In August, we'll be visiting Paris for the 2nd time in 30 years. We are staying at the Intercontinental Paris (not the Grand Intercontinental) on 3 rue de Castiglione which they say is in the 1st Arrondisement. I would like some names of bistros, cafes nearby that won't break "our" bank or be really fancy. I would also like to know about how far the Intercontinental is (walking distance?) from the Louvre, the Islands, Notre Dame, St Germaine (where I've read on this board that there are many excellent places to eat) I can't seem to find much information about the above, from the internet. Any and all help would be wonderful. I love the people on this board and have found out so much information in the few short months since I've found all of you! Thank you, Sandy

Hi Sandy,<BR> I'm posting today under all sorts of pseudonyms as tired of using my real name and/or e-mail for a variety of reasons.<BR><BR> I always stay in the 1st because of the easy walking access to most of the things I like most about Paris. The Louvre is an easy 6-7 block walk (to the west end of museum) and then another 10ish block further to ccross to the Islands or Notre Dame. Easy to just cut through the Louvre grounds to cross river and be in St. Germaine. <BR><BR> Some of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood would be Cafe Dolphin and Le Ruc (east of you on St. Honore, both on same block just north of where Opera runs into Rivoli). Also just one block further east is Palais Royale which has many wonderful shops in around the gardens and a wonderful inexpensive cafe at the back left corner, maybe called Cafe Palais Royale, right around corner from that famous Collette et al restaurant whose name escapes me at the moment. Of course, also many wonderful shops on St. Honore.<BR> I mentioned in another post about children in Paris the carnival they set up during summer in Tuilleries (right at end of Castiglione) which is wonderful and open til midnight and beyond. Always good for a stroll on the way home!<BR>

The brasserie Le Vaudeville, which is located north of the Palais Royale on Rue Vivienne, is a terrific place with good food and a lively atmosphere. It is right across the street from the Bourse.

And don't forget the tea salon, Angelina, located at 226 rue de Rivoli not too far from the Louvre museum. It's a tea salon but they also serve salads, quiches, desserts and the like (as well as their very famous hot chocolate, the Africain, an extremely rich concoction).<BR><BR>One of the best pieces of advice I received on this great forum was concerning the website, Les Pages Jaunes (the French Yellow Pages). Following is the website:<BR>http://wgd.pagesjaunes.fr/pj.cgi?<BR>Once you're in, you'll see a tiny British flag in the upper right-hand corner, click on that to have the English version of this website. Then you can type things in by category or by name to see a photo and also a map. Once you're looking at the photo of the place, you can click on the "street" icon (to the right) with arrows to left and right to literally walk down a street. You can use that to gauge how many blocks distance is betweeen 2 sites (you can also turn corners onto other streets). It's a pretty cool tool. Hope that helps you in your planning.<BR><BR>I wish you a wonderful trip to Paris!!

Just around the corner you will find rue Mont Thabor; at # 28 is L'Ardois, excellent food priced well-the place needs multiple turns for profitability so eat a late lunch or dinner if you are the leisurely type. A few doors away is Souffle; prix fixe at 28.20 and an awesome three course souffle special. Turn left on rue Cambon and find Brasserie Flottes which offers the best croque sandwiches and Aligot--a sinful mashed potato dish. All three spots are reasonable; you can't go wrong!

Thank you all for your great suggestions. I've already downloaded them and will take those to Paris with me, along with lots of other information I've discovered from this board. Sandy