Reflecting on Paris in 2015 feels like opening a time capsule of unforgettable experiences. It was a year of highs and low moments, but as we look back, it's the bright highlights that remain vivid — the restaurants, hidden neighborhoods, art-filled museums, and even a chateau that made our hearts race. This is our personal list, a collection of the standouts that defined our Paris that year, with memories infused by everything from champagne to an unexpected sense of discovery. So, here it is — the best of Paris, as we experienced it in 2015.

10. Musée Bourdelle

While other Paris visitors, were becoming hot & bored in the long lines at the Louvre, our visit to the gallery & studio of Antoine Bourdelle felt like a secret rendezvous. Set in nondescript street in the 15th, there were no more than a dozen other visitors to marvel at the mammoth statuary and explore the artist's workshop.

Highlights included the rambling gardens with plenty of chairs to lounge in, Bourdelle's atelier looking exactly as it was when he was churning out masterpieces, and three separate galleries to showcase his magnificent sculptures and paintings. Even better — entrance is free!

9. Air France – Revisited

We've always preferred to fly to Paris on Air France, but our enthusiasm had cooled after a couple of not-so-great experiences. However, in 2015 we were happy to report that Air France was back on our best list for best of the year.

Here's what turned us around — Air France listened. After our previous unsatisfactory flights we complained online, telling them what we thought should be improved. Then, on our most recent trip, the Air France staff came to interview us (during our flight!) to follow up and to find out how they were doing. This is pretty much unheard of. It was both surprising and gratifying.

Most important, though, the service and the food had improved. The food was actually good. The champagne was the real stuff, the cabin was in great shape, and the entertainment system couldn't be beat.

8. Le Petit Lutetia

Best Revamp Of An Old Favorite Restaurant. We'd probably cross the Atlantic just for a batch of the tender, crispy calamari or the juicy, panfried veal liver with madeira sauce. The new owners cleverly kept the best of this Belle Epoque brasserie including the original 1915 etched glass, the hammered metal ceiling, and the intricate tile work.

Service is casual and ordering a la carte is encouraged. The day we lunched there a Parisienne mother/daughter duo ordered steamed artichoke hearts and calamari plus a teacup full of water for their petit chien who lived in Madame's handbag.

• 107 rue de Sèvres,
• 6th Arrondissement (on the border of the 7th)

7. La Vie Parisienne in the 15th Arrondissement

Paris friends who live in a comfortable townhouse in the 15th were away on holidays (to the Jura in eastern France) and offered us the use of their home. We spent a couple of weeks exploring the wonderful 15th Arrondissement. Just south of the Eiffel Tower, this often overlooked neighborhood is a real treasure trove of Parisian life.

We were very close to the glorious Rue de Commerce with its wonderful collection of shopping essentials — including a Monoprix and local gems like two butchers, three boulangeries, two fromageries, four delis & three chocolate shops. We also found stylish clothing to take home with us. Walk away from rue de Commerce toward the peripherique ring road and you enter a charming oasis of French life where you'll rarely hear tourist English being spoken. It's what la vie Parisienne is all about.

6. Dilettantes – La Maison du Champagne

This sleek little champagne store in the 6th features a tasting bar in the cave with 25 small, family-owned champagne producers represented. Fanny Heucq, the owner, comes from a champagne family herself and is a walking advertisement for classic Parisienne elegance — tall, thin, gorgeous, and passionate about showcasing the small champagne growers that she grew up with. You'll taste unique champagnes here that you won't find anywhere else.

Fanny organizes a bevy of champagne-focused events including a 3-glass tasting, a tasting with lunch, Saturday Discoveries, and our favorite, a champagne workshop to decode the mysteries of the world's favorite celebration beverage.

• 22 rue de Savoie
• 6th Arrondissement
• Dilettantes Website…

5. La Réserve Hotel & Le Gabriel Restaurant

There's a new brand of luxury in the already luxurious 8th Arrondissement. Tucked away in a quiet corner just off the Champs-Elysées the hotel is surrounded by gardens, by Avenue Marigny, and by the majestic trees on the boulevard. We had a chance to view some of the rooms in La Réserve and we can tell you this — If you can, you must book the Presidential Suite! If that's out of reach, we suggest a glass of champagne in the hotel's elegant bar.

While we were there we took the opportunity to dine in the hotel's brand new restaurant, Le Gabriel where we sampled magnificent dishes prepared by Jerome Banctel, a young chef already with years of Michelin star experience. Update — in the next edition of the Michelin Red Guide Le Gabriel was awarded two stars and then, two years later, three stars were awarded.

4. Private Paris Airport Transfer

One of the simplest pleasures we enjoyed in 2015 was the luxury of a private airport transfer into Paris. There's something special about being met after a long flight, having a professional driver whisk you away directly to your hotel, while the city gradually comes into view. It's more than a convenience — it's a small yet meaningful way to start a Paris visit with ease and comfort, setting the right tone from the very first moment.

3. Champagne Cruise on the Seine

To any naysayers out there who declaim they will never join a tour in Paris, we ask you to think again. For you are missing out on one of the most enjoyable river excursions Paris has to offer. We met at the foot of the Eiffel Tower where ur small group was escorted on the boat via a private loading ramp — ahead of the tourists — and into our specially-reserved area at the front of the boat. There we found six or eight bottles of champagne chilling in an ice bucket, waiting for us. We were free to refill our real champagne glass flutes with bubbly as we sailed past the best of Paris monuments, sparkling lights and under the historic bridges. This is truly a VIP experience.

2. Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte

If you haven't yet heard of Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte, it's time for a discovery. Just an hour outside of Paris, this remarkable castle is a true insider's treasure, brimming with history and charm. As the inspiration for the grand Chateau de Versailles, it shares the same architect, interior decorator, and garden designer, creating a captivating blend of elegance and French grandeur. While there are several ways to reach Vaux-le-Vicomte, nothing quite compares to arriving in style with a private driver, luxurious Jaguar, and a picnic basket filled with champagne and macarons — the perfect start to an unforgettable day.

Our experience began right at our door in the 15th arrondissement, where our driver met us for a scenic one-hour drive through the countryside to the chateau. Upon arrival, we bypassed the lines and were shown to a waiting golf cart, our chariot for exploring the expansive grounds. We meandered through the gardens, stopping at a high vantage point to enjoy a leisurely picnic amidst the stunning landscape. Later, we wandered through the chateau's elegant rooms, marveling at their Versailles-like opulence but without the usual crowds. And when it was time to leave, our driver was ready to whisk us back to Paris, ending a day that felt as timeless as it was luxurious.

1. The Simple Pleasures of Paris – Still Number One

The simple pleasures — the life — of Paris is what continues to draw us, and always will. Croissants, baguettes, cheese, wine. Riding the Metro (especially Line 14). People-watching at the Jardin du Luxembourg. The three-story Lavinia wine store where their resident wine expert helps us choose a magnum of champagne and wines from little-known Burgundy producers, followed by a casual lunch at their upstairs restaurant.

Food shopping — at Le Grand Epicerie de Paris, on rue Poncelot, at Aligre, or at the covered market in Puteaux. Strolling along the Seine at dusk. Eating a simple lunch at the outdoor cafe at Luxembourg. The rooftops of the city. The list could go on — and it does.