Calling all francophiles
 

OK - so one thing I know about this board is the passion that people feel about Paris. So... I need some help.

My family and I will be in Paris at Christmas time, Staying in the 7th and I am looking for some good advice on what to do about Christmas dinner - it's a Sunday and I'm aware that a lot of restaurants will be closed.

Apart from my wife and myself, we'll have 4 older children with us (18-20 yrs) and 2 younger children (7 and 9). As you can imagine, with that many people we are after somewhere moderately priced but perhaps with a set Christmas meal and somewhere that will be a special memory - not too much to ask is it? LOL

Anyway, I'd welcome your thoughts and ideas. I did a search before positing and didn't really come up with anything.

Put the words Christmas Paris restaurants in the search box and then click on "search."

look for restaurants in the 5-8th arrondissements. They are the most "commercial" and have more tourists... and alot of their stores and restaurants stay open for holidays, incl. Armistice and Toussaint. I am sure popular places will stay open for Christmas as well.

Most hotel restaurants are open on Christmas. But be sure to reserve in advance.

Fontaine de Mars should fit the bill. Cozy, good food, geographically convenient and open, at least according to Michelin, although I would confirm that and reserve in advance.

Hi guy,

Another vote for Fontaine de Mars.

In the same neighborhood check

Le Florimond
19 Ave de la Matte-Picquet
01 45 554 038

Le Petit Troquet
28 r Exposition
01 47 05 80 39

((I))

Thanks one and all for the suggestions so far. I got excited about the Fontaine de Mars, but sadly it looks like it closes on Christmas Day (see http://www.annuaire-parisien.com/660...e-de-mars.html) - at least I think that's what it says.

Thanks for those others ira - I'll look them up.

Guy

Joyeux Noël en France Guy!((g)) ((d))
corinne

My famiy was there in the same situition several years ago. We made a feast from shops around Paris and had a christmas pinic in our hotel room.Order a Roast chicken or duck early morning as most are reserved by the afternoon. Include the potatoes. My 2 daughters still talk about the great meal. And a faverite christmas memory.

The most obvious places would be the hotel dining rooms. Some of them are very high end -- but I am sure there will be a cozy bistro someplace in there ...

I believe Bofinger is open 365 days a year - and it's a great place for a festive family gathering.

Hmm This is proving harder than I thought. I still haven't found a place that says it's open on Christmas Day - I'm too intimidated to ring any of them up from here in Australia, (because I have no French).

I did see that the river cruises are open for Christmas lunch, but all of my instinct tells me 'tourist trap' - is it unwise to have Christmas Lunch on a Seine cruise with Bateaux Parisienne?

Bofinger sounds good, although I was hoping for somewhere a little closer to 7e. In any event I emailed the FLO people asking if any of their places are open and they haven't responded. Maybe that picnic is looking better Quiz? Actually, I think that's what we might do on Christmas Eve.

< I'm too intimidated to ring any of them up from here in Australia, (because I have no French).>
"Bonjour, ouvrez vous pour Noël (xmas days), ou pour le soir de Noël? (or xmas eve)"
ask them before if they speak English..

bonne chance! :-)
corinne

Hi guy,

You can fax them.

I have found that you are more likely to get a response from a fax then an email.

Write out your question in English and run it through a translater (http://www.freetranslation.com/)

It will be close enough.

((I))

Hey Ira! do you mean my translation is not good enough? ;-)