"The Institut du Monde Arabe’s new exhibition pays homage to the Arab golden age’s greatest divas. Showcasing Lebanese chanteuse Sabah’s extravagant gowns, never-before-seen photos of Egyptian-born French-Italian Dalida and more, it invites visitors to consider the role these trailblazing women played in forging Arab identity over the years."

"Former fashion stylist and interior designer Vanessa Scoffier is the creative spirit behind the refurbishment of this intimate hotel in Paris’s 13th arrondissement. The 32 bedrooms and communal spaces are filled with vintage furniture – much of it Scandinavian – sourced by Scoffier from flea markets in Paris and abroad. Textured natural materials, such as vintage pressed-tin panels and rope light fixtures, playfully combine with patterned wallpaper and pops of bright paintwork."

"This restaurant and cocktail bar is the second to launch under the Big Mamma group umbrella. It’s the place to head to if you fancy a break from rich French fare in favour of an authentic wood-fired pizza or pasta."

"Bernard and Marie-France Cohen, the husband-and-wife team who founded Bonpoint, opened Merci about a decade ago as a space that gathers quality clothing, design furniture and home essentials. The ground floor is also regularly given over to exhibitions that are built around themes that could be anything from the work of a particular designer to the output of a whole country."

"Built in 1900 in the beaux arts style, this museum was architect Charles Girault’s ode to the creativity of the early 20th century. Its mural-decorated lobbies, galleries and ornate cupolas now house a permanent collection of art, spanning sculptures from ancient Greece to photography of the 19th century. You’ll find paintings and sculptures by Pissarro, Cézanne, Rodin and Delacroix overseen by a series of busts of Parisian art luminaries set into the walls. And unlike many of the city’s other art institutions, you won’t have to battle it out with crowds of tourists to get a look at them."

"Almost floating above the Colonel Fabien traffic island is a rare chance to see the work of a titan of architecture outside his native Brazil; Oscar Niemeyer delivered his client a lyrical masterpiece while he was in exile after a military coup back home."

"It’s a bit of a hike from the centre of Paris but this cutting-edge and comprehensive sports centre is worth the travel time. Facilities include two outdoor and six indoor tennis courts (hopefully the bright red ceiling won’t put you off your game), a dance studio and spaces for basketball, football and squash."