My husband and I are in our mid to late 20's and would like to go to one of the above-bars for a drink & maybe an appetizer one Friday night in Paris. We'd prefer a place with alot of hustle and bustle. Has anyone been to either the Buddha Bar or Man Ray? If so, do we need reservations if we're just going to have drinks/appetizers? Which of the two is best? Merci!

Hello, I have been to both of these restaurants. I have to say it would be a crime to just go for a 'drink'. My opinion is to go to Man-Ray. I think the food was much better and I loved the atmosphere. It was very inspiring. The food and wine here was great. we did sit in the cocktail lounge for a bit, but I think that the restaurant was nicer. From what i remember the food was a mix of French, Continental and some with an Indochinese flair. <BR> <BR>I did not like the Buddha Bar. In my opinion it was just modified Chinese food at a very high cost. The atmosphere is great, but Man-Ray is better. <BR> <BR>The food at these places is not rated very high by Zagats. <BR> <BR>May I also recommed trying the restaurant "Spoon"? This is a restaurant by star chef alan Ducasse. Its well worth the price and the food was creative and yummy. The menu is really cool. You create your dishes from selecting from 3 colums which lists the meats + sauces + sides or the Salad+ dressing + topping. If you select horizontally you get the chefs selection, if you go diagonal you create your own. Its great fun. The prices are good too, Salads @ 90FF ($12) and main courses at about 165FF ($22) See the websight for the complete menu. <BR> <BR>http://www.spoon.tm.fr/ <BR> <BR>By the way, the menu sounds a bit "American" but this is far different from your local Dennys. I think it is a frenchmans look at American but done with a French style.

Thanks for the input, Richard! We are planning on eating at Spoon one night, too. I'm glad to hear that Man Ray has fairly decent food despite not being rated very high by Zagats. That's actually why we were only going to have drinks there. I think we'll make dinner reservations there now, too. I appreciate the assistance!!!!

Actually, if you are looking for the better of the two for drinks, most of the people that visit me from the states preferred the Buddha Bar. ManRay is a much smaller version of the Buddha Bar (decor, budda and paint color!) When they want to really 'go out' for drinks and fun and the choice is between the two, I take them to the Buddha Bar, for the late night dancing after dinner among the tables and the music and the people watching is unreal...one night Will Smith was sitting next to us, another time Gwenyth Paltrow, another night Natalie Cole etc...if that would be interesting to you. It is to some and not to others. The Buddha Bar goes on intot he early morning hours. <BR> <BR>Then there are times, when I don't have visiting guests when my friends and I go to the more quiet intimate Man Ray, and Man Ray works. I didn't really care for the food at Man Ray, maybe I got lucky at the Buddha Bar with the sushi seared tuna and hot noodles...

Wendy: That's exactly the kind of place we're looking for!! Although I spent a year studying in Paris, I never did anything like that (at the time, just didn't have the money for that type of place - I was a true "Let's Go Europe" kind of gal). Anyway, since we'll be in Paris for a while, we might as well try them both out! Thanks for the info.

Sorry, but I feel that the food at the Buddah Bar is just overpriced Chinese. You are in France, skip the Chinese! The Buddah Bar is also a see and be seen place, as proved by the above poster who noted all the famous celebrities that were sighted. I don't judge a restaurant by the company it keeps. If you want good Chinese and celebrities, come to Los Angeles!

This 'above' poster ALSO said friends VISITING...and 'IF' you like that kind of thing...it isn't for everyone! <BR> <BR>Good grief man, lighten up.

I vote for Manray. I went to Buddah Bar restaurant on my last trip to Paris and I did not find it to be very 'French'. The atmosphere is loud and noisy and the food is served too fast. The Manray Bar it is a bit more intimate and sophisticated. Be sure to dress in black!

That's what I'm trying to say, thank you Robin. They are the same decor, but different, it all depends on what that other person is looking for. Making suggestions based on that, doesn't make it a personal favorite. I have no need to go to either unless people visiting ask me about them. <BR> <BR>For the record, if you are looking for a 'French' experience, IMHO neither are very French except for the language spoken. Different and interesting to first time travelers, they are.

Neither restaurant has exceptional food. If I had to pick one it would be the Man-Ray. The atmosphere is sophisticated and service exceptional. They also have a good reasonably price wine list. I really like their appetizers and for an entree I had the "stag" (venison) which was the best I have ever tasted. <BR> <BR>The Buddah isn't a bad place, but the food is ordinary which is a surprise because both places are under the same management.

Thanks for everyone's advice. Although we have many nights in Paris, we just wanted one to be at a "see and be seen" type of place. Thus, I think we're going for the Buddha Bar. The other nights will be spent having some traditional French fare. Can't wait!

i can't speak for the bar scene in either place but i did have dinner at the buddha bar and was not at all impressed.

I had dinner at Buddha Bar when I went to Paris with a friend of mine (both of us in our late twenties) and loved it! The food was great (yes, not french but thats not why we went there). Fantastic atmosphere - all the beautiful people are there and it is a place to be seen. All the woman get this little fan that says 'buddha bar' on it and you can see people fanning themselves as they sip their cocktails...very posh and pretentious, yes...but fun. Word of advice though: We had reservations and when we went there we found many other people waiting too...we told the hostess we were there and were told 'twenty minutes' we waited at the side until our name was called like we would in a Toronto place and we noticed others getting in ahead of us...there is actually a little line up near the stairs that you have to go in - regardless of your reservation - make sure you go into this or you will be waiting for hours!!!

Reserve in advance by fax for either the 9 or 11 o'clock seating.

Thanks for the info about the line, Eva. Wendy, if we have a 9pm seating, does that mean that we have to leave before the 11pm seating?

Not at all! Actually the best time for drinks is around nine and eat during the second seating...the music changes slowly from this calm chinese waterfall sounding music to up beat tempos, and then into full blown middle eastern dance music...

I just LOVED the music and bought the two CD set that they sell there.

I went to the Buddha Bar at Easter - great atmosphere, appalling food. But the best bit of the story was the wine. There were 6 of us and we (foolishly) let one friend order the wine. Well, we got through seven bottles (to make up for the food) and were horrified to get a bill for 12000FF (£1200, don't know in dollars - $1800?). My friend had got his zeros muddled up on the wine list and we'd accidently glugged wine at 1600FF a bottle!!!!! The waiter was then extremely rude when we refused to pay 1200FF tip. (I think they made enough money from us that night).

Actually he didn't make any money from you that night - his pay does not come out of your bar tab.

What should my husband wear there? I guess I'll go for black (top & pants?).