. We adore the three berry shades including the rich burgundy of Front Row, raspberry-hued Upper East Side, and the cherry-stained Made in Manhattan.
Iz Beauty of London berry shades Front Row, Upper East Side and Made in Manhattan are available online from iz Beauty of London and are priced at £6 each for 6ml.
Staying with a hand and nail focus for our next pick me up, Merci Handy’s dainty Hand Cleansing Gel’s are now available from Selfridges Travel Beauty Destination within their London store. Merci handy will have you saying goodbye to any unwanted bacteria and hello to hydrated, soft and nourished hands. With three brand new scents recently launched including Flower Power, Coco Rico and of course our favourite at House of Coco, Hello Sunshine.
Merci Handy Hand Cleansing Gel is available on the high street from Topshop and Selfridges (London) and online from Merci Handy, each gel is priced at £2.90 for 30ml.
Hair pick me ups include the Nanogen Root Boost Hair Thickening Spray, which features a ‘blow dry in a bottle’ blend of ingredients that lift and volumise the hair with a light-weight, non-greasy formula that actively fattens the hair shaft for a visible improvement in hair thickness. Excellent detangling properties and protection against breakage make this multi-tasking product a hair styling staple. This iconic thickening spray boasts Keratin, Niacinamide, Green Tea Extract, Caffeine, and Vitamin B5 all working together to naturally thicken, exfoliate dead skin cells, anti-oxidise, stimulate hair follicles, and improve luster and frizz. With the added Mineral Rich Natural Sea Salt and Lifting Polymers giving effective lift, texture and unparalleled volume in the hair.
Nanogen Root Boost Hair Thickening Spray is available online from Boots or Nanogen and is priced at £9.95 for 100ml.
Our final and most unusual pick me up, literally will pick you up! AQUIS essentials Lisse Luxe Hair Towel is perfect for wrapping up your hair when wet and offers a gentle way to dry your hair. Lisse Luxe may sound like the name of an exotic artiste, but she’s the perfect towel for normal hair. The Lisse Luxe excels at curly hair, fine hair, damaged hair, and any hair that needs gentle treatment. AQUIS Hair Towel is made of Aquitex, a modern innovative fabric woven from ultra-fine fibers to create a lightweight material with superior water wicking capabilities that is gentle on your hair.
AQUIS Lisse Luxe Hair Towel is available online from Aquis Hair, it comes in five colours including Ivory White, Desert Rose, Cloud Berry, Chevron, and Stormy Sky, each individually priced at £30.
At House of Coco it’s all about the eyebrow, we seriously love our brows. We’re into big, defined, statement brows because they shape our face and can make or break a look. It’s all about experimenting with colour, style and finish so that our brows are movie star perfect whatever the occasion.
We have combined a super strong list of our favourite products to help with your every need when it comes to eyebrow perfection. And, we are lucky to have been sent a complete guide to eyebrow do’s and don’ts from Sparkle PR.
The Do’s
DO match your brow colour to your roots. This is the most effective system to achieve a natural look and frame your face.
DO go professional from time to time. With all the great gadgets and grooming tools available, most of us have taken to DIY brows at home. However, from time to time it is worth visiting your local salon or threading counter for the professional touch. They can also advise on cleansers, serums, and gels to aid brow beauty.
DO always take a step back to admire your work. When grooming your brows it’s important to keep taking steps back from the mirror to check your work is even.
DO invest in good products. Liners and mascaras are makeup bag wonders ensuring brows are on fleek at all times!
DO experiment with tools. It’s worth trying out new tools, you may find the only tweezers in the world to conquer unruly brows, and by investing in a new brow brush it can make all the difference from messy to neat in just one sweep.
The Don’ts
DON’T take inspiration from TOWIE! Brows 5 shades darker than your hair colour is never a good look on anyone. Get your #browsperation from the catwalk not from Essex.
DON’T bleach your brows. No matter how blonde or fair you are a bleached brow will always wash you out and take away all definition.
DON’T over pluck. It’s always useful to draw your desired brow shape on with a pencil so you can use as a guide when plucking. Otherwise it is easy to get pluck-happy.
DON’T go product-free. Whilst the natural look is fully promoted, a little bit of love and attention before leaving the house will go a long way when it comes to your brows.
House of Coco’s Eyebrow Product Guide
Bioderma, Sensibio H20 Wipes Priced at £6.99, available from Boots
The Bioderma dermatological wipes Sensibio H2O are enriched with an active micellar solution perfectly compatible with the skin: its fatty acid esters, the constituent elements of micelles, are similar to the phospholipids of the skin cell membranes and naturally help rebuild the skin’s hydrolipidic film. Thus, Sensibio H2O dermatological wipes guarantee a perfect cleansing and/or make-up removal for sensitive skin and eyes and an excellent tolerance and comfort.
Skin Shop, Dry Eye Gel Priced at £7.95 for 15ml, available online from Skin Shop
Skin Shop’s Dry Eye Gel is a light natural eye ad brow gel that contains a plant extract of Cardiospermum. The gel delivers the anti-itching benefits anti-dryness effects of the Cardiospermum extract without irritating the delicate skin around the eye. Dry Eye Gel has been tested on dry skin sufferers and is an extremely gentle and light and non-greasy formulation suitable for very sensitive, itchy and dry flaky skin around the eye and in the eyebrows. This product is a clear, light, non-sticky gel that’s quickly absorbed and is perfect to be worn under eye and brow make-up as a primer. Dry Eye Gel is vegan and FREE from SLS, MI, paraben and perfumes.
Rubis, Eyelash & Brow Anti-Aging Serum Priced at £49.99 for 10ml, available online from Rubis
Fresh from Switzerland where it’s taking the beauty world by storm, the new Rubis Eyelash and Eyebrow Anti-Aging Serum has a groundbreaking formula to improve and lengthen eyelashes and thinning eyebrows. This new serum has a unique formula rich in panthenol, and biotinoyl GHK, shown to stimulate growth, improve the thickness and length of eyelashes, while the inclusion of hyaluronic acid and plant proteins helps to ward off the thinning effects aging may have on eyebrows.
Rubis, Gold Tweezers Priced at £32, available online from Rubis
The Rubis Classic Rise Gold is a high-quality cosmetic tweezers that facilitates comfortable, precise use. They are stainless steel Rose Gold plated with slanted tips for ease of use. Rubis only work with top-quality surgical steel, which is acid-proof, antimagnetic and rustproof. Thanks to these outstanding material characteristics, the Rubis tweezers retain their perfect functionality for many years.
Know cosmetics, No Bare Brows Priced at £18, available from Superdrug
Know Cosmetics which recently landed on our shores from the US have launched the multi functional No Bare Brows. The double-ended pencil includes a universal brow colour and invisible taming wax. There is also a sharpener and brush within the lids for convenience. This universal 4 in 1 eyebrow shaping kit transforms your brows from bland to beautiful to create brows that wow!
Lord & Berry, Must Have Fibre Brow Gel, Tinted Brow Mascara Priced at £14, available online from Lord & Berry
Designed for hydrating and enhancing eyebrows definition. Its texture naturally tints the brows and tames unruly brow hair. Thanks to the presence of nylon fibres in the formula it gives a thickening effect whilst delivering a noticeable improvement in eyebrow hair structure. Must Have is formulated with Hydroviton® PLUS that leaves the brows beautifully conditioned. This brush-on gel dries to a natural look finish for instantly perfect brows.
MINI has teamed up with VisitEngland and Visit Wales to offer money-can’t-buy overnight stays in a specially equipped MINI Countryman and here at House of Coco we think it’s the cutest, most inspiring collaboration we’ve seen in a while.
MINI’s biggest car will be equipped with a special rooftop tent to provide an exclusive ‘Room with a view’ in areas of outstanding natural beauty that are normally off limits to the public.
Members of the public are being given the chance to stay in one of three of the UK’s beautiful locations: Durdle Door on the world famous Jurassic Coast in Dorset; the stunning Cheddar Gorge with a backdrop of dramatic cliffs in Somerset, and the majestic glacial mountain range of Snowdonia in Wales.
MINI has launched the experiences in response to a rise in domestic tourism: new research commissioned by MINI from OnePoll shows nearly half of us are more likely to go on a spontaneous break in the UK than we have been in the past decade.
According to VisitEngland, Brits took 44.7 million domestic holidays in England (trips of at least one night) in 2016, up 2% on 2015 and the strongest performance since 2013. From January to April this year (2017) Brits also took a record 11.4 million holiday trips in England.
Further findings from OnePoll reveal just under half of Brits (48%) prefer a ‘staycation’ as they feel the UK has so much to offer. In particular, nearly three in five of us (57%) state that views and scenery is the reason given for visiting the coast, while 43% find holidays at home far less stressful than going abroad and 37% say a key benefit is being able to drive to their preferred UK holiday spot.
In a staycation like no other, guests will get to experience the wonders of the UK, by entering a ballot to win a ‘money can’t buy’ experience; sleeping in a specially designed luxury roof tent by AUTOHOME, atop the MINI Countryman in a site specifically chosen for them. Guests will be fully immersed in nature and its surroundings – sleeping in comfort under the star-lit skies, and waking up to a breathtakingly beautiful sunrise.
The MINI Countryman vehicles will also allow guests to explore further. Bespoke itineraries will be created for each site including fun-filled local activities such as coasteering, caving, abseiling and visiting attractions nearby. Guests will also be able to enjoy local produce through campfire dining.
The locations on offer include: sleeping atop a cliff looking down on the stunning beach and vista of Durdle Door in the world famous World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast in Dorset; a stay by the majestic, carved, glacial mountains of Snowdonia, where you could have breakfast looking over the stunning Ffynnon Llugwy lake, or a visit to the truly epic, Lord of the Rings style vista of Cheddar Gorge in the Mendip Hills in Somerset. Lucky winners will be able to tell their friends that they woke up in one of the greatest natural wonders in Britain.
To be in with your chance of winning a free night on www.mini.co.uk/roomwithaview simply go online and enter your details. There are limited spaces and the winner will be picked through a prize draw. Information of each site, suggested itineraries and more information on other camping experiences can be found online on this site.
So, it’s time to pick your adventure, travel down the path less trodden, and explore just how much England and Wales have to offer.
Here at House of Coco, you can typically find us on the move and sometimes it does feel like we are spending so much time on a plane, it feels that we have joined the team of the hardworking flight attendants! Whilst all this travelling to far-flung places is incredibly exciting, it can play havoc on our beauty routine (hello dry skin and puffy legs!) What’s a girl or guy to do?!
Step in former Telegraph Beauty Editor and founder of Legology, Kate Shapland. It is fair to say that no-one in the beauty world knows legs better than Kate who launched her range of leg care beauty products back in 2013. Having tried almost every product under the sun, Kate wanted to create a high- performance leg care solution that specifically targeted cellulite, diffuse heaviness and tightness, and tone and hydrate the skin. Enter Legology.
The staple product from the Legology range is the Air Lite Daily Lift for Legs which is ideal for frequent travellers as it lightens heavy legs by relieving that nasty fluid retention that can make your legs feel puffy and tired.
Having tried this after a recent journey, I can attest that my legs did feel lighter after applying this in upward circular motions which is aided by its clever cooling ‘Thermo-Lite sensation.
The Air Lite Daily Lift promotes lipolytic drainage and circulation-stimulating benefits that are continuously working after you have applied them. Its pioneering properties contains Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract to reduce puffiness and caffeine to boost circulation.
It also has toning and tightening properties which are very much welcomed if you have less than perfect pins! You don’t have to be a frequent travellers to take advantage of this, this can be equally useful for anyone who is on their feet all day too.
For me, the delicious scent of this product is the cherry on the cake, quite often a product can be amazing, but falls short in terms of packaging and scent. For Air Lite Daily Lift for Legs, thankfully this isn’t true. Every thought has been considered, the citrus scent ‘Capri Crush’ takes you to an Italian lemon grove in summer and the packaging is modern and chic.
Within the Legology range, you can find other complementary products such as EXFO-LITE which is a high-performance scrub that delivers both on keeping your legs contoured and silky smooth. It fuses an exfoliating classic, sea salt with Himalayan pink crystals which acts as a diuretic with a touch of Amalfi lemon peel for a gorgeous uplifting scent.
I have got my eyes (and legs) on the Sun-Lite Sheer Lingerie for Legs which will hopefully encourage me to get my legs out before the summer is over. It’s a cooling tinted cream with just a hint of pearl to add a subtle touch of shimmer which is great for fair-skinned ladies like me. Kate herself as described this product as ‘invisible tights’, ideal for those days when you want to go bare-legged but need a touch of colour.
Kate went from working as an award-winning journalist to her own boss and is heavily involved in all aspects of the brand, from the formulation of the products through to the packaging. The hero product Air Lite Daily Lift for Legs was so popular upon launch, it sold out within one month at Liberty.
Legology have launched an exclusive package for Summer 2017 called ‘The Killer Legs Kit’ which is a handy curation of all of the most popular products, which is ideal for taking on holiday or to check out the products for yourself.
If you are looking to for some ‘Lite’ relief, look no further than Legology! Either buy directly from legology.co.uk or from Space NK, Liberty London or net-a-porter.com.
Here at House of Coco it’s no secret that we love Land Rover as a brand. Not only because they always push the boundaries in the automotive world but because they launch cars that are just too damn sexy. Our Editor-in-Chief Laura Bartlett has been driving a Range Rover for some time now and she said that the car inspires her to go to new places, try out new things and get inspired by the world around her. We salute Land Rover for always inspiring us to travel more as a team, especially with their latest collab.’ Sixty years after Magnum Photos co-founder George Rodger first drove a Land Rover 8,000 miles through the Sahara desert, the two iconic brands have partnered on the second in a series of photographic works, titled ‘Ultimate Vistas’.
Land Rover and acclaimed Magnum photographer Michael Christopher Brown have revealed a set of stunning landscape photos taken from unique vantage points in North America, reached using the refinement and capability of a Range Rover.
In the second of the ‘Ultimate Vistas’ series, Land Rover worked closely with the world-renowned Magnum Photos agency to showcase some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
The images reflect the variety of backdrops surrounding Portland and Seattle, from the mountainous peaks of volcanoes to dozens of inlets and islands along the coast, and the brightly-coloured Skagit Valley.
Since it created the luxury SUV sector almost half a century ago, Range Rover has achieved more than one million sales and sits at the pinnacle of the Land Rover family. The original Classic model made its debut in 1970 and over four generations the luxury SUV has represented the ultimate in design, desirability and capability.
From behind the wheel of the Range Rover, photographer Michael explored the urban and more remote parts of the Northwest, seeking the best spots from which to shoot beautiful landscapes. Using the unparalleled capability of the luxury SUV, Michael drove through snow at the peak of volcanoes, crossed sand dunes to reach coastal vantage points and climbed rocky hillsides for privileged access to incredible vistas.
The trip started in Portland, Oregon and headed north into Washington State, with the crew climbing the active volcanoes of Mount St Helens, Mount Rainier and Mount Baker. It’s nearly 40 years since Mount St Helens volcano erupted, taking 57 lives and destroying hundreds of square miles of forest, bridges and homes. The volcano has been dormant for ten years, but is still classed as active.
Michael’s crew then stopped off in Seattle before venturing along the coast, catching ferries to the sparsely-inhabited San Juan Islands.
The entire expedition was completed in a production Range Rover 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged with 510 PS which transported Michael, his crew and all their equipment.
Michael’s work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine and National Geographic. His ability to capture insightful images of critical moments with just an iPhone has recently led to his involvement with the social platforms of Time and the New York Times.
An avid traveller, Michael has produced bodies of work about Libya and the Congo, and was the first journalist into Cuba following the lift of US trade embargoes in winter 2015.
Michael said: “I’m often driving off-road to go mountain biking, snowboarding or hiking and having a vehicle that can handle confidently a variety of road and off-road conditions is key. I always have a plan for a shoot but it’s important to remain open to other possibilities and the Range Rover allowed us to do that. Often the best pictures happen on the way and way back from a shoot. And while on the shoot, sometimes if I just stop what I’m doing and look around there are often unexpected, serendipitous surprises!”
The Isle of Eriska is excited to introduce Conor Toomey as its new Head Chef, who will be joining the team on the 17th of July. We had an enlightening interview with Conor Toomey about his new role and culinary vision.
Toomey, originally from South Africa, will be joining the island from Amberley Castle where he was Head Chef. Conor has previously worked as Michael Wignalls’ Sous Chef at the Latymer Restaurant which held two Michelin Stars and as Head Chef at Storrs Hall and Amberley Castle where he achieved 3 AA Rosettes.
Conor said of his new role ‘I am thrilled to work in a hotel with such an outstanding reputation for its food and the opportunity to use fresh island produce. Foraging will continue to be a big part of what we do as well as using the kitchen gardens and greenhouses to create seasonal dishes. I look forward to continuing where Paul left off.’
He chats to us here at House of Coco and tells us more…
Tell us a bit about yourself and how/why you became a chef…
Having grown up around the industry, food has always been a passion in my family, I suppose cooking was almost inevitable. I love the constant learning curve and the people in the industry
What excites you about the new challenge at the Isle of Eriska?
Being a more remote location you have a fantastic opportunity to be creative with the local larder, allowing for great creativity
What is your aim for your time at Eriska?
I think to continue pushing the food and product further, there is such a great history in the place for both food and service, so to push that forward is a great opportunity.
Do you have any plans for moving the dining experience at Eriska forward?
I think the dining experience is quite well-established, I will definitely bring my personality to the restaurant.
With the extensive facilities providing produce for the larder what is your favourite part of the kitchen garden facilities?
That’s quite tough, I love the whole larder both wild and cultivated, the chance to grow what we want and pick it what we want is awesome.
Are you keen to implement foraging as part of your menu?
Definitely, only a fool wouldn’t. It is incredible
Do you bring a flavour of your South African heritage to your cooking?
No I don’t think so much as in typical flavour, I think maybe the openness to different styles and cuisines perhaps, as South Africa is a melting pot of cultures and flavours.
How do you plan to use the on-site smokehouse?
Definitely the salmon, wow, we picked it up 10 minutes from here and it tastes incredible, oils are good. Just a fantastic tool to have
What is it that makes a dish special?
A memory I think, smell and taste are as strong as anything to create memories or recall memories if you can make some think… that reminds me of..? Or if it inspires a memory, you always remember a good meal, so I suppose finding that.
What is your favourite dish and ingredient at the moment?
Tough one, always mushrooms on that list they are so versatile and then I suppose game.. fish, so hard I love good products. Everything of a good quality excites me.
What is your favourite part of the island?
I don’t know yet, so much to explore
Book a table with Conor and sample his delightful dishes www.eriska-hotel.co.uk
Forgive us, dear readers but we have been known to snarl our upper lips in derision at opulent British countryside hotels with golf courses. The uninitiated snobs we once were envisaged CaddyShack style nightmare guests and overworked hotel staff, buggies full of business men arguing over who has the largest erm, car… From the second we entered The Grove‘s 300 acre property (within 15 mins of leaving London Euston) our jaws hit the floor and we didn’t succeed shutting them until we were chowing down on a tasty burger later that evening. But more about that later.
We were guests of the hotel and spa to check out the new, bang on trend, holistic spa menu. Honing in on the current obsession with the power of crystals and other precious stones, the ESPA spa offers mindful treatments that harness not only the power of relaxation through the therapist’s work but also through breathing and visualisation techniques.
From the moment we entered the spa we knew we were in for a treat. Unlike too many highly rated hotel spas we’ve visited, the spa here feels like a tailor made retreat, rather than an add on to the hotel. Thoughtfully laid out, it feels spacious and relaxing with an additional outdoor pool located just across the way, with its very own urban beach.
Our therapist Daisy is welcoming and incredibly knowledgable about the treatment. Having read quite a lot of holistic books recently we’re all over the colour visualisations (we saw pink, by the way) and she’s enthusiastic that we’re enthusiastic about the use of a gong to wake us from our relaxed state and the application of Rose Quartz Crystals. We could be in California right now, you guys!
The care taken to coax us into relaxation really pays off and Daisy’s great masseuse work is amplified by the music and scent used. This is honestly the best massage we’ve ever had.
When we awake from the treatment, the tired harassed feeling we had from the week gone disappeared and we were energised and excited to explore the hotel. This is just as well as, with 4 spaces to eat in, a spectacular cocktail menu, bike trails and super quirky art dotted around the property, hiding in your luxe (and very possibly four poster) bed would be a shame.
After an explore we opted for dinner in The Stables, a rustic New-England styled stable serving ‘simple food served to perfection’ and enjoyed a low key but tasty dinner. Here’s another example of the Grove smashing our negative perceptions of 5* luxury; that it feels snobby and elitist. It’s just as well that the team here are so down to earth and friendly as we were shrieking with giggles on the golf buggy ride from the restaurant back to the main hotel…
Snuggling into our impossibly soft bed dreaming of what turned out to be an epic breakfast buffet, we felt a world away from the week’s stresses while only being 18 miles from Piccadilly Circus. Can we commute from here? Seriously.
The Grove is an ideal escape from the city, we couldn’t think of a better treat for you and your girls or your loved one. For more information head over to www.thegrove.co.uk ; see you on the urban beach!
Last week, #TeamCoco was lucky enough to attend the opening party of COYA Angel Court, a buzzing Peruvian restaurant and Latin American bar in the heart of the city.
COYA Angel Court is on the ground floor of the new 24-storey Angel Court development. It’s a day-to-night venue incorporating a buzzing Latin American bar and a contemporary Peruvian restaurant.
Executive Chef Sanjay Dwivedi and his team had prepared some delicious canapés, giving a taster of his menu which mixes traditional elements of Peruvian cuisine with Modern European cooking techniques and Asian influences.
Colourful destination bar, the Pisco Lounge, offers an impressive collection of fine and rare wines and spirits, a comprehensive Pisco library, and a menu map of cocktails to discover Latin American flavours. We tried the South American classic, The Pisco Sour, and a delicious fruity COYA Punch.
Just moments from Bank tube station, the restaurant and Pisco Lounge brims with personality, filled with Peruvian trinkets and hand crafted furniture. The design is by London-based Sagrada, who are part of the design team for all COYA venues worldwide. With a dedicated art collective, that regularly hosts programmes and pop-up exhibitions, COYA brings together art, music and culture from all over Latin America.
If you want to try somewhere new in the city for cocktails and beautiful design, try out COYA Angel Court for Latin American spirit and great food.
For more information, visit www.coyarestaurant.com.
The ultimate city break and most romantic weekend getaway, has to be Paris. Whether you’ve visited before or this is your first time, we’ve compiled a list of #TeamCoco’s most recommended tourist locations, restaurants and bars to make sure you fall in love and make the most of your 48 hours in the La Ville Lumière/de l’amour.
Prepare yourselves for a lot of walking, a lot of spending, a lot of good food and a lot of red wine, let’s start with day one. Standing at the western end of the Champs Élysées at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, The Arc de Triomphe. Honoring those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars the Arc de Triomphe is as historic as it is architecturally beautiful. With 12 avenues branching off from the roundabout is is situated on, the Arc is accessible via two under passes located at the Champs Elysées and the Avenue de la Grande Armée. Along with taking pictures with the Arc, it’s 9.50 Euros to take the lift up to the museum, which is definitely worthwhile and if you can manage the 46 extra steps to the terrace, you have the most beautiful panoramic views of Paris.
Address; Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris
Views from the Arc de Triomphe showcase all Paris has to offer and one view in particularly casts your view down the infamous Champs Elysées. Located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, the Champs Elysées is 1.9 kilometres long and runs from Place de la Concode and the Place Charles de Gaulle. The avenue is the perfect place to stop for a coffee, lunch, stroll and window shop. With everything from Louis Vuitton and Cartier to McDonalds nd Ferrari’s you can hire to zip around the city for 30 minutes, there is something to intrigue everyone.
Address; Champs Élysées, 8th Arrondissement of Paris
If your looking for a place to stop for lunch, the most divine hot chocolate or to get your hands on a selection of their famous macaroons, Ladurée is your next stop. Founded in Paris at 16 rue Royale in 1862 by Louis Ernest Ladurée, this little bakery has transformed into one of the most patisseries in the world. The Ladurée on Champs Elysées was opened in 1997 and is constantly creating, twice a year, much like fashion, Fabricant de Doucerurs propose new desserts for the brand ensuring that Ladurée is a café monument to the elegance of 19th century.
Address; Ladurée, 75 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris
A trip to Paris would be incomplete without a visit to what is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world, the Eiffel Tower, the epitome of romance. Named after engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower, which stands at 300m tall and has the most unrivalled views of the city. The tower is open for tours from 9.30am to 11pm, so you can view Paris from sunrise to sunset depending on your preference. In total with queues and security and lift queues/stairs to get to the summit, understand the history, enjoy the view and have a glass of champagne and get back to the ground again, we recommend allocating around 3 hours. 58 Tour Eiffel, is the towers own gourmet restaurant situated on the first floor. Whether you want a drink or a meal, you are best booking way in advance to secure a table at the ultimate romantic location.
Address; Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris
The River Seine is a 777- kilometre long river that runs through the north of France and most importantly Paris. It’s a good centre point to head to whenever you find yourself a little lost as it leads you straight to most of Paris’ key spots. The Seine also has some bridges, one being Pont des Arts, aka the love lock bridge. Despite all the locks being removed due to health and safety and well making the place look a lot less pretty, the bridge is definitely worth a little stop and still has an air of romance. If the weathers bad and a walk down The Seine isn’t what you’re up for then there are a variety of river cruises that showcase what Paris has to offer.
After leaving the Eiffel Tower, a good hour walk down the Seine on the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris happens to be a masterpiece of gothic art; Notre-Dame. Known for its sculptures and stain glass windows, the cathedral ws one of the very first gothic cathedrals with a heavy influence of naturalism since it’s construction in the 13th century. The cathedral still hosts masses and whether you speak French or not, they are extremely moving and an incredible experience. A walk around the to understand the history, enjoy the art and experience the atmosphere the cathedral holds. You can also go to the top of the cathedral to look at the bells of Notre Dame, have even more stunning panoramic views of Paris and you know, say hi to Quasimodo, whilst you’re up there.
Address; 6 Parvis Notre-Dame – Pl Jean-Paul II, 75004, Paris
In the heart of Paris, there is a palace dedicated to contemporary art, the Centre Georges Pompidou and at the top of this is a place that is in a world of its own; Les Georges. A restaurant that has indoor or terrace options and boasts the most unique and beautiful views of Paris. Directly ahead you have Notre Dame and as you pan to your right there is the Eiffel Tower. Booking is necessary and if you’re lucky enough to reserve a table before sunset, the change in the skyline is extraordinary and after darkness, once every hour you are able to experience the Eiffel Towers light show, which from this distance, makes it sparkle. This restaurant is not a tourist attraction, it is a place for true Parisians so if you want to fully submerse yourself in the french lifestyle and cuisine this is the place to do so. With excellent service, a drinks list as long as your arm, exquisite food and a rose on every table, Les Georges immerses you in the romance of Paris.
Palais Beaubourg, Place Georges Pompidou, 75000 Paris, France
After a long day of walking, sightseeing and indulging, it’s time to rest. If you’re wondering where in paris to stay, how about somewhere that is a 10 minute stay from the Eiffel Tower and just next to Dior? When it comes to luxury in one of the most stylish cities in the world, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, is the dream location. Situated in the heart of Haute Couture on the renounced Avenure Montaigne, this hotel has everything Paris has to offer under one roof. Along with the most magnificent views of the Eiffel Tower. So those rom-coms with the Eiffel Tower glittering through the window, yes, that’s here. Of course, such an opulent hotel comes at a price but if you only have the one night, you have to do it right.
Address; 25 Avenue Montaigne, 75008, Paris
After a maybe a drink in one of the hotels many bars or an early morning massage or treatment in the spa, its time to head out for Day 2. With being surrounded with so much luxury and opulence, it’s always necessary to take a moment to come back down to earth. Step away for what is arguably the best view of the Eiffel Tower and head to Place du Trocadero. Grab a crepe and a coffee for breakfast from one of the stalls on the viewing platform, take a seat on one of the steps, relax and take it all in.
Address; Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75016 Paris
Musée d’Orsay is situated on the left bank of the River Seine and is housed in the Beaux-Arts style Gare d’Orsay railway station. A place that is both surrounded in history and art. If neither are your thing then you can always g crazy on Instagram with a snap of the infamous clock. The museum is home to France’s national collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Art Nouveau works; it is one of the most culturally important museums in the world. It houses work by painters including Gauguin, Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, and Van Gogh.
Address; 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris, France
A little further along in the 1st arrondissement and on the opposite side of the Seine sits a historic monument; Le Louvre. Since opening in 1793, le Louvre has gone through a transformation to look just how it does now. Now home to more than 380,000 objects and displays of 35,00 works of art in eight curatorial departments, making it the world’s largest museum. Le Louvre is somewhere you can spend hours upon hours exploring it’s departments. Along with queues, we recommend giving yourself a few hours as pieces like the Mona Lisa take a while for you to get close to, even once inside.Address; Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
If you wish to indulge in a dose of Parisian retail therapy, then there is a place in the 9th arrondissement on Boulevard Haussman that is perfect for you. With more than 3,500 affordable to luxury brands, Galeries Lafayette has everything from ready to wear to haute couture. Since 1894 Galeries Lafayette has become a Parisian icon; with stunning products and architectural design, this retail store is as stunning on the outside as it is inside, its dome and panoramic views have made it a tourist attraction in itself. Along with being a shoppers paradise the retail space is also home to 25 restaurants, which takes us on to our next stop.
Address: 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France
In 1903 confectioner Antoine Rumpelmayer founded Angelina’s and the tearoom is now known as both a place of sophistication and indulgence. In its early days Angelina’s was sought after by Parisian aristocracy along with Proust and Coco Chanel. The interior is the epitome of Belle Époque and oozes elegance and romance. It’s a tranquil space and know has various locations throughout Paris, however with only 48 hours, we recommend two birds with one stone and visiting the tearoom situated in Galeries Lafayette.
Address; Galeries Lafayette, 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris
Our final recommendation is situated in Saint Germain and the Latin Quarter of Paris. A restaurant bar on the top floor of the LVMH building, just about the Kenzo store, is the restaurant-bar which is heavily inspored by South East Asia. The restaurant is similar to that of a London Eye capsule, all glass and is decorated with a green stairway as almost a statement piece, the rest is kept to a white tonal palette, glass chairs, white leather sofas and a black and white patterned floor. If the interior isn’t enough to win you over, the views of the Seine and typically Parisian town houses will. Kong offers everything from brunch to cocktails and after 11pm turns into a club. So whether the sunlight is streaming in, the rain is hitting the windows or the place is lit up by the Parisian night skyline, Kong is definitely the place to go, to make your last few hours in Paris truly unforgettable.
As April draws to a close have you had your monthly quotient of baked goods? If not, never fear – hide your cake obsessions behind a great cause!.The team behind Bowel Cancer Awareness Month have teamed up with celebrity chefs to suggest some yummy treats you could get baking to raise money for their cause (go to www.bowelcancerawareness.org.uk for more information)..Get that shopping list out as we’re bringing you an exclusive delicious recipe from Deliciously Ella – it’s even got potatoes in so it’s practically healthy! .
Sweet Potato Brownies
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2 medium sweet potatoes
100g ground almonds 100g ground oats 12 medjool dates 2 tablespoons coconut oil 6 tablespoons raw cacao 6 tablespoons maple syrup Icing: 2 tablespoons of coconut oil 1 tablespoon of maple syrup 2 tablespoons of cacao 2 tablespoons of almond butter
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How to…
Start by pre-heating the oven to 180C, then peel the sweet potatoes. Cut them into chunks and place into a steamer for about twenty minutes, until they become really soft.
Once they are perfectly soft and beginning to fall apart remove them and add them to a food processor with the pitted dates.
Put the remaining ingredients into a bowl, before mixing in the sweet potato date combination. Stir well.
Place into a lined baking dish and cook for about forty- ve to fty minutes, until you can pierce the brownie cake with a fork bringing it out dry. Remove the tray and allow it to cool for about ten minutes – this is really important as it needs this time to stick together!
While the brownies are cooling make the icing by simply melting all the ingredients together and stirring well, then place in the freezer for 30 minutes to rm up a bit. Remove the brownies from the tray, leaving it another few minutes before cutting them into squares – then spread the icing on top, dig in and enjoy!
