clarson

Salut: I've been reading with great interest all the first class advice that has been offered on this site and thank you all for sharing your travel wisdom. Now I have a question of my own. Any suggestions for a favorite restaurant in or near the 7th arrondissement that remains open in August? We are staying at le Tourville. So many great places that I've read about are closed during the month. We always seem to migrate back to the 5th to the Balzar because it is a favorite of our son's. We have also enjoyed les Bookinistes in the 6th. But we thought we would like to try something new this year. I know this is not in the 7th, but has anyone been to Le Closerie des Lilas lately? I took my father there 32 years ago when I was a student living in Paris. It was wonderful then - is it still wonderful? J'espere que oui. Merci!

Huitres

There have been numerous threads on this very topic. My favorite in the 7th is "Le Fontane de Mars" located on St. Dominique, within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower and the Avenue de la Bourdonnais.

Gretchen

Go down a few--the very best is Le Florimond.


La Fontaine de Mars -129 rue St. Dominique 7eme Metro Ecole Militaire
Husband had cassoulet--I had foie gras (TDF!!)

BraParis Restaurants - almost all of these are in the range of 3 courses for $30-40 with wine. Some less!

The Brasserie de l?Ile Saint Louis --just behind Notre Dame across the bridge to the island. Can order house wine by the bottle and be charged for just what you drink. Their onion tart looked sensational.

Chez Papa - rue de l?Arcade (and other locations). Recommended on a board by a frequent Paris visitor. Specializes in Sud Ouest food, cassoulet. Do not eat at the one near the Ecole Militaire metro stop.


La Samarataine Department Store - 19 rud de lo Monnaie. If the roof is open go for a stunning view of Paris. There is a little cafe there for a bite. A nice restaurant - La Toupary-on the5th floor.

Les Olivades - 41 Av. Segur 7eme -Metro Ecole Militaire -Provencal food. Good--under new management who have apparently taken care of the service problems.

La Coupole - 102 Blvd. Montparnasse 14th - we went for lunch and had our best cassoulet (so far!). Beautiful art deco room. Popular with businessmen.

Au Pied de Cochon 6 rue Coquilliere 1er - Near Les Halles and St. Eustache. THE best onion soup!!

Le Vieux Bistro - across from the side of Notre Dame. .

Le Florimond--19 av. de la Motte-Picquet 7eme Metro Ecole Militaire. Maybe our favorite. The owner chef came to our table to explain all the dishes.

Le Clos des Gourmets - 16 av. Rapp 7eme Metro Alma-Marceau In the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Excellent prix fixe at 175FF (~25Euro).

Bistrot du 7eme--59 blvd. Latour-Mauborg
Bargain BARGAIN!!

Le Jules Verne - Phone, 01-45-55-61-44

For mussels--There are of course lots of places to have them--husband had some at Brasserie Balzar
49 rue des Ecoles near the Sorbonne. Our favorite place to go for mussels however is across from the Gare du Nord--there are 4 or 5 restaurants there that serve them--Also these are open 24 hours because of the station and are good for an early dinner. There is also a chain of restaurants --Leon de Bruxelles - that specialize in mussels but they have little charm to them (but good mussels)

Le Petit Troquet - 28 rue de l?Exposition 7eme

Auberge de Champ de Mars--next door to the above restaurant. VERY inexpensive.Pretty good food although not exceptional.

awbaker

Great list, Gretchen! There's nothing better than foie gras!

We also enjoyed La Fontaine de Mars.

francophile03

One restaurant that I liked that's in the 7th but on the St. Germain side is Le Bistrot de Paris on rue de Lille.

SuzieC

I can't recommend it, but the menu "looks" lovely as does the picture of the restaurant. La Ferme Saint-Simon in the 7th. So next time, I'm going there. (I saw it on reservethebest.com)... Side note: I read the menu at L'Arpege, also the 7th, decadent...lovely but decadent

oakglen

If you are in Paris late in August your chances are better; many restaurants close the first two weeks only. Au Bon Accueil, Fontaine de Mars, Maupertu and Thoumieux should be open the whole month. Maupertu is just a block from your hotel,it rates a Michelin "Bib Gourmand". JP

tham

Without a doubt, our favorite restaurant in the 7th is Le Bellecour on Rue Surcouf. It has been mentioned in other posts, but wanted to echo the sentiment. My wife and I went there about 20 years ago, and it was so good we returned the next night to dine again. Have returned every time we go to Paris for a very special evening. Reservations in advance are a must. The prix fixe menu at 44 Euro is a deal for this Michelin starred restaurant.

Scarlett

We love De Chez Eux on Avenue Lowenthal, near the Invalides.
They treat you like old friends, the food is excellent and you might even see a celeb of some sort.
They are closed for 3 weeks in August, so I hope you are able to be there that one week they are open~

clarson

Many thanks for your recommendations. We'll enjoy checking them out in August. A bientot!

BTilke

I know Le Florimond has many fans here, but their cuisine is old style traditional--lots of lamb, sweetbreads, veal, etc. If that's not your thing, you may not like it. The decor is very old style traditional, too. For those who like things more modern (in both cuisine and decor), some other possibilities include Lei (two doors down from Le Florimond), Cafe d'Esplanade (overlooking the Esplanade des Invalides) and Le Suffren, a nice little bistro on Ave. le Suffren in the 15th, just on the other side of the Champ de Mars and on the border of the 7th and 15th.
Good food and service at all three, although the Cafe des Esplanades can be a bit snooty and is the most expensive of the trio. Le Suffren has the best service (the waiters like joking with customers) and Lei is actually an Italian restaurant, but seems to be quite popular with the locals.

Beatchick

clarson, I haven't tried any restaurants in the 7th so I have no favorites yet, but just wanted to let you know that Patricia Wells has a listing of restaurants open in August by arrondissement in the back of her book "Food Lover's Guide to Paris". It's a fabulous resource. She has an index guide with listings for those with terraces, air conditioning, open on Sunday, open before 7pm, open after 11pm - these might help you to narrow down your choices. And then you can flip to the entry on the restaurant itself to find out price ranges & menu recommendations.

Hope your trip is faboo!!
Beatchick

Beatchick

I don't *think* Chez Eux & Le Florimond are open in August, but I could be completely wrong.

These are the ones Patricia Wells mentions as opened in August:
L'Affriole (also has A/C)

Arpege (has A/C)

Le Bar au Sel (terrace)

Au Bon Acceuil (view of Eiffel Tower as you leave the restaurant but she said filled w/smokers)

La Fontaine de Mars (terrace)

Jules Verne (A/C)

petite

One of the Best meals we had in Paris was from: Au Bon Accueil!! licked the plate clean

Ask for a sidewalk table- the eiffel tower view is unforgettable...

Gretchen

We were bit not blown away by L'affriole and as at any time, it could be the night or what we chose to have.

WoodyfromTexas

When I lived in Paris (1989-1991) I lived in the 7th and a restaurant opened up that was great value for money (to borrow the British phrase). It is Bistro de Breteuil and it is at Place Breteuil. The food is good, French and one gets a full meal - kir royal, starter, main, dessert, bottle of wine for every 2 people, and coffee for 31 Euros. I ate there a month ago and it is still good. If money is no object then by all means eat at Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tour. But you better make reservations now for August. Both may close a short time in August but I'm not sure of that.

Keren

Woody, do you know if the Bistro de Breteuil has a formule at lunchtime, that is cheaper than 31 Euros?

clarson

Really appreciate all the help. Many thanks.

grandmere

Another vote for Bistro de Breteuil! I first read about it in European Travel and Life ( a travel 'zine that has gone out of business and is still mourned by some of us) several years ago. It is indeed good value for the $$.

travelbunny

...would second the ferme saint simon restaurant. i have eatern there several times..can be a little pricey but fortunately "le menu" is excellent and fairly reasonable. the location would be convenient to the 7th. i am not sure if open in august.