Mika’s Paris

Photo by Peter Lindbergh

Since releasing his debut album, Life in Cartoon Motion, in 2007, Grammy nominee Mika has gone on to mentor aspiring pop stars as a judge on X Factor Italy and as a coach on The Voice France. The Lebanese-British singer (né Michael Holbrook Penniman) has also been trying his hand at fashion, having recently teamed up with Swatch to craft new designs for the watch brand. It’s suitable, then, that as he promotes his latest record, No Place in Heaven, the au courant crooner is giving us a guided tour of one of the most stylish cities in the world: Paris.

CAFÉ DU TROCADÉRO
“I start off with breakfast here before my morning run towards the riverbank of the Seine.” 8 Place du Trocadéro

PONT ALEXANDRE III
“One of the world’s most beautiful bridges. Cross the Seine and then go back down to the riverside and exercise on the open-air trapeze bars and jungle gym.”

MUSÉE DE LA CHASSE ET DE LA NATURE
“My favorite museum is full of natural artifacts and taxidermy, all in a stunning Haussmann building. It’s like the palace of the rich uncle you wish you had.” 62 Rue des Archives; ChasseNature.org


DEYROLLE
“This taxidermy shop is pretty amazing. It’s where they filmed a lot of movies, including Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris.” 46 Rue du Bac; Deyrolle.com


MA COCOTTE
“For lunch, go to this hip restaurant in the heart of the antique market. It’s eclectic, and full of people who work and trade in the market. It’s not just another tourist trap.” 106 Rue des Rosiers, Saint-Ouen; MaCocotte-LesPuces.com


PALAIS-ROYAL AND CHANTAL THOMASS
“Check out the miniatures shop at the Palais-Royal and then the Chantal Thomass boutique. It’s a magical place.” 211 Rue Saint-Honoré; ChantalThomass.com

AU PLAT D’ETAIN
“It’s in the 6ème—one of the best areas of Paris—and it’s among the most beautiful tiny-toy-soldier shops in the world.” 16 Rue Guisarde; AuPlatdEtain.com.

PASSAGE DES PANORAMAS
“Truly remarkable in the evening. It used to have a few bad restaurants and a dingy-looking gay sauna/bathhouse. The bathhouse is still there, but also an Aladdin’s cave of bars and hangouts. It has one of the best restaurants in Paris, Passage 53, where a young chef makes the finest French food with Japanese influence.” 11 Boulevard Montmartre; PassageDesPanoramas.fr


LA RÉSERVE
“If you can, sleep here. It’s designed by Jacques Garcia, and in Pierre Cardin’s former residence. It’s expensive, but pretty amazing.” 42 Avenue Gabriel; LaReserve-Paris.com