luv2ski

Heading to Paris in October. Looking for a quaint neighbourhood with atmosphere, lots of great restaurants which won't break the bank and close proximity to the sights. Should we stay Left or Right Bank? Any recommendations on a boutique hotel would be a bonus! Thanks.

elaine

'break the bank' means something different to lots of people, what would you like to spend, for how many people in the room?

luv2ski

3 night stay for two adults. Looking for some charming mama and papa run restaurants ($100 per meal) in a quaint part of Paris (I'm hoping). Plan to buy Cheap Eats/Paris by SG for restaurants ideas. Right now I'm trying to decide where to book the hotel. Which arrondisement is the Opera district in? What is this neighbourhood like? Thank you so much!

AnthonyGA

Few mom-and-pop restaurants would cost as much as $100 per meal. Then again, there aren't that many mom-and-pop restaurants in Paris, and most of them serve non-French food (Middle Eastern, Asian, etc.).

The Opéra Garnier is in the 9th arrondissement. It's a nice part of town and quite centrally located.

StCirq

The Opéra Garnier, though, is hardly in a "quaint" part of town. It's a busy commercial district - where all the huge department stores are. If you're looking for quaint, I'd suggest parts of the 7th, 8th, and 16th as having "quaint" aspects without being too far out of town.

Christina

no, that area isn't that quaint, in particular. But the eating budget is at least being realistic if it's for two people -- that's only about 80 euro or 40 euro pp which is actually a reasonable budget, especially if it includes wine. I've eaten at family-run places in Paris that cost that for a good meal.

travelbunny

the 9th is not for you. I would suggest Ile St. Louis or the 6th.

ira

Dear luv,

How much are you planning to spend on a hotel?

80E for 2 is not exactly "mom and pop" in Paris. You can eat well, with wine, for about 45E.

I suggest you consider hotels in the 4th, Marais; 5th, Latin Quarter; 6th, St Germain.

laure

I'm parisian and agree with Ira: for quaint, aim at 4/5/6 Arrondissements. 1/2/8 are more business like and 7 can be dead boring. The atmosphere in 3 can change fro one street to the other (if 3, stay close to 4). 4/5/6 are also within easy walking distance of the main sights, and have a vibrant life.

worldinabag

Hi

Yes, second vote for Ile St Louis. I loved its village like atmosphere. Try this hotel http://www.paris-hotel-lutece.com. For a restaurant that's a little bit different I dined at the Gaul themed "Nos Ancetres les Gaulois" - http://nosancetreslesgaulois.com/UK/. This is on the Ile St Louis. There is another restuarant next door with the same set price menu set up - Sargent something. The I'lot Vache, 35 Rue de St Louis en Ille, gets a good plug and apparently you can get away with eating at 28E including a glass of wine.

Au revoir

Morganne

I would suggest the Hotel left Bank Saint Germain in the 6th...6th is really a good area to stay...It is liveful, nice, with a lots of different kind of restaurants and bars!
This hotel is a 3 star hotel, very clean and with a very nice decoration..typically French!
You can see it on http://www.leftbankstgermain.com
Have a nice trip!

oberost

Two hotel suggestions:
1) Pas des Calais- 6e right off blvd St Germain and near many famous restaurants and shops, near Metro. My wife and I have stayed here twice.
2) Le Sainte Beuve- 6e good area and near metro stop and nice restaurants.

mamc

We've stayed in several Arrondisments and have settled on the 6th. It is charming, centrally located so you can walk to most of the major sights, and has lots of nice small hotels and lots of reasonable and good restaurants close by. Three hotels that we have liked are the St. Thomas Aquin (a 2* in the 7th, very close to the 6th), the Hotel Fleurie and the Hotel des Stes-Peres, where we always stay if we can get a reservation. They are both 3* in the 6th.

francophile03

I suggest staying in the 4th through 6th districts as they are really charming areas. If you stay on Ile St. Louis I would like to suggest another nice restaurant that's located on the rue St. Louis en L' Ile. It's Le Tastevin and it's located across the street from Berthillon ice cream shop. L'Ilot Vache is on the next corner opposite Le Tastevin. It's a small restaurant where locals dine and it's not expensive. Their boeuf Rossini was excellent.

Huitres

The 1st Arr is crowded and very central to everything (Ile de la Cite, Notre Dame, Conciergerie, etc). That said, it is a very busy area. I would think you will have more luck finding a boutique-type hotel in the 8th Arr. The 8th is the financial, business area. I have stayed in both and actually prefer the 8th because once the business day is done, the streets become quiet. I stayed at the Hotel D'Argenson for a very reasonable rate that included breakfast each morning....and could still walk down to the Champs Elysees so didn't feel like I was missing anything.

SAnParis

The Marais is what you are looking for...if you are looking for something somewhat cheaper...I also favor the Bastille area.