Breakfast in Paris
 

My wife and I will be staying at the Hotel Minerve in the Latin Quarter in May. Can anyone suggest a place nearby where we can get an American breakfast?

As you must have already gathered, an "American breakfast" isn't all that common in Paris, where people tend toward more understated breakfasts and quite substantial lunches. The only sure-fire places I've seen them are those that seem to cater more to Americans and Brits.

If you don't mind a very pleasant walk from your hotel, the Holiday Inn - St. Germain des Pres has an American breakfast buffet with scrambled eggs, bacon, etc. It also has some of those European niceties like cheeses, cold meats and plenty of good breads, pain au chocolat, etc.

The hotel is on Rue du Vaugirard, just past its intersection with Rue de Rennes (Metro Stop St. Placide). Personally, I'd walk but I'm like that and it's the better part of a mile, I'm sure. (A good way would be through Jardin du Luxembourg on way and up Rue de Rennes to St. Germain des Pres on the other, for variety).

The cost is 18 Euros and I would be very hard-pressed to tell you that it's worthwhile for that sum, but if you simply MUST have an American breakfast then that is one possibility.

There's an American Diner in St. Germain. Full American breakfast - even pancakes.

Hamburgers, fries, onion rings, milkshakes, etc. for lunch.

Straight out of "Happy Days". It caused quite a stir when it opened a couple of years ago. I'll try to find more info and will repost.

Here's one link - http://lifestyle.iafrica.com/dining/340226.htm

Breakfast in America on rue Ecoles -

Here's the direct link -
http://www.breakfast-in-america.com/...investors.html

17, rue des Ecoles, Paris - Tél: 01 43 54 50 28
Métro: Cardinal LeMoine or Jussieu

I don't think it's too far from the Minerve

Why would you anyone go to Paris and want an "American breakfast"? And just what is an American breakfast? I usually have cold cereal, maybe toast and coffee around at 10:00 after a good run in the morning. Head to McDonalds and have a McDonalds heart-stopping breakfast. Truly something to remember about Paris.

Bonne chance mon ami!

It looks like it's about two doors down from the Hotel Minerve. :D

I KNEW the hotel sounded familiar. I walked past it many times (thanks Flyboy)

Then, ssbnorman, if you want a more traditional treat, walk across the street and buy a nutella crepe from the sidewalk vendor. Nice little place to get coffee there too.

A more "French" diner experience if you will is on the corner as you exit right from the hotel (can't remember the name of it though).

I stopped in the flower shop on the corner to the left and bought fresh flowers to take back to the room. I grabbed two bunches from the sidewalk, took them in to pay for them, and the clerk made a beautiful "un bouquet" for me - even going out to the sidewalk to get better/fresher stems to put in her arrangement. I think the total was 7euros for fresh flowers in the room. Nice treat.

Great location. My first trek out I stumble on Luderee on my way toward the Seine and Notre Dame. What a great first experience in Paris!

http://www.laduree.fr/bonaparte_va.htm

Sorry, Laduree! Here' the rue Bonaparte location.

While we were in Paris, we popped out to the street market just around the corner from our hotel to get breakfast each morning.

Bought a fresh baguette, some cheese, some fresh fruit, some juice at the little store, and an assortment of fabulous pastries. The ladies in the pastry shop were a little annoyed at our non-French language attempts the first day, but as we continued to go back each morning, they got really friendly and had already figured out my son's favorite pastry.

Who wants an "American breakfast" when you can eat like that each morning? Was less expensive than any restaurant breakfast, too.

'Cause sometimes you want a taste of home.

And sometimes you get tired of the carb-heavy breakfasts and want scrambled eggs with bacon.

One of the most enjoyable parts of travel is dining. I love all kinds of European menus. The one exception is breakfast. I do not like the standard hotel buffets and much prefer the American version of breakfasts. "to each, his own".

We ate at the 50's style diner called An american Breakfast. The owner is American and our waitress was also. It was fun to visit with them while we ate our Denver Omelets and hash browns. We woke up craving eggs one morning and I would highly recommend this place. The coffee is good too.

Topping for those planning to stay in St. Germain.

I stayed at the Minerve in September and we ended up stopping in at Breakfast in America every day we were there, if only to check on how the Red Sox were doing. It really is just two doors down from the Minerve so it couldn't be more convenient.

BIA serves a great "diner-style" American breakfast, and about the only thing missing from the menu is grits. It was fun to stop there and talk to other Americans for a few minutes, especially for my traveling companion, who doesn't speak any French.

If we had a lot to do on a particular day we liked getting a quick b'fast there b/c then we could skip lunch, which tended to take up more time than we had to spare.

This is probably a troll!

One of my favorate things to do in Paris is to walk into a pastry shop and buy a ton mouth watering Parisian goodies!
Sometimes the lady would stare at me, but I just can't help it!

Sad to say that I am never in Paris long enough to "want a taste of home " :)
I spend more time at home, wishing I were in Paris having a meal or at least some food from Paris..that is why every morning this past trip, the Yankee went down to the boulangerie and brought back hot fresh croissants and I perked some nice fresh coffee that never tastes like coffee at home.
Since I rarely eat a typical breakfast, this was enough for me. Otherwise, most cafes have omelettes and breakfasty type foods.
You can always count on finding something to eat in Paris~

I understand your need for an American breakfast. The restaurants recommended above are excellent for that type of b'fast. However, it's my opinion only, but the croissants and baguettes are really great and that's the type of b'fast I look forward to when I visit Paris.

Why "American Breakfast" in Paris?

Like my French teacher (who is American) said, there are two kinds of people who visit Paris: one will head to the nearest McDonald's and the other will seek out the freshest French cafe.

It's about comfort level. I travel quite a lot and I am one to immerse myself in the culture and cuisine of the new country. But after a week or so, I crave a regular hamburger or simple lo-mein.

I have friends from midwest and south who come to NYC and all they want to eat is hamburger, pizza and pasta. They won't even try Indian food or sushi or babaganoush or falafal.

It's the comfort zone.

And sometimes it is a traveller who has say diabeties who has to have certain foods at certain times of the day. I have a family member with this condition. So much protein, so much carbos etc etc. So it is good to know what is avaiable in each city.