Eating and Drinking in Paris.
Mar 7th, 2008, 06:01 AM
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Eating and Drinking in Paris.
Forgive me if this is a dumb question about Paris. We are going to Paris for my wife's 21st birthday in June on a very tight budget. Being low on funds I expect that we will have to eat a lot of store bought food in order to make the 6 nights on our cash. I think it would be romantic while we eat if we did it in a nice park and had wine with it. So, is it ok to drink a bottle of wine in the park? Here in Fort Smith they would give us a ticket. I have heard both yes and no from people. What do you think? Thank you.
Mar 7th, 2008, 06:28 AM
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Luther, your question is certainly not dumb so don't apologise.
Every country has it's own particular liquor rules and good for you in finding out what is allowed and what is not.
I have seen posts like this before and it seems it is A-OK to drink wine in public places like parks but I think, only have a suspicion but could be wrong, that as long as the law sees you eating with your booze they don't make a fuss.
I am also a little confused on this matter as we were kind of 'tipped off' by the receptionist at our hotel - not to display our bottle of wine on the sidewalk table where we were having a sundowner.
(Tables & chairs supplied & belonging to the hotel). So I had to take my bottle to the bar(and it was bought at that very bar!) and keep popping in to refill.
I don't speak French so didn't go into the reasons why.
Hope someone clued up sees this and explains.
Every country has it's own particular liquor rules and good for you in finding out what is allowed and what is not.
I have seen posts like this before and it seems it is A-OK to drink wine in public places like parks but I think, only have a suspicion but could be wrong, that as long as the law sees you eating with your booze they don't make a fuss.
I am also a little confused on this matter as we were kind of 'tipped off' by the receptionist at our hotel - not to display our bottle of wine on the sidewalk table where we were having a sundowner.
(Tables & chairs supplied & belonging to the hotel). So I had to take my bottle to the bar(and it was bought at that very bar!) and keep popping in to refill.
I don't speak French so didn't go into the reasons why.
Hope someone clued up sees this and explains.
Mar 7th, 2008, 06:51 AM
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Dear richardsonsnm, I hope you were just having fun with my words? I can assure that that my wife is a fine christian lady and would never do what you are funning me about.
Dear tod, Thank you for your reply. As we are not drinkers in any sense of the term. I hope if we use the utmost discretion. Our celebratory toast to our love and being in Paris, will go unchallenged by the local authorities. I am standing by waiting to hear from others on this matter.
Dear tod, Thank you for your reply. As we are not drinkers in any sense of the term. I hope if we use the utmost discretion. Our celebratory toast to our love and being in Paris, will go unchallenged by the local authorities. I am standing by waiting to hear from others on this matter.
Mar 7th, 2008, 06:57 AM
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Hi L,
>is it ok to drink a bottle of wine in the park?
Yes.
However, be careful about whether it is permissible to sit on the grass.
There will be signs telling you if it is forbidden.
Pelouse Interdite
or
Ne pas Marcher sur la Pelouse
Make sure to bring a corkscrew.
>is it ok to drink a bottle of wine in the park?
Yes.
However, be careful about whether it is permissible to sit on the grass.
There will be signs telling you if it is forbidden.
Pelouse Interdite
or
Ne pas Marcher sur la Pelouse
Make sure to bring a corkscrew.
Mar 7th, 2008, 07:44 AM
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Picnics are way cool in Paris...provision yourself with a bottle of wine, a hunk of cheese,a loaf of French bread and perhaps a piece of fruit.... head to the small park at Pont Neuf located on the end of Ile de la Cite....it will be a memorable experience without breaking the bank. We picnic often for lunch when in Paris and have never had any problem. I usually pack a small table cloth, paper napkins, a couple of spoons/knifes/forks and a corkscrew. A park bench adapts well into a table. Bon Appetite!
Mar 7th, 2008, 10:13 AM
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Good for you for celebrating your wife's birthday and being thoughtful enough to plan this trip! As the others have said, you should be fine having a picnic w/ wine or champagne- I would reiterate the importance of the corkscrew (having forgotten that a time or two myself)... and of the utensils/plastic wine glasses... best of luck to you on this adventure! I know your wife will be thrilled!
Mar 7th, 2008, 11:03 AM
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Luther: We have never had a problem picnicing with a bottle of wine in Paris.
One great purchase we made several years ago is a backback picnic kit. It is a soft backpack containing plates, utensils, napkins, tablecloth, wine glasses, corkscrew, and a paring knife as well as a small salt and pepper set. It is lightweight and has a pocket on the side to hold a bottle of wine and plenty of room for picnic food inside. Easy to carry slung over your shoulder and holds everything you need for a nice picnic. I pack it in my suitcase and check the suitcase, since there is a knife and corkscrew in it you can't carry it on board. It is very lightweight and does not take much room. If you have a long layover simply put the knife and corkscrew in your checked luggage and carry on the picnic backpack with food for that long layover on the trip over.
Enjoy your romantic picnic in Paris, enjoy your wine and, of course, we know your wife would never do anything inappropriate in a public place. J
One great purchase we made several years ago is a backback picnic kit. It is a soft backpack containing plates, utensils, napkins, tablecloth, wine glasses, corkscrew, and a paring knife as well as a small salt and pepper set. It is lightweight and has a pocket on the side to hold a bottle of wine and plenty of room for picnic food inside. Easy to carry slung over your shoulder and holds everything you need for a nice picnic. I pack it in my suitcase and check the suitcase, since there is a knife and corkscrew in it you can't carry it on board. It is very lightweight and does not take much room. If you have a long layover simply put the knife and corkscrew in your checked luggage and carry on the picnic backpack with food for that long layover on the trip over.
Enjoy your romantic picnic in Paris, enjoy your wine and, of course, we know your wife would never do anything inappropriate in a public place. J
Mar 7th, 2008, 11:37 AM
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Defnitely picnic. We have great heavy duty wine glasses that travel with us. We usually have a cheap disposable plastic rain poncho and spread it out on the lawn, corkscrew you can purchase in a wine store. We are trying to not check bags so the corkscrew can be bought when you get to your destination. Our daughter met us in Paris two years in a row, she lives in Italy and we had a wonderful picnic on the lawn looking at the Eiffel Tower, beware and ignore the gypseys. The morning we were leaving we went and bought a bottle of champagne and sat on a bench enjoying our last morning in Paris. BTW we got the wine glasses on www. Magellans.com Enjoy. We are headed back April 3rd
Mar 7th, 2008, 11:56 AM
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Thanks for posting about the wine glasses---I want to get a pair of those.
Luther---my beau and I spent a very romantic afternoon in Paris along the Seine with a bottle of wine, a huge chunk of morbier (cheese), a fresh baguette, and some saucison sec (like a sausage). We bought the majority of these provisions
(including a cheap corkscrew) in some shops on Ile Saint Louis.
You'll have a great time. Though we didn't do this, I have read many times on here that the views of the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero is awesome. Perhaps that's something to consider for a sunset toast. Can anyone confirm that?
Luther---my beau and I spent a very romantic afternoon in Paris along the Seine with a bottle of wine, a huge chunk of morbier (cheese), a fresh baguette, and some saucison sec (like a sausage). We bought the majority of these provisions
(including a cheap corkscrew) in some shops on Ile Saint Louis.
You'll have a great time. Though we didn't do this, I have read many times on here that the views of the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero is awesome. Perhaps that's something to consider for a sunset toast. Can anyone confirm that?
Mar 7th, 2008, 03:01 PM
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A bit off topic, but, the most civilized thing I ever saw was on the grounds at Versailles.
Two older french couples , sitting at a bench, with linen table cloths, silver ware and glass ware, enjoying a lovely picnic which included wine of course.. This was about 10 years ago on the day of the solar eclispe, and the grounds were filled with locals who all came with their little eyeshades to see the eclispe.
Just around noon , the birds went quiet,, and the sun dissappeared, it actually went to dusk, and the lights came on,, it was over in about 10-15 minutes but, this couple peered at it, raised their glasses and toasted it, I tried not to stare, it was all so surreal.
Two older french couples , sitting at a bench, with linen table cloths, silver ware and glass ware, enjoying a lovely picnic which included wine of course.. This was about 10 years ago on the day of the solar eclispe, and the grounds were filled with locals who all came with their little eyeshades to see the eclispe.
Just around noon , the birds went quiet,, and the sun dissappeared, it actually went to dusk, and the lights came on,, it was over in about 10-15 minutes but, this couple peered at it, raised their glasses and toasted it, I tried not to stare, it was all so surreal.
Mar 7th, 2008, 03:18 PM
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I am not sure why everyone keeps worrying about the corkscrew.
The TSA will allow you to put this in your carry on. (The knife is still a no/no!)
I fly carryon every week with a Corkscrew.
I did get it taken away at CDG a few years ago because they claimed you could not have it on a flight to America. It was cheap, my trip was over and I didn't feel like trying to fight with the French. (Now with our TSA.... I have been known to carry the list from the website with me...)
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...d-items.shtm#4
The TSA will allow you to put this in your carry on. (The knife is still a no/no!)
I fly carryon every week with a Corkscrew.
I did get it taken away at CDG a few years ago because they claimed you could not have it on a flight to America. It was cheap, my trip was over and I didn't feel like trying to fight with the French. (Now with our TSA.... I have been known to carry the list from the website with me...)
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...d-items.shtm#4
Mar 7th, 2008, 03:49 PM
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ok I think orvfeiend has some suggestions on where to picnic. How about a few more??? The interior garden of. palais Royal close to the Louvre would be nice in June. Also a lunch along canal st. Martin is always nice
Mar 7th, 2008, 07:09 PM
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We've done lots of picnics.. my husband's a hopeless romantic.
We've done picnics in the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Tuileries, the Esplanade at Invalides, and if you're looking for the ultimate picnic there's always Versailles. In fact, there are secluded gardens with different themes.
You can purchase a variety or cheese, wine, bread, wine and pastries at Galleries Lafayette.
We've done picnics in the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Tuileries, the Esplanade at Invalides, and if you're looking for the ultimate picnic there's always Versailles. In fact, there are secluded gardens with different themes.
You can purchase a variety or cheese, wine, bread, wine and pastries at Galleries Lafayette.
sorry for the double listing!
Mar 8th, 2008, 02:39 AM
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In reply to KatieH - Well, as you know on either side of the Trocadero are the Jardins du Trocadero. There are benches here and there, however, when we've passed through the gardens from Blvd.Delerssert we have seen a group of tramps sitting around drinking but they don't bother anyone.
I have never seen anyone eat or drink on the actual Trocadero itself as it is a open tiled area with just the long wall which people sit or lean against for that incredible photo of the Eifel tower in the background.
I have never seen anyone eat or drink on the actual Trocadero itself as it is a open tiled area with just the long wall which people sit or lean against for that incredible photo of the Eifel tower in the background.
