Paris & Ile de la Cite- suggestions?
Jan 25th, 2010, 08:44 PM
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Paris & Ile de la Cite- suggestions?
We are staying for the week over Valentines Day this year. We are just a block from Notre Dame in a apartment we have rented. Does anyone have any suggestions for food or amazing things to do right in that area? Anything not outrageously priced for Valentines Day? Any help is much obliged! 
Jan 25th, 2010, 09:05 PM
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The old-style hot chocolate (chocolat chaud l'ancienne) at Le Flore en l'Ile, right across the bridge on Ile St Louis, is my favorite in Paris. The cafe also has a wonderful omelette breakfast or brunch big enough to feed two (which is nice, because it is pricey at 20e). The cafe gets a lot of tourist traffic in the afternoon, but lingering in the mornings with a newspaper and coffee or hot chocolate -- and a spectacular view of the buttresses of Notre Dame -- can be divine, and you often have the place to yourself.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3047/...e480d49d_b.jpg
And I assume on a sunny day you'll be going to Ste Chappelle. They often have concerts in the evenings.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3047/...e480d49d_b.jpg
And I assume on a sunny day you'll be going to Ste Chappelle. They often have concerts in the evenings.
Jan 26th, 2010, 06:19 AM
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Gelato at Amorino on the main street of Ile St Louis.
The Deportation Memorial on the street behind Notre Dame.
Sainte Chapelle on a sunny day. I very much enjoyed an evening concert there.
I also like the Cluny museum nearby: Musée national du Moyen Age.
I liked lunch at Le Eminet and enjoyed walking around the small streets in that neighborhood.
The Deportation Memorial on the street behind Notre Dame.
Sainte Chapelle on a sunny day. I very much enjoyed an evening concert there.
I also like the Cluny museum nearby: Musée national du Moyen Age.
I liked lunch at Le Eminet and enjoyed walking around the small streets in that neighborhood.
Jan 26th, 2010, 07:54 AM
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A fine area to experience Paris!
There is the flower market on the right bank side of Ile de la Cite..and on Sundays it becomes a bird market. Parisians seem to love their flowers.
On the west end of the Island is a nice old park the overlooks Seine, nice views, and also embarcation point for Vedettes du Pont Neuf Seine cruises. Consider a nighttime cruise.
You have St Chapelle, perhaps add Conciergerie. It was the prison for thousands of prisoners during French Revolution, trials were held here, then, almost always, they were quickly found guilty and left here on the back of carts to go to the guillotine located at Place de la Concorde. Marie Antoinette was held here for 2 1/2 months.
There is a nice restaurant with a patio in front of the Palais de Justice. I've had breakfast there a few times.
After Notre Dame, consider visiting the archeological crypt, located in front (parking lot) of the main entrance. Feeling athletic, you could also climb one of the towers of ND.
Ile St Louis has a very nice main steet, for shopping and eating. Right at the bridge to this island is the Brasserie de L'ile. I've had lunch there, outside, on the south side, with views of the Pantheon in the distance. There is also occasional musicians playing at the bridge.
On the Island, I've also eaten at Le Relais de L'ile, in the vaulted basement. Another fave was Reine BLanche, but have not been since new management.
Along this main street you will find a good chocolate shop, Pylone for quirky gifts, cheese shop, wine shop. I've on a few occasions made my purchases for back home here, just before leaving for airport on the RER. As you walk down main street look up at the buildings at the street corners. Ancient street signs, and one will have the staue of a decapitated woman...it did not make it through the Revolution either . Many famous people lived (and live) here...Marie Curie on the south side, the Rothschilds at the very eastern tip,etc..A walk around the periphery is nice...views of Seine..and you will see buildings with historical plaques.Paris Walks does a good tour of the islands.
This area is nice for walks along Seine, both above and below street grade. Up above you get the bouquinistes, selling their old books, prints,etc..Along the Left Bank as you walk away eastward from ND there is a plaque along the Seine, of a spot where a soldier was killed liberating Paris.
There are quite a few decent restaurants along the Left Bank street beside the Seine, some with patios, views. I like Rotisserie du Beaujolais..chicken and garlic mash
Musically, there are nightime classical concerts all over Paris. St Chapelle has a nighttime 'candlelight' concert, and St Julien le Pauvre, just across on the Left Bank, also hosts regular concerts. St Julien is one of the oldest churches in Paris, and the tree in its little park is supposedly also one of the oldest. Just in the square in front of the entrace to the church was where, centuries ago, they held outdoor university classes...in Latin...thus the name given to this area.
Pariscope or L'Officiel des Spetacles are two weekly magazines avialable at newspaper stands, and list all of the concerts. You can also look at:
www.ampconcerts.com
If you take the Sully bridge at the eastern end of ISL, and cross into the Left Bank you will be on rue Fosse St Bernard. There are a couple of good restaurants here, Chez Henri Moulin a Vent and Moissonnier. Keep walking to rue Monge and go left. Short distance down, on left, is a roman arena. Nice place to have lunch, check out the roman carvings. Leaving and zigzagging back to Seine you will come upon Jardin des Plantes, the main botanical garden of Paris, and the Natural History Museum. If, at the arena, you go further into the Left Bank of instead of towards the Seine, the rue Mouffetard is close by. It is one street that has outdoor market, food shops,etc..
When you do get back to the Seine, you will see the outdoor sculpture museum. In warmer weather, I remember being on a Seine cruise, and seeing people here dancing salsa...there is some regular, from what I know, classes of them there.
Hope this gets you started. There is so much to see.
There is the flower market on the right bank side of Ile de la Cite..and on Sundays it becomes a bird market. Parisians seem to love their flowers.
On the west end of the Island is a nice old park the overlooks Seine, nice views, and also embarcation point for Vedettes du Pont Neuf Seine cruises. Consider a nighttime cruise.
You have St Chapelle, perhaps add Conciergerie. It was the prison for thousands of prisoners during French Revolution, trials were held here, then, almost always, they were quickly found guilty and left here on the back of carts to go to the guillotine located at Place de la Concorde. Marie Antoinette was held here for 2 1/2 months.
There is a nice restaurant with a patio in front of the Palais de Justice. I've had breakfast there a few times.
After Notre Dame, consider visiting the archeological crypt, located in front (parking lot) of the main entrance. Feeling athletic, you could also climb one of the towers of ND.
Ile St Louis has a very nice main steet, for shopping and eating. Right at the bridge to this island is the Brasserie de L'ile. I've had lunch there, outside, on the south side, with views of the Pantheon in the distance. There is also occasional musicians playing at the bridge.
On the Island, I've also eaten at Le Relais de L'ile, in the vaulted basement. Another fave was Reine BLanche, but have not been since new management.
Along this main street you will find a good chocolate shop, Pylone for quirky gifts, cheese shop, wine shop. I've on a few occasions made my purchases for back home here, just before leaving for airport on the RER. As you walk down main street look up at the buildings at the street corners. Ancient street signs, and one will have the staue of a decapitated woman...it did not make it through the Revolution either . Many famous people lived (and live) here...Marie Curie on the south side, the Rothschilds at the very eastern tip,etc..A walk around the periphery is nice...views of Seine..and you will see buildings with historical plaques.Paris Walks does a good tour of the islands.
This area is nice for walks along Seine, both above and below street grade. Up above you get the bouquinistes, selling their old books, prints,etc..Along the Left Bank as you walk away eastward from ND there is a plaque along the Seine, of a spot where a soldier was killed liberating Paris.
There are quite a few decent restaurants along the Left Bank street beside the Seine, some with patios, views. I like Rotisserie du Beaujolais..chicken and garlic mash
Musically, there are nightime classical concerts all over Paris. St Chapelle has a nighttime 'candlelight' concert, and St Julien le Pauvre, just across on the Left Bank, also hosts regular concerts. St Julien is one of the oldest churches in Paris, and the tree in its little park is supposedly also one of the oldest. Just in the square in front of the entrace to the church was where, centuries ago, they held outdoor university classes...in Latin...thus the name given to this area.
Pariscope or L'Officiel des Spetacles are two weekly magazines avialable at newspaper stands, and list all of the concerts. You can also look at:
www.ampconcerts.com
If you take the Sully bridge at the eastern end of ISL, and cross into the Left Bank you will be on rue Fosse St Bernard. There are a couple of good restaurants here, Chez Henri Moulin a Vent and Moissonnier. Keep walking to rue Monge and go left. Short distance down, on left, is a roman arena. Nice place to have lunch, check out the roman carvings. Leaving and zigzagging back to Seine you will come upon Jardin des Plantes, the main botanical garden of Paris, and the Natural History Museum. If, at the arena, you go further into the Left Bank of instead of towards the Seine, the rue Mouffetard is close by. It is one street that has outdoor market, food shops,etc..
When you do get back to the Seine, you will see the outdoor sculpture museum. In warmer weather, I remember being on a Seine cruise, and seeing people here dancing salsa...there is some regular, from what I know, classes of them there.
Hope this gets you started. There is so much to see.
Jan 26th, 2010, 08:14 AM
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We had an excellent New Year's dinner at Le Tastevin on Ile St Louis this year - good atmosphere, excellent food, excellent wine, reasonably priced (not cheap, but good value for money), extremely friendly host.
Jan 26th, 2010, 09:25 AM
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We had an excellent meal at L'Ilot Vache on Ile St. Louis in November. Cozy, great service, wonderful food. I'd recommend reservations there...we had reservations for Sat. night and saw others turned away. It's not a big place.
I'll also second avalon's suggestion of Petit Pontoise. I had a great lamb dish there!
We also ate at a seafood restaurant on Rue LaGrange called La Criee and it was excellent as well.
The ice cream at Berthillon on Ile St. Louis was fabulous too. I had the gingerbread flavor-yum!
All the above were very reasonably priced.
What a great way to spend Valentine's Day! I hope you have a wonderful trip!
I'll also second avalon's suggestion of Petit Pontoise. I had a great lamb dish there!
We also ate at a seafood restaurant on Rue LaGrange called La Criee and it was excellent as well.
The ice cream at Berthillon on Ile St. Louis was fabulous too. I had the gingerbread flavor-yum!
All the above were very reasonably priced.
What a great way to spend Valentine's Day! I hope you have a wonderful trip!
Jan 26th, 2010, 11:04 AM
#11
The restaurant Itineraires, at 5 rue de Pontoise on the left bank just across from Notre Dame, is a wonderful restaurant with a very good value menu at lunch. Probably the best meal of my most recent stay in Paris. Reservations essential at 01 46 33 60 11.
Jan 26th, 2010, 11:09 AM
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Chez Rene, at 14 Blvd St Germain is a nice traditional french resto. Once upon a time, Catherine Deneuve used to go there, she lived just opposite St Sulpice. She moved from there, so sighting may be rarer.
Jan 26th, 2010, 12:20 PM
#14
One of our favorites---L'Ilot Vache (mentioned above).We've been there several times. They have a price fixe at around 36 Euros and I always choose Escargot, Lamb Chops, and Creme Brulee. Do make reservations, it's small. The table settings are quite charming.
For a less expensive meal try Au Bougnat on Rue Chanoisse, just a few blocks from Notre Dame. Great rib eye and frites for around 19 Euro. A plain
www.aubougnat.com
For a less expensive meal try Au Bougnat on Rue Chanoisse, just a few blocks from Notre Dame. Great rib eye and frites for around 19 Euro. A plain
www.aubougnat.com
Jan 26th, 2010, 12:24 PM
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Jan 26th, 2010, 05:43 PM
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hi bluefox,
DH and i stayed on ile de la cite in 2008 (you can click on my name for my 2008 and 2009 trip reports, if you like)... where will you be staying? we stayed on quai aux fleurs (gorgeous views).
in addition to all the great suggestions you've gotten so far, there's a little creperie on ile st. louis ... right along the main drag ... i can't remember the name exactly but you can't miss it. there's a tiny window and a guy making fresh crepes with various fillings. and definitely hit berthillion (the original shop is a fun experience).
enjoy!
DH and i stayed on ile de la cite in 2008 (you can click on my name for my 2008 and 2009 trip reports, if you like)... where will you be staying? we stayed on quai aux fleurs (gorgeous views).
in addition to all the great suggestions you've gotten so far, there's a little creperie on ile st. louis ... right along the main drag ... i can't remember the name exactly but you can't miss it. there's a tiny window and a guy making fresh crepes with various fillings. and definitely hit berthillion (the original shop is a fun experience).
enjoy!
