Paris - Best place for a bite or a drink outdoors on the Champs Elysees?
 

Hi Fodorites,

Hoping for your help. Can you please recommend some outdoor place on the Champs Elysees to have a drink or a bite at night? I know that the area is extremely touristy with a 'not great food rep' , but I would love to know of a place that you think is good enough to be able to enjoy whether it's a meal or just a drink. I remember years ago coming to the Champs and having a magical time just sitting there and enjoying the lit surroundings. The restaurant I went to was very forgettable, but maybe you know of something better? :)

Thanks for your help.

There is a Laduree. REALLY there are better places to do this.

I had some clients the other day who told me they went to someplace on the Champs, took a seat outdoors on the terrace and ordered two cokes without checking the prices first. The bill came to 21€. Check the prices before you take a seat.

We always like to have a Kir Royale at the legendary Fouquet's (opened in 1899). Check out the history. Be prepared though, last time the cost per drink was 20 Euro.
We order one drink (okay last time I had two!) and sit there for a long time in the evening.

I am only there in the day time and then just pick the cheapest place, which is Brioche Doree or something like that.

For dinner, I'm sure there may be places with good food, a lot of business people stay around there, after all, but they are not going to be cheap at all. For a drink, what difference does it make, a glass of cheap wine isn't going to vary that much from place to place, pick the place you like best in terms of location and views, that's what I would do. Fouquet's is fine, and at least has a reputation, I"ve never eaten a full meal there but have had a drink.

I don't think the rest are that different, if you just want a drink, try the Cafe George V right by the metro stop by that name. It's okay for drinks, food is mediocre.

I would recommend the Madrigal down by Rond Point des Champs Elysées. The Deauville is also good, up between George V and the Arc de Triomphe. The Renault showcase café is also worth a look. Naturally, all of these places are expensive but not as bad as the prices applied by Fouquet's or Ladurée. Warning: if you say you want a Coke or a beer and the waiter asks "big?" -- no matter how thirsty you are, the answer is no, unless you want to discover the $10 items.

<i> Paris - Best place for a bite or a drink outdoors on the Champs Elysees?
Posted by: LOTRHP2013 on Jun 24, 13 at 12:31pm</i>

The best place is Fouquet's. The prices are high, the service sucks, and the coke tastes the same as it does at the Sorbonne, but it is "the best place" as you requested. You can sit and take photos of tourists who are taking photos of their significant others posed in front of the place.

There used to be a McDonald's with outside seating on the Champs.

Is it still there?

Thin

I was taken to lunch by a French friend at Le Drugstore and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food since I, too, associate the Champs with high prices, not-so-good food. I would recommend it. It appeared to have lots of French business people at lunch rather than tourists.

Of course McDonalds is still there, they have an upstairs place with windows which is a great place to watch the Tour de France if you get there in time. That's why I mentioned Brioche Doree, which does serve drinks not just breakfast stuff. They have outdoor tables, also.

How about off the CE but with ET views...Chez Francis.
http://www.chezfrancis-restaurant.com/

address - 7, place de l’Alma – 75008 Paris

For the budget crowd, if Quick or McDonald's do not suit you, Pizza Pino is an institution on the Champs, one reason being that it serves until 5 a.m.

NOWHERE. Really, you don't. Ladurée is nice but it's indoors, so won't offer the view you hope for. Plus, the CE is very noisy...not exactly a tranquil drink with a view!

Saying this, if I had to vote somewhere, I'd vote McDonalds (it's inexpensive at least...as mentioned above, La Brioche Dorée is also fine for this sort of takeout snacks/drinks). One of my best memories is of a blazing hot evening in August eating burgers in bare feet on the CE. On the same day we'd been to the Jules Verne for lunch. The contrast gets me every time :p

Of course McDonalds is still there
_______
We happened to be there, the week it opened and you would have thought Hitler was coming down the Champs again.

Hi Fodorites,
Thanks so much for your replies. I'll do my best, Champs is definately ridiculously difficult but doing it anyway. :)

We like Laduree if it's open the time of day you want.