The Holidays in Paris Part 1: A Festive Evening at Shangri-La
Hi friends,
Christmas in Paris is a dream. It’s not a hyperbole by any means. Yes American Christmas is festive and colorful on a grander scale but Parisian Christmas is fanciful, chic, and whimsical.
As an LA native, I grew up going to my local Candy Cane Lane, a designated neighborhood where every house is extravagantly decorated with lights, themed decor, and even music. My high school dance team sold hot chocolate on the streets of Candy Cane Lane, and I dreamed about one day having a teenage romance to escort me through the neighborhood of festive homes. My California Christmases were filled with boat parades, jolly parties hosted by friends, and large family gatherings. Needless to say, I grew up with Christmas being a FESTIVE time of year so my fondness for the holiday runs deep with emotion.
Due to the timing of work obligations, timing, and my visa constraints going home for Christmas was just not in the cards this year. Each day leading up to the most “magical time of year” left me teetering between melancholy and a sprinkle of sadness. I rarely ever feel homesick rather it’s more so the separation from my family during a time of year when most people are with theirs that I can’t help but feel the cost of the life I choose being an expat being paid in full.
This holiday season marks my second solo Christmas. Last year was unfortunately terrible in every way. I got COVID for the first time and I spent nearly all my days off crawling from the couch to the kitchen making soup. So this year, I’m more determined than ever to enjoy my holidays even if it means spending it alone.
One of the highlights on this holiday season so far was visiting the Shangri-La Paris with my dear friend Ivana. As an influencer, Ivana knows all of the best places for Christmas content, hot chocolate, and the chicest hotel bars in Paris. In the past, I’ve made a point to try all of the hot chocolates at iconic Parisian establishments like Café du Flore, Deux Margot, Ladurée, and Angelina’s, but this year I thought I’d go even fancier and indulge in a hot chocolate at Shangri-La.
Cozy, inviting, and of course impeccably decorated, entering Shangri-La made me feel like I was entering a small palace in Paris. With warm wooden walls and chandeliers hanging from the ceilings, the salon felt made for royalty. I ordered my 16 euro hot chocolate and to my surprise was served more hot chocolate than I could drink. Ivana and I sat there for a minimum of two hours catching up about our week before we finished my hot chocolate. It was dense, creamy, and very very rich, typical of a Parisian-style hot chocolate. More like drinking gravy than the water downed American hot chocolate that starts as a powder. Served with chocolates, I’d say the hot chocolat was 16 euros well-spent for the amount of time it took to drink it all and the beautiful space which we were able to pass our time.
Of course, our visit would not be complete without pictures on the marble staircase and in front of the hotel’s Christmas tree. I wore a House of CB dress (borrowed from Ivana), my new Lemaire molded leather clutch, and vintage earrings.
Overall, I think if you are going to get a hot chocolate in Paris and you have the time and budget, why not indulge in a hot chocolate at a fanciful hotel? Where it feels like an escape from all the holiday rush and time can really be enjoyed for the gift that it is. It’s an expensive simple pleasure but one worth indulging in at least once or twice to survive the long winter to come.
Bisous,
Kiana