So, heading to Paris and will be spending my 40th there (on December 30) and, obviously, NYE. Looking for a terrific restaurant at which to celebrate my birthday dinner...and then, looking for a fun way to spend the 31st. Thoughts?

why kind of food and atmosphere do you like, and how much are you willing to spend?

I don't much care for NY eve but really wouldn't care much about it if I were solo in a big city, that's for sure. I enjoy watching the events on TV in various cities, safe inside.
Any restaurant is going to be expensive if it is anything special for NY eve. What would you do at home on NY eve if you were alone? I mean if you really want to wander around at night alone on NY eve, you could go to the Trocadero and hang out on the steps there waiting for the light show at the Eiffel Tower at midnight. At least there will be a lot of people there, so should be safe in that regard. I might do that if I were staying over in that area, but most people don't stay in the 16th.

You can celebrate your birthday dinner in all sorts of places and all sorts of prices. I will leave the "fancy French restaurant" recommendations to other people here because I eat French food at home almost every day (being a Parisian), so a treat for me is to go to a Chinese, Indian or Japanese restaurant.

There are two ways to go for the 31st. Many restaurants have a set festive meal (yes, expensive -- usually over 100€), but this includes the wine, champagne, party favors and often Entertainment or at least dancing. The down side for me is that you are trapped in the place until after midnight because everything is scheduled for the big New Year's climax. If you are having a wonderful time, that is great but if you are getting bored or disappointed, it could get pretty grim. You did not say if you were making this trip alone. If you are indeed a single lady, you can be assured that you will get plenty of extra (and usually nice) attention from the wait staff and other diners throughout the evening. You will certainly have no problem finding somebody to dance with, if that interests you.

The other option is to walk freely through the city to enjoy the ambiance. All public transportation is free starting at 5 p.m. on December 31st until noon on the 1st. Many of the metro lines will run all night, so you can move about the city easily. The <b>big</b> crowd gathers on the Champs Elysées, which is closed to traffic as soon as the crowd gets big enough. However, the Christmas market is closed that night on the lower part of the Champs. It is a very festive and happy crowd, and the rowdy elements who used to cause a few problems (throwing bottles and such) have been mostly eradicated by a huge police presence. There is much shared (cheap) champagne at midnight and lots of kissing. Many tourists gather around the Eiffel Tower, thinking that they are going to see fireworks such as the spectacular ones that took place at midnight in 1999, but no, Paris does not do New Year's fireworks. The tower will twinkle and tens of thousands of people will be disappointed. A 3rd area for big crowds is in front of Sacré Cœur. Nothing much happens there, but it is similar to the Champs Elysées (cheap champagne poured into your plastic glass if you have one, kisses from total strangers...). If you just wander around, you'll see bars and cafés open all night, some of which are appealing and others not at all...

Recommendations can be fine tuned if you tell us a bit more about your interests.

Oh, I finally noticed the "solo" in the title of your post.

How odd: I will be in Paris for NYE and to celebrate my birthday on January the 1st. I have been casting about for an appropriate place for both but I am still undecided thus far. Am staying in a hotel on the Champ de Mars but it is under renovation and is not offering any festivities, not even dinner. So I am in the same boat as you.

Have tuxedo and black tie, but where to go?

Have you decided?

Thanks, everyone, for the ideas! Hmmm, as some follow ups:

Expense for my birthday meal, for the most part, is wide open. I just want somewhere upscale, with impeccable service and food. Michelin rated is a way I'd love to go. I've searched the Michelin site, but haven't been able to narrow down.

I'm staying in the 7th, but the idea for the 16th during NYE sounds like fun. I don't think I'll be interested in marrying myself to a restaurant on that night. (Sitting there in a restaurant all alone at midnight might on NYE might not be bueno, know what I mean? LOL).

Jimmyboy418, are you traveling solo or accompanied?

If you like ballet, Sleeping Beauty is being performed on NYE at the Opera Bastille and Le Parc is at the Palais Garnier. Tickets for Le Parc are still available for on the Paris Opera Ballet site. Sleeping Beausty is sold out, but it may still be possible to luck into a ticket on the Paris Opera resale site.

Sounds like a wonderful birthday in Paris. Have fun.

Thank you, dreaming! I appreciate it. I think I already got my ticket for the ballet on another night (but you've now reminded me I've not heard from them/received the actual ticket via email...hmmm...need to check on that.)

Ok, well if you are looking to dress up and blow it out, then Le Cinq might be the choice for you. The service is impeccable and the food is delicious. The dining room is lovely. We went for Christmas a few years ago. This is located in the Hotel Georges V (I think it is a Four Seasons)...just off the Champs Elysee.

Another option, but totally different as you sit around a bar (very modern) and can see everything in the kitchen, is L'Atelier du Joel Robuchon. My favorite of these two, the service is outstanding but less traditional. Have only been to the one in the 6th...we are going again this trip. It's a favorite for us.

You can search by my name for out T/R from Christmas 2010 for details on both dining experiences and links to the photos, if you are interested.

Thank you Denisea! Got my ballet ticket in hand, and holding on to Eurorail tickets in my "cart" on their web site (the tips on reserving early have been very helpful). I will search for your thread and mine it for good information. Greatly appreciated.

I will be traveling solo. (Sorry for the delay in this reply)

Another Paris birthday here! I will wake up in Paris on December 31st for my last 40's birthday...then later in the day take the train to London to celebrate the end of the day...looking forward to the fireworks in London!

Alone in Paris on New Year’s Eve. Beautiful. Early evening, I would go to dinner, 7 or 8, in an informal setting. For me, Paris is the most welcoming city for a woman dining alone. Given that it is New Year’s Eve, definitely reserve. Perhaps a beautiful art deco/art nouveau bistrot, some small and wonderful neighborhood restaurant such as Robert et Louise in the Marais (there are so many, in each arrondissement) or, a restaurant with a gorgeous view... ie: Les Ombres, Le Georges. An expensive option is the Seine dinner cruise on Le Calife, the only dinner cruise that gets decent reviews. http://calife.fr/english/HTML/Cartes...rseve2011.html

After dinner, say...9-10?...I would then move into what Kerouac describes above in his option 2. Wandering and enjoying what intrigues you, being ‘of the moment’. You may want to structure it a bit. Since I love jazz, I would drop into a few jazz bars. For sure, I would go to Les Trois Mailletz,http://www.lestroismailletz.fr/
Downstairs is fabulous!, best after 11PM, goes to 3 or 4 AM. There are many options, http://www.timeout.com/paris/en/jazz-clubs-and-bars

Or, you could walk and sample special bars and cafes throughout the quartiers. For instance, the two cafes on Ile Saint Louis that face Notre Dame, Bistro du Peintre in the 11th, http://www.bistrotdupeintre.com/, Barrio Latino in the 12th, http://www.barrio-latino.com/, any café along the Canal Saint Martin, la Palette in the 5th, http://www.wineterroirs.com/2007/04/la_palette.html, etc. etc.

There are some good and fresh ideas for what to do in Paris on these two sites. As we come closer to the season, there will be more specific NYEve thoughts,

http://www.mylittle.fr/mylittleparis/en/
http://www.outandaboutinparis.com/

Essentially, I would plan my dinner, then simply walk and experience Paris ‘out of time, out of place’. Have a fabulous time!

Eeeks!!! Thanks, all, for the responses. Jimmyboy, I'm at aol (with my same handle here).... Maybe we can share a café au lait at some point?

I sent an email to your AOL address, so let's discuss...

Okay... I'm set at Arpege for my birthday dinner and 110 Taillevant for NYE. Speak now, or forever hold your peace!!

sounds damn good to me

Happy birthday and happy new year.

Hello gthenewsgirl,
I think a local brasserie would be fun for a solo traveller. No set menu, just the regular menu and brasseries tend to filled more with locals and dining solo will be better fun as it's more boisterous than a posh place where it's quiet and formal.

A wine Bar could be fun too, for example Chateau O in the 1st arrondissement will be filled with locals and ex-pats. Or the Garde Robe too is a fun wine bar, good food. It's also a great neighborhood to walk around near the Tuilleries, Place de la Concorde or the other way around Rue Montorgueil.

Thanks, all! Greatly appreciated. TPaxe, your advice is DULY noted! I will have 7 other nice to be boisterous. But for the two big nights, I am looking forward to a little pomp and some amazing food and service. Thanks again!