Paris
 

I'm going to paris for 10 days. I've been there several times before and have done the typical tourist thing (Arc de triomphe, Eiffel Tower, louvre, musee d'orsay etc.) Does anyone have any suggestions for an off the beaten path tour of Paris (cool neighborhoods,shopping districts, not so widely known sights etc? I'm also interested in any restaurant (bistro, cafe etc) suggestions anyone may have. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi ted,

You might find the Paris part of my trip report useful.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34676645

((I))

Are you willing to leave the central districts to eat, ie. take metro?

I'm fine with taking the metro/RER and would be willing to leave some of the central districts to hit some good restaurants.

My favorite meals were in the outer areas.

First is La Cave de L'Os à Moelle, 181 rue Lourmel, Metro Lourmel, Paris 75015.
Phone 01 45 57 28 28. This is a tiny wine bar an off shoot of the L'Os a Moelle across the street. It is served family style, there are salads and terrines and pates on the communal tables and then you serve your self soup and desserts and cheese from the buffets. You can buy a wine from the store for the same price as you would off-sale. They have two services at 19:30 and 21:30. Reservations are important. We had reservations for Friday at the later seating, there were six seats available. I imagine the earlier seating is booked sooner.

Our second fave was GR5 Restaurant, 19 r Gustave Courbet 75016, phone 01 45 27 39 60. Also a tiny little place but the fondue was fabulous.

Au P'tit Cahoua at 24 Rue Des Taillandiers in the 11th, phone 01 47 00 20 42 had great Moroccan food. We got a reservation for 20:00 it was pretty empty but by 21:30 the place was packed.

I'm just starting my trip report, but these three are my faves in Paris.

Here's my report as well from our trip two weeks ago. Hope it helps.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34808878

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34758411

and mine:)

Have you been to Versaille? Try to go on the weekend when the fountains & music will be turned on in the gardens.

Arrive first thing in the morning to beat the crowds visiting the rooms. See the interior, then head to the gardens, take the tram. My 15 yr old daughter & I went in July and it was simply beautiful.

Maybe take a train trip out to Chartre. It has a beautiful catheral (one of the finest in Europe). Or how about Giverny to see Monet's gardens?

Avoid Euro-Disney...

It hasn't been called EuroDisney in over a decade. We went to Disneyland Paris and loved it, but I wouldn't have gone if I hadn't been traveling with kids.

Have you been out to St. Denis? It's where lots of kings and queens of old are buried; it's where Marie Antoinette and her family ended up, too. It's very neat.

If you are a Lady Diana fan, seek out "the underpass" where her fatal accident occur; above it, lots of people leave flowers and have written tributes (bring a Sharpie if you want to join in.)

What about the Musee de Moyen Age? It has the unicorn tapestries and Roman baths downstairs.

Do you live in St. Louis?

A little off the well trodden path is the market street of Rue des Martyrs in the 9th, particularly good on Sundays when it becomes a pedestrian only street. It starts at the Notre Dame de Lorette Church and goes up to Abbesses. While you are in the 9th, you might take in the interesting Gustave Moreau museum which is in his 3 floor house and studio on rue de la Rochefoucauld. A very good restaurant in the same neighborhood is La Carte Blanche; creative, quality cuisine at very reasonable prices.

I have not been to Paris in 4 years but last trip I really liked Les Allobroges in the 20th. 71, Rue de Grandes Champs. Their lamb shank is a classic. Moderate prices.

Also, I think the Canal St. Martin area is off the tourist track and sounds interesting for exploring.