Paris by Thierry Marx

Where does Michelin two-starred chef Thierry Marx eat, drink and shop when he’s not running the show at his top gastronomic restaurants ** Sur Mesure, Le Camélia, The Cake Shop and Bar 8 at Paris’ Mandarin Oriental Hotel or at his signature boulangerie in the 8ème? What are his addresses of choice for artisanal chocolate, fresh roasted coffee and the best local charcuterie?

With a deep affinity for the city in which he was raised and has called home for decades, Thierry Marx knows the ins and outs of all 20 of Paris’s arrondissements, from the oldest covered market in the Marais to his favorite oyster bar in the 15ème. Where does Marx go for a burger or a glass of vin rouge? At which local spots does he find inspiration? One address is the bouquiniste Alain Huchet on the Quai de Conti which specializes in antiquarian gastronomy books, of which Marx is a collector. He also names a record shop in his list of treasure troves. Creating art in the kitchen, Marx too appreciates fine art and reveals his preferred gallery in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. As for coffee, family-run La Maison Verlet is where you can find the culinary master tasting rare blends.

Since June 2010, as a guest at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, you can spend a day chauffeured around Paris discovering Marx’s favourite haunts. A curated selection of 12 artisans and culinary specialists will welcome you as guests of the Executive Chef himself. “Paris by Marx” introduces you to some of the finest addresses in the French capital. To complete the ‘Thierry Marx’ experience, you and a guest can enjoy his fresh pastries over daily breakfast at Camelia and a 9-course dinner at ** Sur Mesure. Here you can savour his signature soy risotto, among other uniquely deconstructed dishes.

For the full list of Thierry Marx’s secret spots, he’s recently written “Paris Marx Saveurs Capitale,” published in French, so you might be better off discovering them on your next trip to Paris.

Paris by Marx at the Mandarin Oriental Paris: From €1375 per night for two including breakfast and dinner at Sur Mesure (drinks not included). VIP welcome at Marx’s addresses. Reservations: +33 (0)1 70 98 73 33