10 Places in America That Feel Like France

Design fans and Francophiles will love these restaurants, cities and shops that feel as if you're in Paris.

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March 02, 2021

By: Deanne Revel

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Shopping

Love French design but not able to travel to France? You don’t need a passport or long transatlantic flight to find authentic, French culture. There are so many spots right here in the U.S., from très chic hotels to fresh, buttery croissants to a shop in Savannah, Georgia, that feels magically plucked straight from Les Puces. Located on the bustling, boutique-lined Broughton Street, The Paris Market features two levels of shopping, from the first floor of new homewares, gifts and bath and body products to a basement brocante of antiques. The organized clutter of vignettes downstairs is something you really want to take your time with as there are so many incredibly rare vintage gems, from Napoleonic footstools to Venetian sconces. And after all that treasure hunting, don’t miss the market’s charming little cafe to the side. Modeled after owner Paula Danyluk’s favorite spot in Paris, the cafe features an ornate wooden bar with a case full of freshly baked patisserie. If you can, snag one of the marble bistro tables and chairs outside for people-watching while enjoying a glass of champagne or a cafe au lait.

Book Shop

New York City is full of noteworthy bookstores, but none is as beautiful as Albertine. Tucked inside the Cultural Services of the French Embassy building, the famous French bookshop features more than 14,000 titles from 30 French-speaking countries and has earned quite the following on Instagram for its impressive reading room inspired by the cosmos. The upstairs ceiling features a hand-painted mural of the zodiac and the corresponding constellations as well as gilded stars and planets. Designed by celebrated French designer Jacques Garcia, the shop also features busts crafted by the ateliers of the Musée du Louvre.

Sweets

A true French macaron is almost impossible to recreate. There’s a delicate, finicky balance of crunch and chew that many American cafes try to emulate, but it’s just not the real thing. Fortunately, you can get the real thing — from France — without leaving the states. The iconic Parisian macaron brand Ladurée has nearly a dozen outposts across the U.S. now, from Los Angeles to Miami Beach, with macarons freshly-made using the company's 100-plus secret recipes from the Ladurée vault. The glowing case of pastel cookies can be overwhelming for a macaron newbie, so, if you’re torn on which flavors to choose, you can’t go wrong with pistachio or classic raspberry. Many of Ladurée’s shops in the U.S. feature traditional tea rooms for afternoon tea service (with a three-tier serving platter of macarons!) and the most ornate room of all is at the Madison Avenue Ladurée in New York. The lavish space features gilded tables and chairs and plush, velvet banquettes fit for an aristocrat.

Stay

If you want to visit New York City for Albertine and Ladurée, complete your French-themed trip with a stay at The Plaza. The famed hotel overlooking Central Park may be synonymous with the Big Apple, but in design it is distinctly French. Designed by architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh in 1907, the hotel riffs off of the stately chateaus of French nobility with a dramatic mansard roof, balustrades and that iconic minty green terra-cotta tile work. Inspired by the French Renaissance, the lobby features ornate arches, pillars and luxe marble flooring. Many of the elegant guest rooms and suites have private terraces for a morning coffee, and all rooms feature a bathroom that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale palace, with gilded floral walls, 24-carat gold fixtures and a hand-carved marble vanity. If money is no object, book a night in the Tower Room. The suite is located in one of the corner turrets of the hotel and the master bedroom features a 23-foot exposed brick turret ceiling. And even if you can’t swing the room rate, pop in for a drink at The Champagne Bar or book a treatment at The Guerlain Spa, where technicians are exclusively trained in the Guerlain facial massage technique in Paris.

Book Now: Priceline, From $540/night

Flowers

Summer in the Provence region of France is truly like stepping back in time with the occasional stone farmhouse almost seemingly swallowed up by rolling hills of cherry trees, giant sunflowers and fragrant lavender fields gently swaying in the breeze. The scene is so incredibly inspiring, but if you can’t visit the Luberon Valley, the next best thing is in Southern California. During lavender season from late June to mid-July, you can visit the sprawling lavender fields at 123 Farm in Cherry Valley, California. The SoCal farm is 100% organic and even hand harvests and distills its own lavender essential oil for Provence-inspired lotions, soaps, balms, candles, teas and more.

Bakery

Disney’s Epcot theme park has always had a reputation for education over entertainment, especially at its World Showcase. The France pavilion is like taking a mini trip around France, celebrating the country’s greatest hits. There’s an exhibition on French storytelling throughout history with gorgeous costumes on display from the most recent adaptations of French fairy tales, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, as well as an 18-minute film Impressions de France that whisks you all around the country set to music by famous French composers such as Claude Debussy. Most employees in the pavilion are exchange students from France, part of the Disney College Program, and are more than happy to help you brush up on your French or talk to you about their culture. But the most educational activity is the food. There are options for every budget, from the gourmet Monsieur Paul to the family-friendly Chefs de France brasserie to the casual Les Halles Boulangerie and Patisserie. The food hall mimics an industrial, turn-of-the-century train station with giant, metal arches and has an incredible collection of classic French baked goods and patisserie, from quiche to Croque Monsieur sandwiches to eclairs. There’s so much attention to detail. Even the simple jambon croissant comes with bechamel sauce.

Disney Pro Tip: Most of the park and the World Showcase don't open until 11 a.m. but you can visit Les Halles as early as 9 a.m. for breakfast. It’s an incredibly serene way to start your day before the park gets too crowded.

Buy Tickets: Expedia, From $125/day

Beach

If you want to stay close to Epcot’s France pavilion for those early morning croissants, look no further than Disney’s Riviera Resort. Opened in 2019, Walt Disney World's newest hotel is inspired by the famed European coast as well as Walt and Lillian Disney's travels to France and Italy. The deluxe property is modern-yet-elegant and feels worlds away from the busy parks with more sophisticated decor and an incredibly posh serenity pool. The open-air Bar Riva has a gorgeous mural and blue color palette that transports you straight to the coastal, cool town of Nice. And Le Petit Café in the lobby has the best lemon madeleines you’ll find outside of France. But the most impressive feature is the resort’s collection of art, from vintage Disney film posters en Français to traditional European mosaics. It’s worth a visit just to see classic Disney characters painted in a variety of different art styles, from Impressionism to Cubism. Order a glass of rose and take an art stroll around the resort. If you spot a piece you like, you can order custom prints from the gift shop, La Boutique.

Book Now: Expedia, From $651/night

Neighborhood

No roundup of authentic French spots in the U.S. would be complete without mentioning the French Quarter. The New Orleans district is steeped in history and packed with gorgeous architecture to explore, from the St. Louis Cathedral to the Pontalba buildings with their iconic cast-iron verandas. One of the easiest ways to take it all in — especially if you only have a day — is on a guided walking tour. New Orleans Architecture Tours offers a two-hour, wheelchair accessible tour with all the major highlights, from Jackson Square to Royal Street. And no visit to NOLA would be complete without a warm, sugary beignet from Café Du Monde. For something more filling, head to La Crêpe Nanou. The bistro’s menu is simple and straight to the point with tasty classics such as moules-frites and sweet and savory crepes. And for a unique souvenir, visit Bourbon French Parfums to create a custom perfume blend or browse the nearly 200-year-old perfumery’s couture collection of ready-made French perfumes.

Buy Tickets: TripAdvisor, From $32.00

Architecture

If you’re looking for a place to stay in New Orleans, you might think of the iconic Hotel Monteleone with its signature Carousel Bar, but it’s actually Italian. For a historic alternative, book a room at the Degas House, former home to the French Impressionist, Edgar Degas. Or for something more modern, Maison de la Luz, a new guest house from Atelier Ace is absolutely stunning. Most rooms feature 17-foot high ceilings and are decorated with a mix of old and new that make the rooms feel like a posh apartment in Paris’ ultra-coveted sixth arrondissement, or district. The hotel’s Breakfast Room was designed to feel like a French parlor with plush velvet banquettes and parquet flooring. The cobalt blue and white palette is so serene and paired with tons of natural light from the large blue-trimmed windows, it creates such a tranquil way to start the day. After a day of sightseeing, unwind at the hotel’s Bar Marilou. Opened in partnership between Maison de la Luz and Parisian group, Quixotic Projects, the funky, book-clad watering hole specializes in craft cocktails and French-inspired fare.

Book Now: Booking.com, From $319/night

Spa

If you’ve always wanted to visit the French Alps, your next best option is Posthotel in Leavenworth, Washington. Overlooking the Wenatchee River and facing the snow-capped North Cascades, the luxe adults-only wellness hotel samples from different European countries, but you can’t deny the distinct French influence. Even the hotel’s logo is a French horn. The 55-room boutique resort has a massive spa with traditional European hydrotherapy pools and wellness concepts from the Alps. And if you visit during the winter, you can enjoy snowshoeing and cross-country skiing rentals. Each room is decorated in a French-country style with a giant, hand-carved marble soaking tub, ornate fireplace and terrace with French doors. It’s like Restoration Hardware meets a fairy tale castle. But the best part of the experience is the food. Breakfast, lunch and an evening dessert service are included in your stay and are all inspired by traditional European eats. There’s always a French cheese or two for snacking.

Book Now: Booking.com, From $495/night