CITY

24 Hours in Paris

Our community members share their favorite spots, offering an insider’s look at their city—beyond the tourist traps.

Rachel Khan
|
3 min read
Rachel Khan and Paris

This month, our student Rachel takes us on a stroll through Paris. From charming cafés tucked in the Marais to serene green escapes above the city’s bustle, Rachel shares how Paris weaves itself into her personal history, creative inspiration, and love for Hebrew. Here’s how she spends 24 hours in her city 🇫🇷🥖

Hello! My name is Rachel Khan, a Parisian by choice and adoption, actress, writer, and editorialist for television shows. My daily life is a mix of passionate writing, vibrant theater, and humanistic engagement. For several semesters now, I’ve been studying Hebrew at Citizen Café—a language that connects me to a culture both ancient and timelessly alive. Paris is my playground, my inspiration, and above all, my greatest love.

A newspaper piece about Rachel Khan

1. Where do I get my coffee?

📍 “Le Peloton Café” (17 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004 Paris, France)

I get my coffee at “Le Peloton Café,” tucked away in the Marais. Why? Because the cappuccinos are creamy, and the conversations are spontaneous, especially with the cyclists who stop by. The place feels like Paris itself: cosmopolitan, warm, and full of surprises. It’s my haven for daydreaming, notebook in hand.

Coffee place

2. Where do I go when I’m feeling fancy?

📍 Hôtel Lutetia (45 Bd Raspail, 75006 Paris, France)

When I want to embrace elegance, I head to the Hôtel Lutetia, a jewel of Art Deco where every detail breathes history and refinement. I love settling into the cozy lounge with a glass of white wine, letting myself be carried away by the atmosphere. Sometimes I go alone, sometimes with friends, but always with a desire to feel the light weight of Parisian history.  It was in this hotel that my grandfather returned after three years of deportation in Auschwitz. It was here that he reunited with my mother, who was five years old at the time. Coming here now, surrounded by its calm and luxury, feels like a magical nod from life itself.

Windows and a heart grafitt

3. Cultural hub

📍 Musée de l’Orangerie (Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris, France)

The “Musée de l’Orangerie” is my sanctuary. Monet’s Water Lilies feel like stepping into an aquatic dream. This place gives me a timeless pause where I can think, write, or simply marvel at the beauty of a captured moment. 

Monet Lillies

4. My go-to outdoor spot

📍 Coulée Verte René-Dumont

Nothing beats the “Coulée verte René-Dumont” for me. This former railway line turned into an elevated walkway, which is a green oasis in the heart of the city. I go there to walk, read, or simply watch the endless transformations of the seasons. It’s my refuge for breathing in a little freedom.

Changing of the seasons in Paris

5. A place that I don’t like in the city

📍 Pl. Charles de Gaulle

The “Place de l’Étoile”. It gives me chills—and not the good kind. The endless swirl of cars, the constant honking… Once, I spent an eternity trying to cross it on foot. Ever since I prefer admiring the Arc de Triomphe from afar with a touch of irony. 

Arc de triomph

6. A significant person for you who was born in the city or currently lives there

📍 Hôtel Lutetia (45 Bd Raspail, 75006 Paris, France)

Romain Gary, for me, embodies the Parisian spirit: bold, inventive, and endlessly complex. Although he was born in Vilnius, he made Paris his literary laboratory. The Hôtel Lutetia, where he loved to stay, stands as a silent witness to his time here. His writing inspires me, as does his capacity for constant reinvention. 

Avenue Rachel

About the Author

Rachel Khan is the daughter of a Gambian professor and a French-Polish Jewish bookseller. A former classical dancer, athletics champion, and public law jurist, she works as an author, actress, columnist, and TV editorialist in France. Her notable works include Racée (2021), Encore debout (2024), and the award-winning graphic novel I Run to Hear My Heart Beat.

 

 

Rachel Khan

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Hebrew Nugget:

24 Hours in Paris

Rachel Khan and Paris

This month, our student Rachel takes us on a stroll through Paris. From charming cafés tucked in the Marais to serene green escapes above the city’s bustle, Rachel shares how Paris weaves itself into her personal history, creative inspiration, and love for Hebrew. Here’s how she spends 24 hours in her city 🇫🇷🥖

Hello! My name is Rachel Khan, a Parisian by choice and adoption, actress, writer, and editorialist for television shows. My daily life is a mix of passionate writing, vibrant theater, and humanistic engagement. For several semesters now, I’ve been studying Hebrew at Citizen Café—a language that connects me to a culture both ancient and timelessly alive. Paris is my playground, my inspiration, and above all, my greatest love. A newspaper piece about Rachel Khan

1. Where do I get my coffee?

📍 “Le Peloton Café” (17 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004 Paris, France) I get my coffee at “Le Peloton Café,” tucked away in the Marais. Why? Because the cappuccinos are creamy, and the conversations are spontaneous, especially with the cyclists who stop by. The place feels like Paris itself: cosmopolitan, warm, and full of surprises. It’s my haven for daydreaming, notebook in hand. Coffee place

2. Where do I go when I’m feeling fancy?

📍 Hôtel Lutetia (45 Bd Raspail, 75006 Paris, France) When I want to embrace elegance, I head to the Hôtel Lutetia, a jewel of Art Deco where every detail breathes history and refinement. I love settling into the cozy lounge with a glass of white wine, letting myself be carried away by the atmosphere. Sometimes I go alone, sometimes with friends, but always with a desire to feel the light weight of Parisian history.  It was in this hotel that my grandfather returned after three years of deportation in Auschwitz. It was here that he reunited with my mother, who was five years old at the time. Coming here now, surrounded by its calm and luxury, feels like a magical nod from life itself. Windows and a heart grafitt

3. Cultural hub

📍 Musée de l’Orangerie (Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris, France) The “Musée de l’Orangerie” is my sanctuary. Monet’s Water Lilies feel like stepping into an aquatic dream. This place gives me a timeless pause where I can think, write, or simply marvel at the beauty of a captured moment.  Monet Lillies

4. My go-to outdoor spot

📍 Coulée Verte René-Dumont Nothing beats the “Coulée verte René-Dumont” for me. This former railway line turned into an elevated walkway, which is a green oasis in the heart of the city. I go there to walk, read, or simply watch the endless transformations of the seasons. It’s my refuge for breathing in a little freedom. Changing of the seasons in Paris

5. A place that I don’t like in the city

📍 Pl. Charles de Gaulle The “Place de l’Étoile”. It gives me chills—and not the good kind. The endless swirl of cars, the constant honking… Once, I spent an eternity trying to cross it on foot. Ever since I prefer admiring the Arc de Triomphe from afar with a touch of irony.  Arc de triomph

6. A significant person for you who was born in the city or currently lives there

📍 Hôtel Lutetia (45 Bd Raspail, 75006 Paris, France) Romain Gary, for me, embodies the Parisian spirit: bold, inventive, and endlessly complex. Although he was born in Vilnius, he made Paris his literary laboratory. The Hôtel Lutetia, where he loved to stay, stands as a silent witness to his time here. His writing inspires me, as does his capacity for constant reinvention.  Avenue Rachel