For the past 3 years, we head to Paris for Maison & Objet, held out in Villepinte near the airport — a good 50 minutes from the city center. Besides sourcing for our store, our main purpose is to exhibit with Misc-Distribution. For five days of the show, we live in a sort of bubble, tending our shop for other shops.

The practical choice would be to stay nearby. But Paris isn’t a city you just pass through. We’d rather hop on the RER B each day, if it means we can start with a croissant, sip a proper coffee, and wind down with good food in the evening.

Here’s our little guide to where we ate (and stayed) during the fair:

Where We Stayed

We usually book an Airbnb near République (here, here and here, for example )— a perfect spot that gives us easy access to some of our favorite Paris stores: Merci, Papier Tigre, Koya Papeterie, 0fr., Shapes, Words, and The Broken Arm. Staying here lets us mix trade show days with moments of browsing design, paper goods, and concept shops.

We also love Hotel Suzie Blue, former hotel Sookie, a small boutique hotel nearby. But during trade show season, the prices skyrocket — so this time, we went practical and stayed at this Ibis Styles. Functional and great location? Yes. Inspiring? Not really. It did the job, but let’s say it won’t be making our highlight reel. Still, in the spirit of honesty, not every Paris stay is boutique-chic.

Petit Bao – Rue Etienne Marcel

Our go-to every time we’re in Paris. The Xiaolong Bao and eggplant are non-negotiable orders, and last time we discovered their string bean dish too — a perfect way to sneak in some veg during six long days away from home.

Le Cornichon

Contemporary neighborhood café offering simple, generous and gourmet cuisine. We went straight for the côte de bœuf with fried fries. It’s indulgent, comforting, and exactly the kind of meal you need after a day walking the endless aisles of Maison & Objet. Also, great for lunch, with a set menu.

Bar Lissit

A small, vibey spot with walls decorated by Amsterdam artist Emiel Steenhuizen. It’s cozy, artistic, and just the kind of place to reset over a drink.

Le Recoin

Wine first, small plates second. Le Recoin is one of those places where you sit down for a glass and end up ordering half the menu. Relaxed atmosphere, thoughtful dishes, and the kind of evening that stretches on in the best way.

Café du Coin

A corner café (literally) with a cosy, local feel. They serve small pizzettes alongside natural wines, and it’s full of neighborhood charm. One of those places that feels like you stumbled on a secret.

Bambino – A Hidden Gem Worth the Early Exit

If you can sneak away from the tradeshow a little early, Bambino is an absolute must. They don’t take reservations, but arriving early is worth it — every dish we’ve tried has been on point. Last visit, we even found ourselves enjoying it more than Clamato, which is saying a lot. Perfect for adventurous palates looking for something fresh, vibrant, and distinctly Parisian.

Coffee Before the Fair – Dreamin Man & The Coffee

Before boarding the train out to Villepinte, we sneaked in an espresso at Dreamin Man or The Coffee. Both are small specialty shops that take coffee seriously, and they became our daily pre-show ritual.

Sweet Treats & Pastries

Sometimes, if one of our team heads out to the venue later in the day, we bring back extra-special goodies from one of the French pastry makers. Our absolute favorite? Tappiserie from the Septime group — delicate, flavorful, and a little piece of Paris magic that makes a long day on the trade floor feel indulgent.

Walking It Off

Counterintuitively, those walks back to the hotel after dinner did wonders for our feet. Instead of feeling drained, we found ourselves more energized. Paris has a way of restoring you — even after a full day on the trade floor.

Paris After the Fair

If you’re heading to Maison & Objet, don’t feel tied to the airport hotels and quick bites nearby. Make the commute. Soak in the city. Have the croissant, drink the coffee, linger over dinner. For us, it’s these Paris moments that balance out the intensity of the fair — and keep us coming back year after year.