Sarah

Hi!<BR>I will be in Paris for the first time alone in two weeks. How strange will it be for a 22 year old woman to dine alone for dinner? Can you give me some suggestions for moderately priced resturants to get a great meal or where I can dine alone without feeeling uncomfortable?<BR>Thanks for your help!

Hiho

This would be quite strange to the average Parisian. I would suggest that you order room service in your hotel.

elaine

ignore the above, that is a persistent troll <BR><BR>Sarah<BR>I (and many others on this message board) have traveled to Paris both solo and with others, and I have been treated well either way at all levels of restaurants.<BR>Can you give an idea of what you mean by moderately-priced?<BR>Where will you be staying?<BR><BR>

Sandy

When I was in Paris in February, there was a woman dining alone at Taillevant, which is perhaps the finest restaurant in the city. There are a few places that do communal seating - they have large large tables where they put out dishes for sharing - if you research some of the Paris restaurant sites, I'm sure you'll find them. Have fun!

Sarah

Thanks Elaine,<BR>I will actually be staying in a hostel in the Bastille district. By moderately priced, I would like to have one great French evening meal for under $50 USD.<BR>

Sarah

Sandy,<BR>That idea sounds like alot of fun. Can you recommend a website or place to start looking.<BR>Thank you!

RnR

Sarah, have you looked at the Cheap Eats book yet? it is a must guide. We used it last year, and were not disappointed at all. It would have you meet your price goal.

pam

Dined all over Italy...alone.<BR>Go for it. If you don't like it, you will find countless alternatives from picnics, to little bistros and cafes where you may feel even more comfortable.<BR>Ditto the "cheap eats" book and Zagat's "paris".<BR>Have a wonderful time.<BR>When will you be there? Possibility you won't have to dine alone.

elvira

The Bastille area offers a wide variety of dining places, price ranges, and cuisines. The area right around the Place de la Bastille is a tourist area, so lots of busy bistros/cafes. If you go east into the 11eme, there are excellent Moroccan, Sud-Ouest, Ivory Coast, Thai, and French restaurants that aren't the typical tourist fare. The menus are in French, no English translations usually, and the atmosphere is neighborhood - which means a single female diner is not a novelty. On rue Faubourg St Antoine there are two restaurants that are exceptional: Les Amoynes and Savoir Aimer. The first is owned by an up and coming chef (menu only/about 30euros); the second is a tiny place with great food (about 30euros also for the menu; a la carte is offered). On rue Faidherbe is an excellent Moroccan restaurant. At the Viaduc des Artistes are several good cafes and bistros. On rue Montreuil is a pretty good Chinese restaurant, and a Lebanese restaurant that was recommended (didn't eat there, though). <BR><BR>

alex

You may wish to try one on l"ile Saint-Louis: L'Orangerie. 28 rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Ile. 01 46 33 93 98. Excellent food, cozy ambience, lovely neighborhood. Just a few blocks south and west of your neighborhood. The island is a monument to 17th century architectural inspiration. On the same street,(39) Nos Ancetre les Gaulois, 01 46 33 66 07 and (41)Le Sergent Recruter, 01 43 54 75 42, offering more informal dining.

ollie

You could also check into one of the escort services that are available in Paris. For a nominal fee they will provide a male escort to accompany you to dinner etc. One that has had good reviews is the PGS d' E company.

sarah

What does PGS d' E stand for? Do you have a phone number?

elaine

My old favorite restaurant is Chez Julien, in the 4th, corner of 1 rue Pont Louis Philippe and 62 rue de l’Hotel de Ville.. Telephone 42-78-31-64. Closed Sundays. Last time I was there it was approximately the equivalent of $45 per person including a glass of wine each. You can spend less if you order the (limited) fixed-price menu. The decor is simple but traditional and<BR>pretty, (lace curtains, etc) with very good food. Not very dressy, but not jeans. The restaurant had a short appearance in the film “The Accidental Tourist” when William Hurt was briefly shown dining there<BR>

RnR

I'll be happy to go with you, and it will be free. In fact, I'll even select the restaurant. We can share the wine and cut your expenses a bit. Or you can do it alone, and you'll have a fabulous time, just as many of us did on our very first trip to Paris. Have a wonderful time.

Melissa

I liked eating at Sancerre, a bar on Avenue Rapp. The owner is from the region so he serves food & wine from there. I ate at the bar and made friends.<BR><BR>It seems like all the little places on Rue St. Dominique are fine for dining alone. They are small and the food is great.<BR><BR>I also like Le Fete Galant, located at 13 rue des Ecoles Polytechnique in the Latin Quarter. It is SO tiny, I think you would be better off eating alone! It is very inexpensive and the service is wonderful. It is next door to Cybercafe Latino, where you can check your email. Actually, you can eat at Cybercafe Latino as well but it's bar food.<BR><BR>I usually avoid trendy places when alone, but when I was at La Coupole I did see a woman eating by herself. She looked totally at ease, had her magazine and everything. She oozed confidence, I guess, which is all you need to look good no matter what the situation!

Sarah

Thank you all for the suggestions! I really appreciate it.<BR><BR>I think I will pass on the escort and whoever posed as me asking for the phone number of the escort service, please use your own name.

Susan

I ate in many lovely restaurants in Paris for dinner two weeks ago--and I didn't take a book or journal to keep me occupied either. I never felt out of place or strange. I was enjoying myself and it was evident to the service people and other customers. I was engaged in conversation by both French and American customers. Since I was staying in San Germain and I was determined to walk everywhere, all of the restaurants were in San Germain, however, if the places I ate were any indication I'm sure you will have a lovely time in the places recommended by elivira. Just remember if you expect to be uncomfortable you will be, if you expect to enjoy yourself you will.

Sorry

I'm sorry to interject on this lovely and informative thread (I too, am looking for this information) but I just have to say that in the past few weeks this HiHo "person" has done NOTHING but provide inaccuracies and other incredibly useless information. It's posters like this that make me wish registration would work. I apologize but he/she/it has just been so incredibly annoying! Disregard ANYTHING that is posted by HiHo!!!

mpprh

Hi<BR><BR>I spent 20 yrs travelling alone , but a male. A lone meal, with a book is pretty soul destroying.<BR><BR>I frequently saw solo females eating alone.<BR><BR>I was also lonely and wanted to say .......... hi why don't we eat together ?<BR><BR>But I was too shy except for a couple of times where the lady asked me !<BR><BR>Peter<BR>

Hiho

Topping because everyone is so mean to me.