Emily in Paris: The Must-See Locations, Reviews, and Tours (Complete Guide)

During the preparation of the article Recommended French films for quarantine days I’ve had quite a few Francophiles contact me and ask if I’ve seen the Netflix series, “Emily in Paris.” The request was always shy and the text was something like “A bit of a silly series, but you have to watch it because the shots of Paris are simply spectacular.”

I went to see this trailer:

As you can see in the video, this is a completely licked American series and not, as I secretly hoped, a series based on the film “Amelie.” That’s right, the footage of Paris They were indeed spectacular, but all of that wasn't enough to see something that looked like typical American trash.

But the questions “Well, have you seen Emily in Paris yet?” kept coming, and they even asked to interview me about the series. I realized at that moment that I had no choice but to watch this series. I took advantage of the fact that I took time off during the quarantine (very smart of me, I know) and in one evening I watched 8 of the ten episodes of the series.

Much to my surprise, as time went on I began to enjoy this series. It was, of course, a pleasure mixed with feelings of shame and guilt, a feeling similar to the one I feel when I eat a Burger Ranch burger once a year (don't judge me, even a connoisseur Francophile is allowed to eat a little junk).

While watching, I had a few insights that may not be related to each other, but I thought it might be interesting to share with you. I hope these insights help me explain, at least indirectly, why I titled this article “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”

Beyond these insights, I have a feeling that quite a few of you will want to visit places that appear in the series. Since a complete list of all the places that appear in the series would be too long, I decided to try and create a more limited list of places that appear in several episodes (or just places that I particularly liked).

***Spoiler Warning***

From now on, I will talk about details that appear in the plot of the series “Emily in Paris.” This shouldn’t have much of an impact because it’s not a film based on Agatha Christie’s books, but I thought I’d warn you, just in case.

Emily vs. Amelie

The first thing that caught my eye when I first heard about the series was the name. The similarity between the names of the series' heroine and the heroine of the film Amélie (in French the name is longer Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain), made me immediately try to compare the main characters.

Ostensibly, beyond the fact that both the film and the series take place in Paris, there shouldn't be any similarities. Emily in Paris is an American series with actors who mostly speak English with a suspiciously perfect accent. In contrast, the film Amelie He is quintessentially French. However, the more you watch the series and the film, the more you discover at least two points of similarity between them.

Aesthetics

The first thing that catches your eye in both the film and the series are the spectacular shots of Paris. You can get an example of the photographic aesthetic of the film Emily in the video below:

What do the series and the film have in common? The fact that every frame is simply perfect, and some would say too perfect. Notice how in both “Amélie in Paris” and the film “Amélie” there is not a single speck of dirt, out-of-place graffiti, or even a small sign of the ravages of time, which naturally gnaw at a historic city like Paris.

It is said that Jean-Pierre Jeannet, the director of the film “Amelie,” took care to clean the locations where the film was shot almost obsessively. Indeed, everything in the film is simply perfect. Each location is presented in the most beautiful way possible, and let’s not forget, of course, the ingenious use of color filters to highlight certain objects.

In the series “Emily in Paris,” the situation is similar. The lighting everywhere is perfect and almost every scene is filmed in pleasant spring light, so much so that anyone who knows Paris through the filming of the series will not understand why it was called The city is grayHowever, here the director of the series took one step further than was done in the film Amelie and made sure to eliminate almost all the ugly or even average-looking people from the heroine's immediate surroundings.

And so, all the men there are sporty and elegant, dressed in their best suits (even if they play the role of a cook). The women also look like they stepped out of a magazine. Each one is dressed in the latest fashion, every hair is in place, and even when the heroine of the series steps on dog poop, she looks perfect. The people in the series are simply too perfect and live too perfect lives. It's great for those looking for pure escapism, but for me it created a slight feeling of nausea.

And speaking of nausea, as we all know, the nausea that appears in the first episode turns into a toilet hug in the sixth episode, when Emily's friend, Mindy Chou, decides to perform a kill video to Edith Piaf's famous song La Vie En Rose and does so in the middle of the Palais Royal (not recommended for fans of Chansons and for pregnant women).

https://youtu.be/BlY6gUhtPWo

Indeed, difficult pictures…

the loneliness

There is seemingly no connection between the film's heroine Emily and the series' heroine. The former is a woman of immense personal charm, who spends most of the film trying to help the people around her. The latter is an egocentric and self-centered woman, who bursts into her immediate environment like an elephant into an elegant china boutique inMarais DistrictAnd yet, there is a common thread between the film and the series: loneliness.

The film Amelie deals with the phenomenon of loneliness, and don't let the Parisian sights, the humor, and the slightly sweet atmosphere fool you. Amelie Poulain is a complete outsider to her immediate and distant surroundings, as is Nino Quincompoix, with whom she falls in love during the film. The other characters, such as the painter, Amelie's father, or the concierge, are also completely lonely characters, and it sometimes seems that Amelie is the only one who manages to connect them to society.

Ostensibly, in the series “Emily in Paris” the situation is completely different. After all, these are young people (most of them), who spend most of their time in various social activities. However, we quickly discover that behind all this lies an immense loneliness. The loneliest character in the series is, of course, the heroine.

She is not connected to her surroundings, and in the first episode we discover that she didn't even bother Learn French To try to communicate with her new surroundings. Furthermore, at the beginning of the series, Emily breaks up with her American partner and from that moment on she enters and leaves impossible relationships, which leave her in the same place she is: the island of loneliness.

The rest of the characters in the series are also pretty lonely in the end. Take, for example, her boss, who is content to be a mistress who receives crumbs from her lover. Or, Emily's first friend in Paris, Mindy Chen, is also lonely and cut off from her family, who are unwilling to accept the fact that she is not interested in running the family business. And even the couples in the series are made up of very lonely people, because everyone there is cheating on the other or at least lusting after someone else. So yes, it is a "glorious loneliness," but it is still loneliness.

And speaking of “An Elephant in a China Shop.” Although the main character creates antagonism (at least for me), due to her egocentric nature, lack of understanding of French culture, and servitude to political correctness, I eventually began to sympathize with her a little.

The reason for this is that I am certainly familiar with that “elephant in a china shop” feeling that every person experiences when they come from a certain culture to work in a country with a completely different culture. As those who follow me know, in 2016 I moved to live on the island Guernsey For work reasons, and to this day I remember the cultural market. I too stepped on quite a few toes in the beginning, both in Guernsey and in Australia (where the company's development center is located) and I got a lot out of it. So at certain moments in the series, I definitely found myself identifying a little with the heroine.

Places in Paris that appear in the series Emily in Paris

Okay, now that we've finished philosophizing about the series, it's time to move on to the nitty-gritty and tell all fans of the series where to find the main places that appear there (locations). If you want, you can create them Trip Next time you visit Paris, even book special tours that will take you to exactly those spots.

Place de l'Estrapade – Emily's house

Emily's workplace decided to house her in the chic 5th arrondissement, in the charming square called Place de l'Estrapade. Interestingly, the square is named after a torture device that was placed in the square. This device allowed people to be hanged with their hands tied behind their backs, and quite a few Protestants found themselves hanging between heaven and earth there.

Did the creators of the series want to create a metaphor here for Emily's uprooting from her surroundings or for the fact that going up to the fifth floor, where she lived, every day, without an elevator, was torture? I'll leave that to film professors who will analyze the series in the future.

And by the way, her fourth-floor neighbor's restaurant (Chef Gabriel) is located on Saint Jacques Street and during the day it functions as an Italian restaurant called Terra Nera. Right next door is the famous bakery from the series, La Boulangerie Moderne. If watching the series (or visiting the bakery) has sparked a strong desire for French pastries, instead of just looking at them, maybe you should learn to make them yourself?

Pantheon Square

Here, in this square, Emily receives a phone call from her partner, who demands that she return to Chicago, and in response, she breaks up with him. The Pantheon of Paris, as is known, is the burial place of the greats of France, and the question arises: is this a metaphor for the death of Emily's relationship with her partner?

Palais Royal

One of the most important areas in the series. This is where Emily meets Mindy for the first time and where she sits for quite a while (and where Mindy kills the song La Vie En Rose, as I wrote earlier). The reason for this is that her workplace is located not far from there, in Place de Valois, a small, charming and not-so-well-known square that is definitely worth a visit (it's also where the cafe where she usually sits with her colleagues is located).

Plaza Athenee Hotel

This hotel was where the American star, whom Emily was supposed to guard at a luxury watch launch event, lived.

This is one of the most luxurious and luxurious hotels in Paris and is located on Avenue Montaigne, not far from theChamps Elysees, where you can find all the major fashion houses.

If you decide to live there, you are welcome to enterLink this (And if not, you can always have afternoon tea there and enjoy a luxurious experience at a reasonable price).

Place Dalida

https://youtu.be/P0sqv8oZkH4

Without a doubt one of the most charming squares, which is now named after the famous singer Delida Buried inMontmartre Cemetery.

In this square, Emily decides in the fifth episode to set up a bed and there she takes a picture with her French friend, Camille. There is no doubt that even without all this terrarium, it is worth going there and you can find the square in Joel Tamanlis' article. Montmartre of the great artists.

The Café de l'Homme

This is where the launch party for the fictitious perfume De l'heure is held. The venue is located in the Trocadero Gardens and offers a spectacular view of Eiffel TowerThe area is home to several famous Paris museums, such as the Musée de l'Homme, Cité de l'architecture and more.

Pont Alexandre III

The advertising campaign for De l'heure perfume is filmed on this famous Parisian bridge, which opened in 1900 and is one of the monuments of Paris. Nearby you can find the Grand Palais and the Champs Elysées, as well as the The invalid.

Atelier des Lumieres

A digital art center that began in 1835 as a steel factory. Here you will find spectacular exhibitions that are suitable for anyone who loves art and experiences. In the series, Emily, Camille and Gabriel feel like they are walking into Van Gogh's Starry Night, an experience that you can enjoy too.

Rue de l'Abreuvoir

Mindy calls Rue de l'Abreuvoir “the most beautiful street in Paris” and explains to Emily that it is also called “the road to the end.” Neither of these claims is officially true, but it is certainly a very beautiful street in Montmartre.

Here Emily decides to create a marketing campaign for Hästens, and there is also a restaurant on the street called Maison Rose, where Emily and Mindy dine. The restaurant has previously hosted celebrities such as Picasso, Edith Piaf And Albert Camus.

Paris Opera

And we will end our “trip” atParis Opera House That's where Emily comes to crack a tough nut to crack during the ballet "Swan Lake." I'm referring, of course, to the famous fashion designer, who called her Ringarde, a word that means "simple person" in French (which certainly suits Emily very well).

There is no doubt that this is one of the most magnificent buildings in Paris and it is highly recommended to visit it to be impressed by its beauty and chic. If you would like to visit it, you can buy tickets atMonuments page Site.

That's it, we've finished our "tour." I'd love to hear whether you liked or disliked the series and the itinerary in the comments below.

Tours and experiences following Emily in Paris

If you don't feel like traveling on your own and getting confused with navigation, or you simply want an experience that will make you feel like part of the series, I've collected a number of recommended and highly rated tours that will satisfy your cravings (and some will also whet your appetite):

• Emily's official walking tour of Paris: A tour that takes in all the most iconic locations we talked about, including Emily's apartment and Gabriel's restaurant. A great opportunity for the perfect selfie. For details and to book tickets, click here.
• Emily's Official Food Tour of Paris: Because let's face it, you can't talk about Paris without talking about food. This tour combines the locations from the series with tastings of French pastries and treats. To check availability and book a place.
• Emily's Macaron Workshop: Want to feel a bit like a pastry chef? An experiential workshop for making macarons inspired by the series. For more details.

Technical information about the series

Year of release

2020

Main actors

• Lily Collins – Emily
• Philippines Leroy-Beaulieu – Sylvie, Emily's boss
• Ashley Park – Mindy Chan (Emily's first girlfriend)
• Lucas Bravo – Gabriel (the neighbor Emily falls in love with)
• Samuel Arnold – Julian (works with Emily)
• Bruno Guari – Luke (works with Emily)
• Camille Razat – Cami, the partner of Emily's neighbor and her friend

Where can I watch Emily in Paris?

This is a series created on Netflix and can therefore only be watched there (legally, anyway).

Link to watch Emily in Paris on Netflix