As with most things French, there's a chic sophistication that seems to pervade everything Cyril Lignac does. He's the Gallic equivalent of Jamie Oliver - it was he who first developed Oliver's concept of training disadvantaged youngsters to work in professional kitchens - or perhaps Paul Hollywood, whose role he takes on in Le Meilleur Pâtissier, the French version of The Great British Bake Off. He's also the Michelin-starred mastermind behind some of Paris's most lauded restaurants and bars, including Bar des Prés, which recently opened a London outpost. Here, he shares his favourite Parisian hotspots…
Decoration and design
Merci, 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais 75003 This always reminds me a bit of a French take on a British department store, which has a bit of everything: clothes, accessories, furniture. It's in the heart of the Marais, one of the city's coolest areas. merci-merci.com
What's everyone reading?
Moulié, 8 Place du Palais Bourbon 75007 This is the one place I go to buy flowers. It's on the Place du Palais Bourbon, in front of the Assemblée Nationale. It's such a transporting place, the bouquets they create are sublime. It's very chic. If you want to buy flowers for someone to say thank you, or if you're going to dinner at someone's place, you have to take flowers from here. It's the best. moulie.fr
Sarah Lavoine, 9 rue Saint-Roch 75001 Sarah is a good friend and she really gets design. She's gets Parisian interiors perfectly and works with bold and intense colours so well. Her interiors are so chic. maisonsarahlavoine.com
Compagnie Française de l'Orient et de la Chine, 10 Boulevard Raspail 75007 This is a strange-looking store in the middle of Saint Germain, where I go to buy the plates for my restaurants, which are inspired by Japan. They're really beautiful. I also buy tableware for my home here. cfoc.fr
Fashion and beauty
Maison Goyard, 233 Rue Saint Honoré 75001 I love Goyard's travel bags, they're just so French. I bought one 15 years ago, which I use for all my trips, heading to filming, in the desert, on trucks and it's hardly worn. I appreciate that level of quality. It's luxe, because it lasts and that's important. goyard.com
Food and drink
Caves Legrand Filles et Fils, 4 Rue des Petits Champs 75002 This is where I stock up on all of my wine. They're so passionate about the finest varieties, and I'm French so (obviously) I love good wine. It has the most incredible cellars and it's so centrally located, so it's a great place for visitors to head to find that special bottle to take home with them. caves-legrand.com
Patrick Roger, 19 Rue de Sèvres 75006 For me, Patrick is absolutely the best chocolatier in Paris. In fact, he's more than that: he's an artist who works with chocolate. He creates enormous sculptures crafted from the sweet stuff to create this incredible universe. His shop on the Rive Gauche is more like a gallery than a retail space. patrickroger.com
Marie Quatrehomme, 62 Rue de Sèvres 75007 This is the place to go for cheese. Life in France is about three things really: cheese, great cooking and fine wine. Owner Marie finds the most exceptional cheeses, and the shop is just opposite my pâtisserie so I get to go there all the time! quatrehomme.fr
Café de Flore, 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain 75006 It's just legendary. You simply cannot visit Paris without going for a coffee at this iconic location, which is filled with character and the history of Paris's most creative inhabitants. cafedeflor.fr
Hôtel Costes, 7 Rue de Castiglione 75001 Even after all this time [it opened its doors in 1984], Costes is still the place to be and be seen… It means a lot to me too, because I'm from the Aveyron in south-west France, just like its owner Jean-Louis Costes. hotelcostes.com
