How anyone who has any knowledge of the 7th arr. can say it lacks in restaurants and/or is dead, is most certainly wrong. The 7th has more high end and bibb gourmand restaurants that the 4th, 5th. 6th combined! Tha is a fact, not my opinion. You have l'Ami Jean, which is one of the hottest in Paris. It is not my cup of tea, but I cetainly wouldn't "knock" it for that reason! You have the 4 Constant restaurants and two of them are as reasonable as you can find..with starred chef behind them. You have great small places like Au Petite Tonneau, Pascos and a great many brasseries.

As to being dead; I have closed two Constant restaurants, walked r. Cler at midnight with people sitting outside many places, been by Cafe Max at that time and found it hopping. I'm sure there are many, many more places that the younger crowd knows about!

Lodging for vacationers and/or long term residents is more expensive in the 7th. An acknowledged fact. Why? Because it is a desireable place to live!

Apartments, hotels and restaurants come in all sizes and prices. We all have a budget, or how we wish to spend our money. To talk against any of them because they are not in your budget or are not the way you wish to spend your money is most certainly wrong. I get tired of hearing it, frankly. We all have our preferences and they are personal..not something that anyone should expect others to 100% agree with.

I like the 7th, I prefer the www.parisperfect.com apartments. I enjoy restaurants at all the different prices. I do not expect everyone to do as I do. I would be ashamed of myself if I ever gave that impression!

Recently, I started a running trip report. There were over 260 posts to it. I don't think there was one negative post! All were helpful to one another, appreciative of information given and it was a fun, fun thread.

Enjoy your trip planning...

a bientot....

Joan

Good grief, Joan. What a negative scoldy post in response to people obviously only putting in their two cents. Hurrumph to you!

if you like the 7th, you like the 7th. If you don't, you don't. So what? Such things can't be posted? (I've never warmed up to Rue Cler.) Your argument tends to be of a piece with saying a visitor will most enjoy staying in the residential areas of New York City. I don't like Times Square, but I wouldn't want to stay on the Upper West Side either. Plus lodging is often more expensive because of all people coming there on expense accounts doing government business.

The OP (like mois!) wasn't looking for high end restaurants, and a lot of the bibb gourmand restaurants and others you mentioned have to be booked, also not desirable (for folk like us). Not to mention it can often be more fun to stay in an arrondisement where you just discover your own favorite corner bistro. Yes, the 7th has restaurants that serve the government clientele and its well-heeled upper middle class residents. But sometimes, you don't want that kind of a restaurant.

And some of it just overrun with tourists.

zeppole

Sorry that you took my post as being just the opposite of its intention!

I was spouting off to people who express their likes as being the ONLY way to go. For me, it is just the opposite...whatever pleases you! There are areas, restaurants hotel and apts. for all.
Also, responding to people thinking the 7th being dead...I know otherwise. As to restaurants in the 7th..all price ranges are there. Reservations at any popular or high end restaurant will require a resrvations..in any area of Paris!
Sorry that you took my post in a way not intended.

Enjoy your planning....

Joan

I have stayed in the 7th and have to agree with Joan that there is a variety of restaurants, cafes, patisseries & more (in all price ranges). As far as expensive lodging goes, I didn't consider my hotel expensive. I did alot of research and for around 200euros a night, I had a great room, newly updated, with wonderful views of the Eiffel Tower, Invalides & Sacre Couer.

If I'm on vacation and I want to eat at good restaurants (priced low, moderate or high), I make sure to reserve them ahead of time. It was nice knowing after a long day of sightseeing, there was a table waiting for us somewhere. One can always cancel if other options come up, right? The only night I didn't have reservations, I ate at a cafe which was mediocre. It's the same when I'm in Manhattan on a Friday or Saturday night - it's understandable you need reservations to get into good places. Unless you just want a slice of pizza...

marking for the hotels.

Also, I can't imagine more than a plate of beans for under $25. I think you would have to go up to at least $40 for a decent dinner.

Pat I feel your pain. I just might (my DD said I bumped my head)go to Paris alone, and choosing a hotel is going to be tough.

Thanks everyone, this discussion has been helpful. I'm pretty sure I'm going to cancel Hotel La Bourdonnais and go for something in the 4th or 5th. I think it will suit us better.

Nothing more than a plate of beans for under $25 ?? I guess I'd better save more for this trip or start really liking beans! :-)

Hi Pat-
Once you decide on your hotel, go check out the Pudlo Guide for Paris Restaurants. It has tonnes of listings and also have some budget options. I used it for my recent trip and found it helpful. (I borrowed the Pudlo Guide from my local library.)

I understand that you don't want to be "locked in" to a restaurant, but I really suggest you do make a reservation. I'm not saying you should do this weeks and weeks ahead, but rather, just call on the day of (even in the afternoon). The good restaurants tend to be filled up, so if you leave it until dinner time, chances are you'll end up eating at not-as-good restos or you'll end up paying more than what you wanted since you couldn't get into the budget ones.

Avenue de la Bourdonnais is lovely.

Important threads about "plate of beans":

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/336223

http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archive...now_bea_1.html