Paris is one of those cities that seems so overrun by tourists – blame The Da Vinci Code, among other things – that you need some expert advice to point you in the right direction. Enter, then, Justin Morin, who is more than accustomed to giving a few insider tips to his foreign friends visiting the city – many of whom work in the fields of art, music or dance.

Justin is an artist and a writer, who studied psychology before heading off to art school. He specialises in embroidery and ceramic installation, and has shown his work in galleries and art fairs from Paris to Brussels. Along with friend and talented Belgian choreo-grapher Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, he published a book about spirituality called Pèlerinage sur soi, and has also written for catalogues, such as the 2007 Luxembourg edition of Dysfashional.

Our first stop from Justin, to make sure your energy levels are up, is a branch of the Parisian tea salon, Ladurée, “the best place for French macaroons,” according to Justin. Founded in 1862, Ladurée (16, Rue Royale, +33 142 60 21 79, www.laduree.fr) specialises in all kinds of pastries, chocolates and even wedding cakes – but it’s the macaroon that’s the real star of the show. Take Justin’s recommendation and try the fruit flavour, but leave some room for the vanilla – “They’re para-dise in your mouth.”

Now, to the galleries. Head to the Rue de Turenne and the Rue Saint Claude to explore the Emmanuel Perrotin gallery (76, Rue de Turenne, +33 142 16 79 79, www.galerieperrotin.com), or the Chez Valentin (9, Rue Saint Gilles, +33 148 87 42 55, www.galeriechezvalentin.com), two of the more established on the scene. Or try out a newcomer, such as Baumet and Sultana (20, Rue Saint Claude, +33 144 54 08 90, www.galeriebaumetsultana.com). “It’s a very nice promenade for curious people, says Justin. I like to go there to see new work from artists I appreciate, like Mathieu Mercier or Tatiana Trouvé.”

For a small gallery dedicated to contemporary art, swing by Le Plateau (Place Hannah Arendt, +33 153 19 84 10, www.fracidf-leplateau.com), which is run by a great team who consistently come up with excellent exhibitions. It is located right next to the Buttes-Chaumont park, the biggest in Paris, meaning you can enjoy a stroll after your visit.

One of Justin’s passions is travelling, which has left him with a particular taste for Japanese culture. So, for our first lunch recommen-dation, he opts for Hokkaido (14, Rue Chabanais, +33 142 60 50 95). “I really like Japanese food,” he says. “This small restaurant looks like a canteen. It’s quite basic, but the food is delicious. Plus it’s always full of Japanese people, which is definitely a good sign.”

Or, for something more authentic that won’t break the bank, there’s Bistrot Beaubourg,
(25, Rue Quincampoix, +33 142 77 48 02). “Paris is an expensive city, says Justin. So it’s always good to know some cheap restau-rants like Bistrot Beaubourg.” Perfect if you fancy a steak with French fries and cheese. And don’t be put off by the big crowds – you won’t wait for long.

Suitably fortified, it’s time to do some shopping. First up is Kokon to Zai (48, Rue Tiquetonne, +33 142 36 92 41, www.kokontozai.co.uk), “for the best of avant-garde.” This small shop stocks alternative and risky brands such as Emma Cook, Ri-chard Forger, Gaspard Yurkievich and Jeremy Scott. Look out for the odd celebrity customer such as Björk – the Icelandic superstar likes to shop there when visiting the city. In fact, the shop is the brainchild of Marjan Pejoski, who designed that famous swan dress sported by the diminutive singer.

Next up is Surface to Air (46, Rue de l’Arbre Sec, +33 149 27 04 54, http://surface2air.com), an international design collective ba-sed in New York, Tokyo, Stockholm and Paris. “They do essentially art direction and clothes, says Justin. Their clothes are simple, with great prints and textiles. Quite casual and very cool.” Then there’s Colette (213, Rue Saint-Honoré, +33 155 35 33 90, www.colette.fr). “Don’t be afraid of the hype! warns Justin. Colette is pure energy,” he assures us. Encompassing style, art, design and food, as our guide says, “if you’re looking for some inspiration, you might find it there.”

And for a place that’s particularly important to Justin, take a peek at Lieu Commun (5, Rue des Filles du Calvaire, +33 144 54 08 30, www.lieucommun.fr), which belongs to French designer Matali Crasset. “You’ll find her own product line here, says Justin, but also the Mise-ricordia and Veja clothes.” Why is it special to him though? “I did Matali’s embroidered portrait last year,” he confides.

But enough of the clothes shopping, it’s time for some literary matters. “Librairie Florence Loewy is a fantastic bookstore, he says (9, Rue de Thorigny, +33 144 78 98 45, www.florenceloewy.com). Dedicated to art books, the shop is full of the best of art publica-tions.” Be sure to take in the original design of the shop itself, designed, says Justin, by the architects Dominique Jakob and Brendan McFarlane. A quick look at the exhibition space there will complete your visit.

The fact it opens on Sunday is just one reason to head to Artazart, a “fantastic bookstore for graphic design and photography” (83, Quai de Valmy, +33 140 40 24 00, www.artazart.com). Plus its location near the Saint Martin canal makes it a great place to begin or end a wander.

Now, on to dinner. But of course, this being Paris, we need a bit of romance first. “Even if it’s a bit old-school, I like to give flowers, confides Justin. Just in front of my house in Montmartre, you’ll find the most beautiful and original flowers at Jacques Semer’s shop” (56, Rue Caulaincourt, +33 142 23 53 04).

Having handed over your bunch of blooms to the woman – or man – in your life, head to the Hôtel du Nord (102, Quai de Jemma-pes, +33 140 40 78 78, www.hoteldunord.org). Located on the banks of the Saint Martin canal, the restaurant is “cosy and warm. The menu is simple, but executed with a touch of originality.”

And to top off the evening, how about an ice cream at Amorino (31, Rue Vieille du Temple, +33 142 78 07 75, www.amorino.fr)? “This place is pure pleasure. All the Italian flavours are there, says Justin. There are more than ten of these parlours in Paris, so it’s easy to find them. One of my favourites is located in the Marais.”

A perfect visit to Paris then – and not an Eiffel Tower or Mona Lisa in sight.