From espresso near Natalie Portman to passing Timothée Chalamet during Fashion Week; Paris isn’t just a backdrop for films and fashion campaigns — it’s where artists, actors, and icons actually live, stay, and escape to. Some hide in plain sight, others leave behind a trail of blacked-out SUVs and subtle security. But if you know where to look, the city becomes a quiet stage for casual celebrity sightings.
Here’s a walkable guide to where stars really show up in Paris — no zoom lens needed.
Hôtel Costes – 1st arrondissement
Spotted: Rihanna, Sofia Coppola, Bella Hadid
Low-lit, ultra-exclusive, and nearly invisible unless you know where to find it. Hôtel Costes isn’t trying to be found — which is why it’s loved by celebrities during Fashion Week. The restaurant is a hotspot for late dinners, while the lobby often hosts interviews, low-key meetings, and high-stakes deals.
Tip: Wait it out across the street with a coffee from Café Verlet. The sidewalk here says more than the guest list ever will.
Avenue Montaigne
Spotted: Kim Kardashian, Cate Blanchett, almost everyone in fashion
Think high fashion with high odds. With Dior, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton lining the street, this avenue becomes a red carpet during Fashion Week. Plaza Athénée sits at its center — a hotel where show invites and champagne quietly change hands.
Tip: Linger outside between shows, or walk toward Pont de l’Alma for a view even locals can’t resist.
Le Marais
Spotted: Natalie Portman (frequently), Timothée Chalamet, Léa Seydoux
Chic but not showy, Le Marais is where stars live, shop, and slip into a second espresso without much fuss. Natalie Portman has been seen here grocery shopping or grabbing lunch. At Café Charlot, spotting someone famous often feels like a happy accident — quiet, casual, almost easy to miss.
Tip: Sit outside mid-afternoon and just look up from your glass of wine every now and then.
Hôtel Ritz – Place Vendôme
Spotted: Greta Garbo, Princess Diana, Sofia Loren
The Ritz is discreet, luxurious, and untouchable — which is exactly why it continues to attract artists, actors, and royalty. The lobby isn’t open to just anyone, but if you walk slowly around Place Vendôme, you’ll notice: the entrance never sleeps.
Tip: Watch the doormen. They notice everything.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Spotted: Scarlett Johansson, Daniel Craig, Charlotte Gainsbourg
No filters, no flashes — Saint-Germain is about quiet charm and coffee-fueled afternoons. This is where film directors scribble in notebooks, musicians read Le Monde, and A-listers blend in with book lovers. Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore remain classics for a reason.
Tip: Arrive before noon, bring something to read, and stay a while.
Want to experience it for yourself?
Solosights gives you the freedom to walk Paris like a local — with the added bonus of knowing where things really happen. You won’t need a guide. Just your curiosity, your tour bag, and a little bit of luck.
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