New Year's Eve in Paris
 

I'm taking my fiance (to be) to Paris toward the end of December, and need your help in ideas for New Year's Eve. Where should I take her to bring in the New Year? (read: romantic and unforgettable) Help!

Maxim's? they have a big NY eve to-do, have a beautiful interior and are well-known and memorable (you didn't say cheap) see www.maxims-de-paris.com<BR>I think that is very very expensive, though. Another nice spot might be the top room on the Tour Montparnasse, they have dancing and there's that view--that's not cheap, but I'm sure cheaper than Maxims. If money is no object, go for Maxims or the Hotel Crillon, probably about the same $<BR>

Thanks, Christina. I'm assuming that either place will require a reservation. Do you have any idea if these places have websites, or some other way to contact them? Also, I'd be interested in hearing what you call very very expensive, to give me an idea of what I can expect. :^)

One idea for something romantic and unforgettable is the world-class tango troupe that will be in town. There is a performance on Dec. 31. If you've ever watched a team of professional tango dancers perform, you know it's pretty romantic! More info on the event can be found on the current issue of Paris Voice (www.parisvoice.com).<BR>BTilke

Oleg, very expensive is probably at least 1500F per person (US$200), going up to maybe 3000F. I've read that La Tour d'Argent is actually fairly reasonable for NY Eve and there is that wonderful view of Notre Dame, so that's another idea (their regular dinner is around 1000F, I think and NY eve maybe 1300-1500F). Maxim's and Les Ambassadeurs (restaurant in Crillon hotel) are on the top of the expensive list; the restaurant in Montparnasse Tower (called Ciel de Paris) is also up there (ha ha, both ways). Les Ambassadeurs phone number is 44-71-16-16; the reservation no. for Tour Montparnasse Ciel de Paris restaurant is 40-64-77-64. I'm sure Tour d'Argent is in basic guidebooks. When you inquire, be sure to ask what the price includes -- whether it includes dinner and champagne as a bottle of champagne can set up back a lot more, you'll probably want to know if it includes live music as long as you're paying that much. Lower scale but with live jazz trios (2 this year from the program I read) and nice location is L'Arbuci jazz club in St-Germain (www.arbuci.com) ph 44-32-16-00, FAX 44-32-16-09 -- they are expensive for some but nothing like the others (not sure, maybe around US$100 pp). I absolutely would not leave this to email to reserve (I would be worried it might be too late already for popular places, but you can try), call them up. There is a web site I've seen that handles NY eve reservations, they say they have about 100 choices for NY eve and request you call or FAX them with your requirements, I might try them (www.ely1212.com, FAX 42-56-24-31, ph 43-59-12-12). I've never used them so cannot make any personall recommendation about them, but that <BR>sounds promising.

Oleg, I am also planning on being inParis over New Years. Here is what our hotel Conceirge faxed to us. (menus and pricing):<BR><BR>Lasserre: $400/person does not include wine<BR><BR>Taillevent: 300/person does not include wine<BR><BR>Tour D'argent: 300/person does include wine<BR><BR>Lido: $500/person Champagne and wine included<BR><BR>Pavillon Ledoyen: $328/person does not included wine<BR><BR>A La Mere Catherine: $120/person does not include wine.<BR><BR>Buddha Bar: $200/COUPLE does not include drinks.<BR><BR>If you find anything else please let me know e-mail at: [email protected]<BR><BR>Best of luck!<BR><BR>Mark

Fancy a reveillon opposite the Eiffel Tower, inside Trocadero's Musee de l'Homme ? Then go to Paris's best kept secret, Le Totem (tel. 01 47 27 28 29, fax 01 47 27 53 01), but you should book right now. A great traditional but cozy brasserie with a definite bobo twist: Le Square Trousseau, 1 rue Antoine Vollon in the Bastille area (tel. 01 43 43 06 00, fax 01 43 43 00 60). You want to be the only tourists in sight ? Le Zephyr in oh-so-Parisian 20th arrondissement, 1 rue du Jourdain (01 46 36 65 81), great 30s brasserie with all traditional Eastern Parisian fauna (it's where I live ! ). Email me if you want to know more.

Topping for Mark.

Topping for Stuart