Dining Alone in Paris
 

I have a weekend in Paris in between a vacation trip to England and business in Brest. Any recommendations for 2 dinners at good restaurants that wouldn't have a problem with a single diner? I don't mind eating on the early side (a sept heures). Thanks for any suggestions.

I spent three weeks alone in Paris and ate where ever I felt like it with never a problem. Just pick a restaurant and enjoy yourself.

We ate early at La Coupole and I would enjoy eating there alone gazing at the murals by so many different artists. I'd read that the food is only so-so, but we had no complaints!

My friend and I travel to Paris every year...whether it be very pricey or very inexpensive I do not think there would be any problem with your dining alone. I second the recommendation for La Coupole!

Just one question to the Americans writing questions about dining alone:<BR>Why do you think you will feel uncomfortable dining out in Europe? Is it because it's Europe or do you feel also uncomfortable dining alone in the US?<BR>I would say, go wherever you want to. No one cares about who you're dining with or without. Why would a restaurant have a problem with a single diner?

Carmen, that's three questions, not one. :-)<BR><BR>Speaking only for myself, I don't particularly like dining alone in the US either, but since almost all of my solo traveling is in Europe, I rarely find myself in the postion of having to dine out alone night after night in the US.<BR><BR>And some restaurants do treat single diners rudely, seating them at badly located tables or giving them slower service, for example. They know they're not making as much money off a single diner as they would be if the table were filled, and they'd rather annoy one person by putting him or her next to the WC door than annoy a larger group. On the other hand, I've had some very pleasant experiences where the waiters have more or less adopted me because I've been on my own.<BR><BR>

Dear Dinah;<BR>I would suggest logging on to Rick Steves web site www.ricksteves.com or better yet buying his book. There are lots of really good suggestions.The web site is great because you can read reviews and people offer suggestions of their new discoveries.<BR>Viva La France

Hi Dinah,<BR><BR>I've frequently dined alone in Paris, so I doubt you'll have any problems.<BR><BR>Just to show that we all have different tastes, I'm not a fan of La Coupole at all. The decor is lovely, the food is adequate, and the price is outrageous (in my opinion only, of course). However, I've never been downstairs to the dance floor.<BR><BR>Jennifer

I agree with just go wherever you want to go and eat there. there isn't any noticeable pattern in Parisian restaurants at treating single diners poorly that I've noticed that I would recommend one particular restaurant as preferable. It only happened to me once, actually, and that restaurant isn't in business any longer. That wasn't a table location problem (which happens to me more in other countries, actually, like US and Canada), but just being ignored by the waiter forever while he took orders and catered to other tables with more than one person, even when they had arrived long after me. <BR><BR>I don't eat in expensive restaurants that much, actually, and I think cafes and brasseries tend to treat single diners the same as others as it is very common in those places. The table issue isn't as much of a problem for one thing because the tables are close together and tend to be in the front, anyway. Many of the Parisian places I eat don't even have single tables off by the kitchen. Also, you just seat yourself in a lot of them, also. So, maybe that should be your plan if you are uncomfortable -- go to more casual places where they don't have maitre d's seating you. They do seat you in La Coupole, though -- I'm not crazy about that place myself. I think the food is mediocre and it's too crowded and noisy, but many do like it, obviously.

I dine quite frequently in Paris, and oftentimes alone. I've never felt uncomfortable, in fact, find I get a little extra service. In cafes and bistros there are usually tiny tables that suit one person just fine. For dinner I usually eat at neighborhood restaurants, not the jam-packed in places or the tourist-crowded establishments, and always get the same service the other diners are getting (usually, excellent; if it's lousy, everyone is suffering, not just me). In some of those neighborhood restaurants, I'm the only American and seem to be a pleasant novelty (could it be my accent? heck, I'm in head-to-toe black, so it can't be my outfit). Thinking as a business person, I figure they're seeing this American woman, alone, maybe she'll tell others about our restaurant and we'll get more business, so let's make sure she does. Consequently, two restaurants stand out in the 12eme on rue Faubourg St Antoine: Savoir Aimer and Canta Napoli. Good French food and a great ambience in the first, good Italian food and a great ambience in the second. NO English spoken, so bring your Berlitz for Diners if your French won't stand up.<BR><BR>My favorite part about dining in Paris (besides the food) is no waiter wants to be my friend "hi I'm Biff and I'll be your waiter this evening. How y'all doin'?"

I did my first solo Europe trip last month and I have to admit, I felt a little self-conscious dining alone. I can't say enough about the lovely little restaurants on Rue St. Dominique (it is a short street, don't worry), which seemed comfy enough for a single woman. I also liked Sancerre, located on Avenue Rapp, which was very casual and comfortable. It is more of a bar than a restaurant, though. I have mixed feelings about the modern/trendy Cafe Pont l'Alma, also on Ave. Rapp. It seemed a little too sexy for me but the more I think about it, it was actually a good choice and the service was pretty good.<BR><BR>I haven't had any problems with bad service in Paris as a single diner, either. I agree with Elvira--any time you are getting bad service, everyone else is, too.

We often observed many single diners at the outdoor cafes. If the weather is nice, it is a great way to enjoy and meal and also be entertained by the ever changing parade of people passing by. The tables are set so close, you wont feel alone. We met some very interesting peole while dining outdoors. If that doesnt suit you, ask for recommendations from the locals at your hotel. Enjoy!

Hi Judith-<BR><BR>This past May I traveled to Paris alone and had absolutely no problem dining solo. Two places I'd recommend are Le Latin St. Jacques and Bofinger. (FYI, I hadn't made a reservation at Bofinger and so had to settle for the smoking section; it wasn't a problem because I was dining early and the restaurant wasn't too crowded).<BR><BR>Enjoy, I had some delicious food in Paris.