I was wondering if my fellow Fodorites had some good recommendations for places to eat around Madeline/ Opera district? I am looking for places that obviously had good food, but also places with a good atmosphere. Mostly, I would think I would want to eat outside and have a good meal, people watch, and soak in the atmosphere. I don't neccessarily want a posh indoors restaurant - I can get that in the States. Perhaps a restaurant with good food, great atmosphere with surrounding scenary to enjoy, seating outdoors, and nicely decorated.

I am staying in the Madeline/Opera district, so I was thinking after a long day of walking to come back to the hotel and relax before heading out to dinner. So, perhaps I don't want to stray too far from my hotel. See link below for exact location. Thanks!
http://www.hotelqueenmary.com/uk/ind...n-et-acces.php

Cafe de la Paix? Historic place

Michel - wow looks really nice! Thanks so much. I can kinda see the picture on the website of the outdoor terrace. Would I have to make reservations at a place like that?

I'd say no, but since it is where you will be ending your days, maybe pop in on way by and reserve for that night, or next?

I've been an agnostic when it comes to reservations in Paris. I've gone to a few nice places (non-stared Michelin) and never bothered to reserve. But I try ot have a list of places so if somewhere looks buys, I go to next choice.

Slowly planning for a trip this fall. Let us know what you find!

Yeah, it is sometimes hard to make reservations because you don't know how the day is going to go....

Cafe de la Paix is wonderful - you can have a full meal or just a beverage stop - eat inside (which is beautiful) or on the terrace (which is tremendous and has great views). Here's another cafe in the neighborhood - Le Grand Cafe Capucines which is open 24 hours!
http://www.legrandcafe.com/en/index.html
There is also a cafe on the second floor of Fauchon - here's the link:
http://www.fauchon.com/en/en/#/gastr...n/eating-aeras

Lots more on the left bank. Do they have to be in Madeline/Opera area?

I am staying in the Madeleine/Opera area so I figured that perhaps some of my dinners might be there since I assume I will be tired from walking all day and want to go back to the hotel and get refreshed for dinner. However, I am not committed to only having dinner there. Perhaps I can just do my sightseeing and go straight to dinner....I would love to still hear your left bank recommendations. Or lunch places too....Thanks!

A place I've had on my list for a while.

http://www.williswinebar.com/

I go to the Grand Cafe almost every time I'm in Paris. It's reasonable in price and a beautiful room inside. They cook pretty well, also. I have managed to get a place without reservations, but they can get busy. I usually get a steak and the potatoes dauphinois. It is cheaper than Cafe de la Paix.

We had a fun time at Michel_Paris rec Willi's Wine Bar. There's an NPR bit on it. They also own the more expensive Maceo (nearby), that we really enjoyed too. They had an amazing vegetarian le menu.

From the pictures I think Grand Cafe has a place to sit outdoors, correct? It does look super cute! My husband will definitely want the steak and potatoes.

We've eaten at Willi's Wine Bar a few times and have always enjoyed it. We also love Le Grand Colbert which (if memory serves me) is diagonally across the street from Willi's. It became fairly famous as the restaurant in "Something's Gotta Give" although we ate there long before the movie came out. We have been back each time we've been in Paris. I don't think either Willi's or Colbert have outdoor seating but they are both great restaurants.

You should also stop into Harry's New York Bar for an original bloody mary - delicious!

A

www.hediard.fr

The house NV brut Champagne is really great. Go shopping downstairs after you eat.

Thin

We also walked by this restaurant a couple of times and I loved how it looked:

http://www.unjourapeyrassol.com/

we haven't eaten there, but next time we're in Paris I'll probably give it a try. It is on the same street as Le Grand Colbert.

Le Grand Colbert looks like a really good atmosphere! The Grand cafe does too!

The Grand Cafe has just a single row of a few tables on the real outside on the sidewalk, you wouldn't want to sit there for a nice dinner, it's more for drinks. It would be an inferior place to dine IMO. Also, that sidewalk is very busy and narrow which is why it's not so pleasant (and close to lots of traffic). Then, there are some tables in kind of a window area that are nice enough, yes. It's not really outside, although maybe the windows are open in the summer, I don't recall. Most people actually want to sit on the inside because that is where the beautiful Art Nouveau design is.

But whatever appeals to you, although if you don't have a reservation, there may not be a lot of choice always. The odds are you won't get a sidewalk table as people just having a drink or ice cream or something take those up and there aren't that many.

One advantage of the Grand Cafe is it is open 24 hours, every day (or at least open until very late). So it's a good choice for Sunday when some are closed, or if you want to eat very late after a show or something.

Good to know about Grand Cafe. Thanks!

Another spot across from Willi's Wine Bar is Bistrot Vivienne, also Aux Bons Crus and all are on rue des Petits Champs, but very little outside seating, if any. A little further north on rue Vivienne (across from the old Bourse) is La Vaudeville. This is a great, old-style bistrot, with plenty of outdoor seating. BTW, there are lots of little restos and loads of outdoor seating for a casual meal at the place du Marche St. Honore. EJ

Bistrot Vivienne looks very cute! I can definitely see some outside seating in the pictures I found on google. Thanks!