Back in November, I spent three days on a whirlwind trip to Paris. I was covering the inaugural Air France A380 flight from JFK to Paris and, when not airborne, had just a little time to savor the City of Lights. The ground itinerary was pretty packed but I did manage to squeeze in one lovely afternoon with a couple of Paris-based friends.

On the second day, right after the private tour of The Cartier Collection by Place Vendôme, opened that day just for our small group of journalists, I strolled through this exclusive part of town, all along Rue de Rivoli, past the Tuileries Gardens and the Louvre. It was a typical Paris day – slight drizzle, gray, yet somehow romantic. Right outside Saint-Paul stop of the Metro, in the trendy quarter of Le Marais, I met my friend and talented video artist Renata Poljak.

It was time for lunch so Renata took me to a sweet little sushi spot just a few blocks away. I’d highly recommend Allo Sushi (13 Rue Cloche Perce), a small and charming eatery that serves very good sushi at a reasonable price. Well, for Paris, that is. Our lunch, which consisted of a generous combo of sushi and sashimi, with a salad and several cups of tea, cost €20 per person. Once well-fed, we walked around the neighborhood, grabbed some croissants aux amandes (almond croissants) at a patisserie right across the street from the Saint-Paul metro stop and did a bit of window-shopping.

We then met my friend Katia at an artsy café called Le Loir Dans La Theiere (3 Rue des Rosiers). I loved the eclectic bric-a-brac inside this cozy spot with old school chairs, leather armchairs and walls plastered with old posters and abstract paintings. The afternoon tea here is a real deal – you get a huge piece of delicious cake and a whole pot of tea for just €10. It was the ideal hideaway to spend a few relaxed hours, catching up with friends and enjoying a slice of leisurely café lifestyle that Paris is known for.

My social afternoon in the Marais stands as the highlight of my latest Paris sojourn. Another experience I loved: dinner at the legendary Le Fouquet’s restaurant on Champs Elysées where I almost overdosed on macarrons on our behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen with the pastry chef who just wouldn’t stop offering more of the sweet treats.

Disclaimer: My flight to Paris as well as my hotel and a few meals were sponsored by Air France.