Mantra Restaurant
Meditate on This
A mantra is supposed to be kept secret, but Paris is home to one mantra whose existence should be broadcast far and wide. I’m referring to the new (five-month-old) restaurant Mantra in Paris’s 9th arrondissement. Mantra, with chef Manogeran Shasitaran … Read More
Madame de Sévigné: Lettres Parisiennes
Lasting Letters
The 400th anniversary this year of the birth of that great letter-writer, the Marquise de Sévigné, afforded me the opportunity both to visit the wonderful new exhibition “Madame de Sévigné: Lettres Parisiennes” at the Musée Carnavalet (located in a building … Read More
Monaco Restaurant
Café Life Renewed
I am here to testify that there is more to the gastronomic offerings of the 13th arrondissement than Asian restaurants of various stripes. One non-Asian gem is Monaco, once a venerable but declining café, now a spacious, light-filled café/restaurant with … Read More
Orangutan Playground
Man of the Forest
The five orangutans who live in the Ménagerie in Paris’s Jardin des Plantes have a new outdoor playground. Formerly confined to a glassed-in enclosure, they can now make their way across an elevated bridge to a triangular structure entirely enclosed … Read More
Photo of the Month
Colorful Canal Saint Martin. Photo: Ron Fox
What's Happening in Paris This Month
For full details about an event, click on the title to visit the official Web site (in English when available).
May 19
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents Trois Couleurs: Rouge.
L’Epée de Bois, Paris
May 21
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents Juste une Illusion.
Arlequin, Paris
May 13-23
Directors’ Fortnight
The features and short subjects entered in the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs category at the Cannes Film Festival are shown in Paris.
Various locations, Paris
May 23
Late-night art
Museums stay open into the night for free and hold special events for the Nuit Européenne des Musées.
Various locations, Paris & Europe
May 24
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents Dilili à Paris.
Studio des Ursulines, Paris
May 18-24
Jazz festival
Concerts, conferences and master classes abound at Festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Various locations in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris
May 21-24
Pop-up restaurants
Paris’s best chefs offer bite-sized samples of their fare at Taste of Paris.
Grand Palais, Paris
May 21-24
The art of fitness
The Festival Jogging brings together the sports and art worlds, with shows, roller dance, a contemporary art exhibition, interactive installations, and sports and fitness classes.
Le Carreau du Temple, Paris
May 20-25
Go outdoors!
Guided walks, exhibitions, open gardens and more will take place across the country for Fête de la Nature.
Various locations, France
May 28
Street food
The barbecue version of the street-food pop-up, Le Food Market: free entry and food stands a-go-g0..
Boulevard de Belleville between Métro stations Couronnes and Ménilmontant, Paris
May 1-30
Celebrating cycling
Mai à Vélo celebrates and promotes all things cycling. Events in Paris include tours and cycling challenges.
Worldwide
May 25-31
Brewer’s bash
Local bars will feature craft beers throughout the week, and the Paris Beer Festival will take place at Ground Control on the weekend.
Various locations & Ground Control, Paris
May 28-31
Studio-hopping
Some 150 artists open their studios to the public for Portes Ouvertes des Ateliers d’Artistes de Belleville, an occasion to discover not only artworks but also hidden gardens and courtyards in this lively quarter of Paris.
Various locations, Paris
May 28-31
Free performances indoors and out
The Festival Onze Bouge presents free concerts, theater, dance performances and street art.
11th arrondissement, Paris
May 29-31
Gallery walks
Explore dozens of modern and contemporary art galleries during Paris Gallery Weekend.
Various locations, Paris
May 31
Festival of Colors, Love and Spring
Celebration of the joyous Fête de Holi. Don’t wear your best clothes in case you are caught in a shower of color.
Jardin d’Acclimatation, Paris
May 27-June 3
Local literature festival
The libraries, bookshops, museums and universities of Paris’s literary fifth arrondissement open their doors for Quartier du Livre, a week-long celebration of the written word. Meetings with authors, conferences, concerts and more.
Various locations, Paris
June 5
Mandela onstage
The Life of Nelson Mandela follows the South African leader from youthful resistance to imprisonment, and from imprisonment to statesmanship and reconciliation. More than a historical account, it is a vivid theatrical portrait of a figure whose legacy still speaks powerfully today.
Alhambra, Paris
June 6
Midnight culture
Art of all types will be on display in the streets of Paris late into the night during the annual Nuit Blanche festivities.
Various locations, Paris
May 29-June 7
Cello festival
Concerts, dance and more at the Beauvais International Cello Festival.
Beauvais, France
June 4-7
Charity fashion sale
Hundreds of fashion brands have donated clothing to be sold at a 70 percent discount at the Grande Braderie de la Mode de AIDES.
Magasins Généraux, Pantin
June 5-7
Gardens galore
For the Rendez-vous aux Jardins, public and private gardens all over France open their gates and offer educational tours, concerts, tastings and more. This year the focus is on views.
Various locations, France
June 5-7
Street art festival
Over 40 street art companies, including circus performers, dancers and puppeteers gather in the center of Nanterre for the three-day Parade(s) festival.
Nanterre Centre-Ville
June 5-7
Stimulating books
The Paris Ass Book Fair gives “an important place to marginal and untimely sensibilities, desires and aspirations, and to affirm a joyful approach to art and publishing, a taste for provocation and the absurd, an urge to stimulate minds and bodies.”
Palais de Tokyo, Paris
June 6-7
Lively literary festival
The festival Mots pour Mot offers free encounters with authors as diverse as Alain Finkielkraut and Riad Sattouf. Reservations recommended.
La Villette, Paris
June 7
Giant bike rally
La Convergence brings together riders from all over the Île de France, who converge on avenue de Saxe in Paris for a group picnic. See website for routes.
Île de France and Paris
March 20-June 21
Drawing season
Le Printemps du Dessin presents exhibitions and workshops highlighting this accessible art form across the country.
Various venues, France
June 5-21
June 5-21
Meet the trees
The festival Les Nuits des Forêts draws visitors into French forests with exhibitions, shows and immersive events, by day and by night.
Various locations, France
May 28-June 23
Classical music festival
The Festival de Saint Denis features both stars and young talents.
Various locations, Saint-Denis
June 6, 20 & 27
New music
ManiFeste, IRCAM’s international festival, presents three concerts.
Centquatre, Paris
May 21-June 28
Outdoor cultural markets
The Foire Saint-Sulpice brings week-long markets – featuring rare books, antiques, stamps, ceramics, contemporary prints and poetry – to the Place Saint-Sulpice. Free admission.
Place Saint-Sulpice, Paris
May 22-September 2o
The world as we know it today
The wonderful Musée Albert Kahn, whose founder’s aim was to create ““a vast photographic inventory of the Earth’s surface … as it appeared at the beginning of the 20th century,” brings that goal up to date with Mondes en Commun, a festival of contemporary photographs of our world.
Musée Départemental Albert Kahn, Boulogne-Billancourt
April 3–December 31
Art indoors and out
Contemporary art exhibitions on the Île Seguin and in the Seine Musicale for the Extatiques festival. Free admission,