There’s no place better than Paris to be drunk in love—it is the city of love, after all. Sometimes amour is made possible by a love potion concocted of different liqueurs and absinthes. However, when the potion wears off, the picture is not as pretty as those hanging in the Louvre. And if you’re a visitor, there’s a good chance you’ll have to endure a daylong exploration stained with stale wine, bodily fluids, and a decent chunk of despair. Here’s how to brave a Parisian Walk of Shame—without all of the shame.
Where to Keep Going
When you wake up burping chardonnay, tequila, and another person’s spittle, the first priority should be to burn the taste right out of your mouth, and, since the quickest way to cure a hangover is to not feel one, more alcohol is easily the smartest decision. Since you have no shame donning the previous night’s stains, you should have no problem suckling wine out of a baby bottle ($4 plus first drink’s free) at =”>Refuge des Fondus near the Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre.
But those keen on starting round two at 7 a.m. because your former lover has to head to work or your drunkenness has worn off and you need to escape, you’ll find sanctity on a péniche on the Seine. Club Concrete, renowned for its cult following, opens at 7 a.m. and runs until 2 a.m. The wild, carefree parties feel more like a stint in club-crazed Berlin than pompous Paris, and the city seems to welcome this alternative divulgence.
Where to Recharge
With cafes on every corner, it’s almost too easy to “recharge” after a crazy night. Grab a coffee, a croissant, another croissant, and you’re ready to attack the day. But when one of those head-pounding hangovers hits, espresso and bread doesn’t do the trick. Instead, take a detox green tea ($5) surrounded by an oasis of Moorish calm where you can contemplate your hangover depression at Cafe Grande Mosquée de Paris.
Tea, coffee, and food not rejuvenating enough? Head to the club Wanderlust. Sure, it’s one of the most hyped clubs in the city, but, in addition to the late-night rages, the club hosts Sunday morning yoga for those who need to exercise out their demons from hours ago.
Where to Find Comfort
Photo courtesy of Le Comptoir Général
Loaded with Paula Deen levels of butter, if the world were to nominate an international comfort food, French food would probably win. Located in trendy Belleville et Ménilmontant, Les Fabricants caters to people who look like they’ve walked out of an issue of Nylon, but, unlike the dieting magazine models, the diners here feast—in the most literal sense of the word—on Basque comforts.
For hangovers, start the meal with a cider, and, while sipping the cider, you may as well order a bottle of wine—quite, quite cheap by Paris standards. From there, enjoy the Texas-sized portions of favorites like Poulet Basquaise ($12), Magret de Canard ($13.50), or any of the gargantuan salads (around $8.75), loaded with fried potatoes, meats, eggs, and an actual wedge of cheese. This spot is arguably the best bang-for-your-buck restaurant in the city.
