“Midnight in Paris” is Woody Allen’s fifth film shot entirely outside the USA.
The film follows writer and screenwriter Gil (Owen Wilson), who vacations in Paris with his fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her wealthy conservative parents, John (Kurt Fuller) and Helen (Mimi Kennedy). A hopeless romantic, Gil admires the Roaring Twenties and believes he should have lived in that era rather than the 21st century. He dreams of quitting his Hollywood screenwriting job, moving to Paris, and writing his first novel, which is frowned upon by Inez and her family.
One night, while wandering the city, Gil inexplicably travels back to the 1920s and meets his idols, including F. Scott Fitzgerald (Tom Hiddleston), Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll), Salvador Dalí (Adrien Brody), Luis Buñuel (Adrien de Van), Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates), and Pablo Picasso (Marcial Di Fonzo Bo).
Today, I will tell you about 12 interesting locations from that film.
1. Le Bristol Hotel
This is where Gil, Inez, and her parents stay. They book a panoramic suite overlooking the Parisian rooftops and the Le Bristol garden.
The hotel opened in 1925, founded by Hippolyte Jammet. It is considered one of the best hotels in the world by Russian Condé Nast Traveller. Famous guests have included Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles, and U.S. President Harry Truman.
Two of the hotel’s restaurants have received Michelin stars: three for the gourmet Epicure and one for Café 114 Faubourg.
2. Le Grand Véfour Restaurant
Here, Gil celebrates the opening of Inez’s father John’s new business in Paris with his fiancée and her parents.
The establishment opened in 1784 as Café de Chartres. In 1820, restaurateur Jean Vefour bought it and renamed it Le Grand Véfour. The restaurant now holds two Michelin stars and is led by chef Guy Martin. Prices are high; a small portion of duck liver ravioli with truffle cream costs €138.
3. Palace of Versailles
Gil, Inez, and her pedantic friends Paul and Carol stroll through Versailles. Paul begins by giving a lengthy lecture on the history of the royal palace and its surroundings. Later, Inez discusses the nostalgic novel Gil is working on, but the idea fails to impress anyone.
The massive Baroque palace is the main attraction in the small town of Versailles, located 20 kilometers from Paris. Plan your visit to see not only the main palace but also other sites in the area, including the Queen’s Hamlet, Saint-Louis Cathedral, Notre-Dame Church, and the Lambine Museum. The Versailles complex spans 800 hectares and includes parks, gardens, the Grand and Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette’s village, and several small buildings.
4. Rodin Museum
The characters admire Auguste Rodin’s famous sculpture “The Thinker, ” as their guide, played by Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, shares its history. Paul argues with her, trying to impress the others.
The Rodin Museum is one of the most visited in Paris. It’s housed in a mansion surrounded by a beautiful park. In addition to “The Thinker, ” the park features other Rodin works, including “The Burghers of Calais, ” “The Gates of Hell, ” “Beethoven, ” and “Ugolino.” Inside, the first floor displays “The Kiss, ” “Eve, ” and “The Walking Man, ” with a separate room dedicated to works by Rodin’s lover, Camille Claudel. The museum also showcases Rodin’s personal collection of engravings and paintings, including Monet’s “Belle Île” and Van Gogh’s “Portrait of Père Tanguy.”
5. Le Meurice Hotel
After visiting the museum, Gil, Inez, her parents, and Paul and Carol gather on the rooftop of Le Meurice for a French wine tasting.
Le Meurice is a five-star hotel in central Paris, built in 1771. Its highlight is the rooftop with views of the Tuileries Garden. The hotel boasts a star-studded guest list, including Salvador Dalí, Rudyard Kipling, Elizabeth Taylor, and Theodore Roosevelt. Each of the seven floors is uniquely styled. The wine tasting scene was filmed on the terrace of the Belle Etoile Royal Suite, known for its luxurious panoramic views of Paris. The rooms are decorated in Louis XVI style.
6. Saint-Étienne-du-Mont Church
After the wine tasting, Gil wanders through the streets of Paris at night and gets lost. After unsuccessful attempts to ask passersby for directions to Le Bristol Hotel, he sits on the steps of the church. When the clock strikes midnight, he is transported back to the 1920s.
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont is a Catholic church on the hill of Sainte-Geneviève in Paris. Built between 1494 and 1624, the church showcases a blend of Renaissance, Baroque, and Gothic styles. It’s worth visiting this architectural marvel, as it houses the tomb of Saint Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, who, according to legend, saved the city from the Huns in 451 AD.
7. Polidor Restaurant
Gil arrives at Polidor with F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, where he meets Ernest Hemingway. Gil shares his novel with Hemingway, who suggests he have it reviewed by Gertrude Stein.
Polidor is one of the most famous and popular restaurants in Paris. The interior has remained unchanged since the late 19th century, and the dishes are prepared just as they were back then. Writers like James Joyce, Victor Hugo, Antonin Artaud, Eugène Ionesco, Jack Kerouac, and Henry Miller were known to frequent Polidor. Here, you can enjoy traditional French cuisine at a reasonable price, such as boeuf bourguignon and duck confit, along with a wide selection of local wines.
8. Marché Paul Bert Flea Market
Gil, Inez, and her mother visit this flea market to stroll around and buy gifts for friends.
Paul Bert Market is a must-visit for anyone who loves vintage items of all kinds: furniture, garden decor, paintings, clothing, and accessories. You can also find various works of art here, though the prices tend to be quite high.
9. Musée de l’Orangerie
Gil, Inez, Carol, and Paul visit the Musée de l’Orangerie for an exhibition. Paul begins discussing a small Picasso painting, and Gil argues with him, having met the artist personally in the 1920s and learned the true story behind the artwork. Inez, displeased, sides with Paul.
The Musée de l’Orangerie is an art gallery located at Place de la Concorde in Paris. It houses paintings by renowned artists such as Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Amedeo Modigliani, Paul Gauguin, Alfred Sisley, and Henri Rousseau.
10. Deyrolle Store
At the wedding of a surrealist artist, the entire social elite of 1920s Paris is entertained here. Gil visits Deyrolle to find Adriana (played by Marion Cotillard). Later, he meets Luis Buñuel and subtly suggests an idea for a new film, which the director eventually brings to life.
Originally, Deyrolle was a Parisian institute of natural art, founded by entomologist Jean-Baptiste Deyrolle. Today, Deyrolle is a cabinet of curiosities and a horticultural store that sells the most expensive flower pots and seeds in the city, as well as books on natural science.
11. Maxim’s Restaurant
Gil and Adriana travel back in time to the Belle Époque and find themselves at Maxim’s. There, they encounter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Gauguin, and Edgar Degas, who are sitting together, debating the best era to live in.
Maxim’s is another famous Parisian restaurant, opened in 1893 by Maxim Gaillard. The interior is designed in Art Nouveau style, featuring lamps shaped like semi-nude women, mahogany and bronze details, and numerous mirrors. Some of the restaurant’s most renowned patrons include Édith Piaf, Coco Chanel, Jean Cocteau, Marcel Proust, Sacha Guitry, Bernard Tristan, and Marlene Dietrich.
Maxim’s is open in the evenings, but you can’t just drop in for dinner; you’ll need to book a table in advance on Maxim’s official website.
Maxim’s also has a concert hall for live music performances and cabaret. The second and third floors of the building house an art museum, which displays paintings, photographs, art objects, and jewelry. There is also an exhibition titled “The Great World of Marcel Proust.”
12. Shakespeare & Company
After breaking up with Inez, Gil wanders through the city and visits the Shakespeare & Company bookstore.
Shakespeare & Company is a legendary bookstore founded by American writer Sylvia Beach in 1919. The store was forced to close in 1940 but was reopened in 1951 by George Whitman with Beach’s blessing. The store was a frequent haunt for literary giants like Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, and James Joyce. In fact, Sylvia Beach was the first to publish Joyce’s Ulysses, which was banned at the time in both the US and the UK.
Today, in addition to the bookstore, there is also the Shakespeare & Co Café, where you can enjoy dishes from a vegetarian menu, cookies, French bagels, and crumbles. Visitors can also indulge in protein shakes and delicious coffee.
Exploring the magical locations featured in “Midnight in Paris” is like stepping into a time machine that transports you through the rich history and romance of the City of Light. As a photographer deeply connected to Paris, I am passionate about capturing the timeless beauty of these iconic spots, just as the film does. Whether you’re looking to recreate the charm of the 1920s or simply wish to immortalize your own Parisian experience, I offer personalized photoshoots that bring your dreams to life.
Let me guide you through the enchanting streets, luxurious hotels, and historic landmarks where cinematic history was made, and together we will create photographs that capture your unique story against the backdrop of this extraordinary city. Book your photoshoot today, and let’s create memories that will last a lifetime.
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