BruceRhonda

We are about to rent an apartment in Paris for the first time.
Any suggestions on what is needed to stock it up for our stay.
We will be staying in the Rue de Bac & Blvd. St. Germaine area.
Are there any supermarkets and good restaurants in the vicinity.

grandmere

There is a Monoprix for groceries, etc., on rue de Rennes, very near Blvd. St-Germain, in that area.
As far as what you'll need to stock up, that depends upon how much cooking you plan on doing. There *should* be enough toilet tissue, paper towels, garbage bags, detergent,etc., already in the apartment to get you started, but this is not necessarily so. The vast majority of stores are closed on Sundays, so if you arrive on a Sun., you might want to check with the apt. owner that there are enough supplies to tide you over.
Our last rental had plenty of everything to start us out, except for t. paper, and it being a Sunday and there being 5 of us, we took a few extra napkins from our trip to Amorino for ice cream our first night.

Christina

Just buy whatever you want to stock it up that you would need or usually use. If you have never bought anything for a house before, perhaps your partner/wife would know what you need in a kitchen or bathroom. Besides, you never know what you need until you get there, it might have some basics (like salt, pepper, etc., toilet paper) but maybe not. But I( think what would be a necessity in a place you are staying is veyr individualt (I never use sugar for example, some people might consider that a necessity for coffee or other purposes). I don't need hardly anything to stock up a place as I don't cook, so wine and coffee would be about it for me (and TP and soap). I don't really use salt, either, so those would be my necessities: TP, soap, coffee, wine.

There is a gourmet supermarket attached to the Bon Marche dept store which isn't too far from there, probably better for food than things like TP, although I think it has everything so would be one-stop shopping. It's near the Sevres Babylone metro stop, just a block or so to the SW, can't miss it. There is also a Monoprix at 35 rue du Bac which is just south of the metro stop.

cw

There's a great cheese shop not too far from you at 51 Rue de Grenelle--Fromagerie Barthelemy.

There's also a Sunday market on Rue de Raspail on Sundays. Some apartments need more immediate stocking than others. But usually I just want to make sure I have coffee for the morning before doing a proper stocking up.

Even if you arrive on a Sunday, there are small markets open where you can buy any necessities for the evening.

The Monoprix will have wine and other alcohol and you won't have any problems finding bakeries.

So a search here for restaurants in Paris. Others may have favorites near you. What sort of dining are you looking for? The 6th is full of cafes etc.

laurela

we buy fruit, juice, coffee, paper towels, yogurt as staples. get fresh pastries for breakfast every day along with the newspaper. pick up something chocolate for a snack!

jkbritt

Ask your landlord what is supplied. Cooking oil, salt, pepper, sugar, tea, coffee, coffee maker, spices, dish soap, dish washer soap, laundry detergent, bath soap, towels, bring your own wash clothes, they do not usually have them available, etc. If the coffee maker has a paper filter, ask which kind to buy. There are dozens. Make sure there is a corkscrew if you drink wine. Nothing like a long day out, coming home to fix dinner and no cork screw! Been there, done that one. Now, I take one with me or that is my first purchase.

tuscanlifeedit

cw: I'm staying in an apartment upstairs from Barthelemy in 3 weeks. I've heard good things about it, so I'm sure I'll be buying cheese.

BruceRhonda: I've never rented a place that didn't have enough to get us through one day. The company we are renting from this time advertise that they provide a lot of supplies. Maybe you should ask your rental agency what is stocked in the apartment.

tuscanlifeedit

I forgot to add that I am also interested in good restaurants in this immediate area. What sort? French, not too innovative, and I guess around 100 euro or less for two people, no wine, or just a glass.

I'm really interested in pleasant service, fresh and well prepared food, and something nearby.

cw

tescanlifeedit: Are you staying in the PVA studio? I tried to stay there a few years ago at Christmastime and it was booked--but I still have my eye on it. I like the people at PVA. The cheese shop is amazing. Lovely ladies in white coats, tiny shop, and an amazing selection of cheeses.

Fish La Boissonerie, on Rue de Seine, is a place I wanted to try but they were closed over the holidays.

tuscanlifeedit

cw, yes, that's where we are staying.

I can steer you away from Fish. I've been twice, and can hardly believe I went the second time. It gets a lot of mention, but I'm not sure why. I didn't find it comfortable, the service was beyond bad both times, all the diners are tourists, and the food wasn't good!

2010

We are renting an apartment for the first time in the same area so I'm finding this information very useful! Thank you!

Seamus

When we set up in a Paris apartment we usually have breakfast in so on our run to the local grocery we pick up coffee, tea, milk/cream, yogurt, juice, cereal, butter, maybe some jam/jelly, a bit of cheese and fruit. Don't get bread as that is purchased fresh each morning at the neighborhood boulangerie, and fresh fruit and cheese are usually available at your local street market. Also pick up some bottled water (so much cheaper at the grocery) and snack items that appeal. As for non-food items, I check what is in the apartment and supplement as needed.

Visiting a street market is one of the delights of a Paris visit. Google to find the location and schedule of the one closest to you (or ask the apartment owner/agent.)

cw

tuscanlifeedit, thanks so much for the Fish information. I'll remember that. Have a wonderful trip.

grandmere

We like Chez Fernand on rue Christine.

BruceRhonda

Thanks for all of your advice. We had a great trip and our grand children loved it.

avalon

Another vote for Chaz Fernand and I agree with tuscan about Fish We were both mightily disappointed. If you know where Fis is on Rue de Seine , there is a PAul at the next corner and a large supermarket aND ALL SORTS OF PREPARED FOOD PLACES ALONG THE STREET. Another neawrby restaurant we like is Le Reminet on rue de grand desgres. If you get tired of French food Del Papa has excellent food.

avalon

Del Psps is on rue de Buci almost at ht e corner ofSt Germaine. A bit further along Le petit Bistro de St Benoit on rue St Benoit has very good food at very reasonable prices, also Bistrot de Paris on rue de Lille