Eye Prefer Paris Tours

May 20, 2021

I want to thank everyone for watching my live Rue de Martyrs Food tour yesterday and also for your generous tips to my PayPal account. I'm sorry I couldn't thank all of you individually, but know I really appreciate it. CLICK HERE to watch the video and CLICK HERE if you would like to leave a tip in my PayPal account (you don’t have to have a PayPal account), which I would greatly appreciate, as I do these tours free of charge for France.fr Enjoy!

With the exception of a Parisian taking one of my tours in February 2021, I have not given a live Eye Prefer Paris tour since February 2020.

I was overjoyed when I read a few weeks ago that France is going to open its borders on June 9 to people who have been vaccinated.

This means that I can start giving live tours again, and I am very excited to do so. Many of you said that soon as the Covid restrictions in Paris were lifted, you would be coming to Paris and taking my tours. If it’s your first time taking an Eye Prefer Paris Tour, I welcome you, and if you have taken a tour previously, I can’t wait to see you again.

Below is a current list of my tours and CLICK HERE if you would like to book one or more. You can also email me at r.nahem@gmail.com if you have questions or need mire information.

Le Marais Neighborhood Walking Tour

Come take an insiders stroll through the lovely Marais, one of the oldest and historical areas of Paris. Marais expert Richard Nahem (he has lived in the area since 2005) will share the breathtaking, historic buildings and private mansions dating back to the 1600s, beautiful manicured parks and gardens and some of the finest art galleries and small, jewel-like museums. Discover the city’s chicest designer clothing and accessory boutiques and food lovers can feast at some of the top food shops, patisseries, and chocolate shops. The tour also includes a visit to the Jewish Quarter exploring an Art Nouveau synagogue, the Shoah Memorial, and the tasty Jewish food shops. Enjoy this unforgettable tour of a truly magical part of Paris. Tour includes a stop at an award winning bakery for a pastry and a coffee. (Not included in price).

225€ for 1 to 3 people, 75€ for each additional person for a 3-hour tour. 500€for a full day/7 hour tour that includes a 1-hour lunch break. (Price of lunch not included). Each additional person 90€.

Tour time: 3 hours for half day, 7 hours for full day

Morning tour 10:30AM-1:30PM

Afternoon tour 2:30PM-5:30PM

Full day tour 10:30AM-5:30PM

Emily In Paris Tour

This delightful tour will take you to many of the locations that Emily in Paris, the hit Netflix show, was filmed in. Locations include her apartment building in the Latin Quarter, the gardens of the Palais Royal, where she meets her friend Mindy, the Pont Alexandre, the bridge where the perfume commercial is filmed, La Maison Rose, the adorable pink restaurant in Montmartre, the Paris Opera house, Café de Flore, where she meets Thomas, and last but not least, the Boulangerie Moderne, where you get to taste the same pain au chocolat Emily swooned over. The tour will also include the history and insider tips about the locations and a few other surprises.

The three-hour tour is done in a late model sedan or van, with a guide and driver.

Cost for two people is 375€

Cost for three to six people is 475€

Morning tour 10:30AM-1:30PM

Afternoon tour 2:30PM-5:30PM

St. Germain des Prés Tour

St. Germain des Prés is one of the most beloved areas of Paris. As a former hub for writers and artists like Hemingway, Picasso, Jean-Paul Sartre, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, it still has a unique, carefree vibe that is unparalleled. From its lavish 19th-century Belle Époque–style buildings to its top antiques and contemporary art galleries, to its famous people-watching cafés Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, St. Germain des Prés is the quintessential Paris experience. Tour also includes a visit to the magnificent Luxembourg Gardens, the 17^th century St. Sulpice Church, the second largest in Paris (also written about in The DaVinci Code), a bakery known for its scrumptious macaroons, and a visit to the incredible food halls of Le Grand Epicerie.

225€for 1 to 3 people, 75€ for each additional person

Tour time: 3 hours

Morning tour 10:30AM-1:30PM

Afternoon tour 2:30PM-5:30PM

Montmartre Tour

Scale the heights of Paris in Montmartre, 500 feet above the city, with breathtaking panoramic views. Discover the gems of this former little village originally outside of Paris: the beautiful Sacre Coeur church with its marble Byzantine-style domes, the former artist colony and studios where Picasso, Toulouse Lautrec, Van Gogh and Degas painted their masterpieces, the ancient windmills, the still operating vineyard that produces an annual wine, and a walk on one of the best gourmet food shop streets in Paris.

225€ for 1 to 3 people, 75€ for each additional person

Tour time: 2.5 hours

Morning tour 10:30AM-1PM

Afternoon tour 2:30PM-5 PM

South Pigalle/SOPI Tour

A former rundown area known for seedy nightclubs and bars has recently been transformed into one of the trendiest and hip areas in Paris, generally not known by tourists.

South Pigalle will tantalize your taste buds on the rue des Martyrs, brought to life in the New York Times best selling book The Only Street in Paris by Elaine Scolino with over 20 gourmet food shops including fresh artisanal cheeses, the best baguette in Paris, a boutique specializing in salted butter caramels and a gourmet shop with over 15 varieties of patés. A visit to the Museum of the Romantic Life, a former 19^th century mansion with a lovely courtyard garden will bring out the romantic in you and a stop at a quirky confectionary shop selling the best chocolates and candies made in France will satisfy your sweet tooth. Your guide will also share the best restaurants, cafes, and boutiques in in Southern Pigalle.

Tour time: 2.5 hours

Morning tour 10:30AM-1PM

Afternoon tour 2:30PM-5PM

Cost: 210€ for 1 to 3 people, 70€ for each additional person

Paris Highlights Tour

Familiarize yourself with the wonders of Paris with this informative tour in the comfort of a private car or van.

Sites include:

Champs Elysees

Arche de Triomphe

*Eiffel Tower (not going to the top)

Louvre

*Montmartre/Sacre Coeur

Opera house

*Place de la Concorde/Tuileries Garden

*Notre Dame

* Ile St. Louis.

* indicates places we will get out of car/van

Please note the first 3 hours of the tour is in a van or car and the last hour on foot, ending in the Marais.

Guests will be picked up at their hotel or apartment.

Tour time: 4 hours.

Cost: Up to 3 people 425€

4 to 5 people 535€

6 people 560€

Sunset & Evening Paris Highlights Tour

Discover the splendor and drama of Paris starting at sunset and finishing with the evening lights with this special tour.

Sites include:

Sacre Coeur Church/ Montmartre

Notre Dame

The Louvre

Arch de Triomphe

Champs Elysees

Place de la Concorde

*Eiffel Tower (not going to the top)- we will time the tour so you will see the magical sparkle lights go off on the hour

Guests will be picked up and returned to their hotel or apartment.

Tour times will vary between 7PM and 10PM according to the month.

Tour time: 2 hours

Cost: 350€ for up to 3 people

410€ for 4-6 people

Chocolate and Macaron Tasting Tour

Come and taste the sweetest Parisian sweets on the ultimate fantasy tour for chocoholics and pastry lovers. We will visit six of the top tastiest pastry and chocolate boutiques in Paris on the Right Bank and the tour will include five tastings. The tour also includes a stop for a cup of sinfully rich hot chocolate and an entertaining history of the origins of chocolate and macarons in France.

Your guide Richard Nahem, originally from New York, is a former pastry chef & chocolatier, and owned his own shop specializing in chocolate truffles.

Tour time: 2.5 hours

210€ for 1 to 3 people, 70€ each additional person, plus 12€ per person for tastings at 5 shops. Price does not include hot chocolate.

Gourmet Food Tour

Come take a delicious walk with former New York chef and caterer Richard Nahem and discover the bustling food and gourmet shops of Paris overflowing with the freshest fruits and vegetables, local seafood, meats, prepared dishes, and much more. Food shop visits include an award-winning cheese shop with over 50 varieties, a top foie gras boutique, and a sensational middle-eastern gourmet shop with unusual glazed and dried fruits, barrels of pickles and olives, and a vast selection of exotic spices from around the world. The tour will also include tastings of artisianal chocolates, a heavenly meringue and whipped cream confection, and a bakery which won a prize for their baguettes.

225€ for 1 to 3 people, 75€ each additional person plus 12€ per person for 6 tastings: cheese, chocolate, seasonal fruit, foie gras, pastry, and a baguette.

Tour time: 2.5 hours

Morning tour 10:30AM-1PM

Afternoon tour 2:30PM-5PM

Tours are available everyday except Monday.

Jewish History Tour
This special tour traces the long and often arduous history of Jews in Paris and France. Tour includes
• History of Jewish population from150AD when the Romans settled Paris, to the Middle Ages when Jews were habitually persecuted, to the surprising freedom Napoleon granted Jews in the early 1800s, to the thriving late 1800s when Jews flourished in the arts, literature, and finance, to the Dreyfus affair, to the Holocaust and finally the present day culture and community of Jews living in France
• A visit to the Shoah Memorial Holocaust Museum, which lists the 72,000 names of Jews that died in the Holocaust, extensive coverage including photos, propaganda, artifacts and videos, and an eternal flame to commemorate those who died.
• A stroll on rue des Rosiers in the Marais area and the ancient streets of the former Pletzl, now a lively area filled with Jewish food shops, worldwide famous falafel stands, kosher restaurants, bakeries, and bookshops.
• An outside view of an Art Nouveau synagogue built by one of France’s most famous architects
• A traditional Jewish pastry at an authentic Kosher bakery. (Not included in the price of the tour)

Cost: 250€ for 1 to 3 people, 75€ for each additional person
Tour time: 2.5 hours

Tour not given on Saturdays

Morning tour: 10AM-12: 30 PM
Afternoon tour: 2:30PM-5PM

Private Cheese Tasting in Paris Apartment
Come taste the legendary cheeses of France in the comfort of a private Paris apartment. First, we visit an award-winning cheese shop and have a highly trained expert assist us in choosing a variety of five cheeses including sheep’s, cow and goat cheese. Next, we purchase freshly baked bread from a top boulangerie to accompany our cheese. Back in the apartment we will indulge in our cheeses and a specially selected wine. Former chef and caterer Richard Nahem will share the history of cheese making, the different types of cheeses and how they are made and processed, and the specific etiquette of cheese tasting and serving in France.

Tasting includes five types of cheeses, a white or rosé wine, fresh bread and bottled water in between tastings.

Length of Tasting: 2-2.5 hours

Class not given on Mondays

Times: 11AM to1-1:30PM, 3PM to 5-5:30PM

Cost: 260€ for up to 4 people
65€ for each additional person

Flea Market Tour

Les Puces de Paris St. Ouen is the largest antique and flea market in the world with over 2500 vendors, sprawling 17 acres on the edge of the city. We offer customized tours zeroing in on the specific collectibles you are interested in, making the sometimes overwhelming and intimidating market a pleasurable and rewarding experience. From antique armoires to vintage Hermés scarves to kitschy Paris paintings, we can help you find it and bargain for the lowest price.

225€ for 1 to 3 people, 75€ each additional person for a 2-hour tour, plus 60 minute travel time each way by metro or by Taxi/Uber accompanied by your guide from the center of the city. Each additional hour 75€. *Cost of transportation not included.

Morning tour 10:30AM-1:30PM

Afternoon tour 2:30PM-5:30PM

Full day tour 10:30AM-5:30PM

Tours are given only on Saturday and Sunday.

Paris Photo Op Tour

Paris is every photographers dream destination. Award winning photographer Richard Nahem will share his favorite spots for capturing unusual angles of classic Paris monuments plus off beaten photo op places unknown to most visitors. A great tour to create lasting memories of Paris long after your visit.

Richard’s photography has been featured in international travel magazines and websites including Gala Magazine, Romantic Paris, Passport Magazine, About France and Travel Agent Central Magazine and website. He was awarded the Merit Award Prize for the International Fine Arts Photography Awards in 2013.

225€ for 1 to 3 people, 75€ for each additional person for a 3-hour tour. 500€ for a full day/7 hour tour that includes a 1-hour lunch break. (Price of lunch not included). Each additional person 90€.

Tour time: 3 hours for half day, 7 hours for full day

*Morning tour 10:30AM-1:30PM

*Afternoon tour 2:30PM-5:30PM

*Full day tour 10:30AM-5:30PM

* Note: Tour times are flexible and can be adjusted to the best time of day for light.

Shopping Tours

Paris is one of the world’s best shopping destinations and our shopping tours specialize in fashion and home boutiques. The tour will be customized to your tastes and will include unknown, out of the way boutiques that are exclusive to Paris or France. We will visit chic boutiques with exquisite handmade hats, jewelry, clothing, shoes, handbags, and home furnishings and accessories. Tours can also include the city’s best resale shops with mint condition designer clothing, handbags, and accessories and discount designer outlet shops offering up to 70% off on the latest Paris fashions. Whether its that darling purse your friends back home will envy or that special hand-knitted sweater you will wear forever that reminds you of Paris every time you put it on, Eye Prefer Paris shopping tours will help you find a cherished Parisian keepsake.

225€ for 1 to 3 people, 75€ for each additional person for a 3-hour tour. 500€ for a full day/7 hour tour that includes a 1-hour lunch break. (Price of lunch not included).

Tour times: 3 hours for half day, 7 hours for full day

Morning tour 11AM-2PM

Afternoon tour 3PM-6PM

Full day tour 11AM-6PM

Gay Tours

Richard Nahem of Eye Prefer Paris Tours is a savvy, gay ex-New Yorker and is happy to show you his neighborhood the Marais, the gay district of Paris. The tour includes historic architecture dating from the 1600s, the chicest clothing & home boutiques, great food shops and markets, and contemporary art galleries. Richard will also point out bars, cafes and clubs and share practical facts about gay life in the city and a sense of the community.

225€ for 1 to 3 people, 75€ each additional person.

Tour time: 3 hours

Morning tour 10:30AM-1:30PM

Afternoon tour 2:30PM-5:30PM

Private Tours of the Louvre & D’Orsay Museum, and Versailles

Enjoy a relaxed, informative tour of the great art museums and palaces of Paris. Our highly experienced, specially trained guides can show you the highlights of the Louvre & D’Orsay Museums and Versailles in a streamlined and well organized tour.

Louvre tour-225€ for 2.5 hours Plus 17€ per person over 18 for tickets.

D’Orsay tour-225€ for 2.5 hours - Plus 15€ per person over 18 for tickets.

Versailles tour- 350€ for a half day/4 hour 600€ for full day/7 hours including 1 –hour lunch break. Plus 18-27€ per person over 18 for entrance tickets. A round trip transfer in luxury van or sedan- 220€. Going by train is 15€ per person.

Prices are for up to 4 people. Price upon request for groups larger than 6 .

May 20, 2021 in Eye Prefer Paris Tours | Permalink | Comments (0)

Back in April I announced Eye Prefer Paris Evening Cooking Classes, a dinner version of our daytime lunch classes.

Up till two weeks ago, I hadn’t attended one of the classes because I would send the students directly to Charlotte since we don’t go to the market first, so I finally decided to participate in one of the evening classes.

We all met by the Ecole Militaire metro station at 6PM around the corner from Charlotte’s kitchen. It was a full group that night, six people; two retired couples, one from New York and the other from Tulsa, a retired school teacher from Chapel Hill, and a chef from New Orleans.

Our first stop was Grifon cheese shop, which Charlotte claimed to be the best cheese shop in the neighborhood. Charlotte did a thorough explanation of the different varieties of cheeses, how they were made and the regions they were from. One of the things that made the cheese shop superior to other cheese shops was they were affineur, which means they age their own cheeses. We tasted samples of some of the cheeses before we made our final choices. Next we went to the rue Cler, where Charlotte pointed out some of her favorite food shops.

We arrived at Charlotte’s at about 6:45 and everyone settled around the butcher-block counter, donning their aprons, ready to cook up a storm.

Our first preparation was dessert, chocolate fondant, a chocolate cake with a soft center that’s simple to make with only five ingredients. Once the cake was in the oven we broke out the Champagne to celebrate finishing the first dish. (That’s what I love about France, you open a bottle of Champagne for the most mundane reasons).

The next course was my favorite, a sauté of wild mushrooms with fresh ricotta cheese. Charlotte bought beautiful cepe mushrooms from the market earlier in the day and the students diligently cleaned the dirt off of them. I’m not sure I ever had homemade ricotta before and the thought of it was quite exotic to me. Charlotte showed us how simple it was to prepare, just taking milk and a few other ingredients, letting it almost come to a boil, then letting it cool off and thicken. The final step is pushing it through some cheesecloth.

The main course was magret de canard (duck breast) sliced thin with a fig and raspberry sweet and sour sauce, another easy to prepare recipe. We roasted baby potatoes in olive oil and sea salt to accompany the duck.

After our fun time of preparing all the courses, we opened a few bottles of red and sat down to enjoy our feast. The star of the meal was the mushrooms and fresh ricotta and most of us agreed we couldn’t go back to eating store bought ricotta after the fresh taste of homemade. We shared stories and anecdotes about cooking, food, travel, and life. The young chef had a fascinating past and had just moved from New York to New Orleans to become a chef in a Cajun restaurant.

It was a delightful and delicious evening.

Click here to find out more about Eye Prefer Paris Evening Cooking Classes.

Eye Prefer Paris Postcards
I am thrilled to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards, a 6 or 12-month subscription service where the subscriber receives three physical postcards of my iconic Paris photos every month. Each month will have a specific theme, from architectural street scenes to romantic outdoor cafes to beautiful gardens to unique shots of iconic monuments. Each mailing will include two postcards in color and one in black & white or sepia, beautifully packaged in a special French Blue postcard holder with a custom designed seal.

Each 6” X 4.25” traditional size postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock that enhances the vibrancy of every image.

Only $60 for a 6 month subscription (plus shipping)or

$110 for a 12-month subscription (plus shipping)

My offer of a 12-month subscription with an extra month free is good until October 11, so remember to order now before the offer ends.

Click here to order a 12-month subscription from my Etsy store

Click here to order a 6-month subscription from my Etsy store

Tourslogo4 Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more. In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.

Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.

Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 195 euros per person (about $210)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.