Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)
-   -   Paris in April (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/paris-in-april-755150/)

jojuice Dec 27th, 2007 05:06 PM

Paris in April
 
My husband and I will be visiting Paris in April. It will be our first trip and we will be there for 9 days.
Our hotel is the Arc de Triomphe Hilton. Does anyone know of good restaurants in this area? What sights are a must?
Planning on going to Mon Vieil Ami in the Ill St. Louis district. Any feedback?
Thank you
Jo Jo

Barb_in_Ga Dec 27th, 2007 06:10 PM

Give us some idea of your main reasons for visiting Paris--do you want to see world-class museums, eat well, visit historic sights, shop, drink wine at a sidewalk cafe?

Paris is my favorite city--I have been 5 times, and I feel that I've barely scratched the surface. Here are some of the things I've done that I consider "musts":

The Musee d"Orsay and it's collection of Impressionist art-nice restaurant for a midday break

Musee Rodin is a fine, small museum with a fabulous collection of sculptures both inside and in the wonderful gardens--nice cafeteria for a salad or light lunch

Les Invalides for Napoleon's Tomb and the museum of the army

The Eiffel Tower--I prefer a daytime view

The Louvre, not only for its' "biggies" such as Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo, but also for the many other collections. I have enjoyed the large-scale French Paintings, the French Crown jewels, the Egyptian Collection, Greek and Roman sculpture, and next door, the musee des Arts Decoratifs, with beautiful furnishings, textiles, and objets d'art.

The Orangerie, home to several of Monet's "Waterlilies"

Musee Marmottan--another fabulous collection of Impressionist art, and beautiful furnishings in a house museum setting.

Notre Dame, Saint Chapelle, Sacre Coeur, St, Germain de Pres,and other churches

The Pantheon, including the tomb of Voltaire

Arc de Triomphe

Hot chocolate at Angelina's

Opera or ballet performances at Opera Bastille or Opera Garnier.

Strolling the open air markets for fruit, flowers, pate, cheese, and other goodies for a picnic meal.

Shopping for cooking utensils and kitchen linens in BHV

Strolling through any number of parks or squares to enjoy the fresh air and ambiance

Ice cream at Berthilon

I could go on, but others will list their favorites. I also recommend a bus tour around the city or the hop on hop off buses for an overview.
Have fun, and eat a crepe for me!



gard Dec 27th, 2007 09:22 PM

Hi

My wife and I went to Paris last year and I have posted a trip report with pictures and links on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/Paris_France.htm. Maybe you can find some useful information there to start wirh :d

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

jojuice Dec 28th, 2007 02:25 PM

This is for Barb-in-Ga. Thank you for the great information. We are wine lovers. Any good wine bars you can suggest? Where are good places to buy food for a picnic in the Luxemborg Garden? Also, we love jazz. Any jazz clubs for couples? We are in our 50's. Main reason for visiting Paris is for museums, history, food and wine. Looking so forward to this trip. Is Paris safe? This is our first time in Europe.

Thank you again,
Jo Jo

nancy Dec 28th, 2007 02:45 PM

Check out Caveau de la Huchette on rue de la Huchette. I went there with relatives who are swing dancers but the place is noted for jazz. There is a cover charge but I don't think it's very much (I was there in 2001).

jojuice Dec 28th, 2007 05:20 PM

Thank you Nancy

Do you know of any good wine bars? We would prefer an older crowd. Am planning on going to Hemingways at the Hotel Ritz.

barbmike Dec 28th, 2007 05:33 PM

Is Paris safe? Totally UNSAFE as I'd cancel the trip immediately.

I love posts from Newbees!!!

Travelnut Dec 28th, 2007 11:27 PM

Most of these are well-known (and hopefully still in operation):

PARIS WINE BARS
http://parisvoice.com/02/nov/html/fooddrink.cfm

<>Juveniles 47 rue de Richelieu, 1er, M° Pyramides, tel: 01 42 97 46 49, closed Sun. Opened in 1985 by the Johnston Williamson team — who also run the famous Willi’s Wine Bar just around the corner — Juveniles is a friendly, welcoming place with an elegant, warm decor, an innovative kitchen, and one of the best Beaujolais Nouveau parties in town. It’s also an excellent address, if you want to try some superb wines from Australia, Spain and South America.

<>Willi’s Wine Bar 13 rue des Petits Champs, 1er, M° Bourse, tel: 01 42 61 05 09, closed Sun. A sophisticated clientele, an intimate ambiance and a hearty dining room have made Willi’s one of the most popular wine bars in Paris and a great place to try difficult-to-find regional wines, such as the excellent dark Collioure rosé which comes from the border near Cataluña, or a Jurançon moelleux from near the Swiss frontier. The attractive dining room offers farm-raised fare and a great selection of classic English cheeses. There’s also a rich choice of sherries and digestifs to start and end the meal.

<>Aux Bons Crus 7 rue des Petits Champs, 1er, M° Bourse, tel: 01 42 60 06 45, open noon to 11pm, closed Sat nights and Sun. This appealing wine bar dates back to the turn of the century and has retained much of its old-world feel complete with ancient monte-charge, wine kegs and old oak bar. Well-priced, nourishing fare such as a good navarin d’agneau aux petits legumes and cuisse de canard from the Landes, make up for the inexpensive yet surprisingly limited wine list. The back room, with its low ceiling and large windows overlooking the Palais Royal, has a pleasing ambiance, particularly on a gray winter’s day, and makes a perfect place for that secret rendez-vous.

<>Le Rubis 10 rue Marché St-Honoré, 1er, M° Tuileries, tel: 01 42 61 03 34, open noon to 10:30pm, closed Sat evenings and Sun. This pocket-sized corner wine bar just off the Tuileries is one of the best-known and best loved in Paris, with an extensive wine list mainly centered around the Beaujolais and Loire regions. Despite its rustic, timeworn interior, it attracts heavy-weight businessmen and lawyers at lunch, and well-heeled wine-lovers at night. Soak up the atmosphere over a bottle of Cheverny and a plate of homemade rillettes.

<>Taverne Henri IV, 13 pl du Pont-Neuf, 1er, M° Pont Neuf, tel: 01 43 54 27 90, open noon to 10pm, closed Sat from 4pm & Sun. Tucked between the picturesque place Dauphine and the Pont Neuf, this is one of the best-known and most respected wine bars in Paris and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The rustic furniture and fittings and the diplomas that proudly hang above the bar create a clubby, “satisfied” feel. It offers a selection of wines from the Beaujolais and Loire that are bottled by the bar owners themselves.

<>A La Cloche Des Halles 28 rue Coquillière, 1er, M° Châtelet, tel: 01 42 36 93 89, closed Sat from 4pm & Sun. A popular hangout for music people and local eccentrics, this bar is named after one of the bells that used to sound the opening and closing of the nearby Les Halles markets, and is among the last vestiges of the “stomach of Paris.” It has a family-type atmosphere thanks to the jovial good humor of its hosts, Annie and Serge, who serve a wide range of wine, including a fine St-Joseph in largish sniffer glasses. Even without that, their saucisson would be worth a visit.

<>La Tartine 24 rue de Rivoli, 4e, M° St-Paul, tel: 01 42 72 76 85, open 9am to 10:30pm, closed Tue. Located in the heart of the Marais, La Tartine always attracts a pleasing mix of elderly regulars, bohos, gays and lesbians and the nicotine-colored interior, featuring large mirrors, battered fixtures and molded ceilings is right out of “between-wars Paris.” The emphasis is on wines from the Beaujolais and Bordeaux regions, tartines or open-faced sandwiches that give the bar its name, and cigarettes.

<>L’Lutétia 33 quai de Bourbon, 4e, M° Hôtel de Ville, tel: 01 43 54 11 71, closed Sun evenings & Mon. A handy address to have in a particularly chic part of town, the terrace of this wine bar and bistrot is one of the most popular on the island thanks to its views onto the river and the Hôtel de Ville. There is a large, if sometimes pricey, selection of wines, notably from the Bordeaux and the Loire regions.

<>Cave La Bourgogne 144 rue Mouffetard, 5e, M° Censier-Daubenton, tel: 01 43 36 20 53, closed Sun & Mon. Set in a tranquil and beautiful square at the foot of the bustling markets of the rue Mouffetard, this warm and inviting establishment boasts an old zinc bar, mosaic floor and a terrace complete with gas heaters to take the nip out of the air. As the name suggests, it specializes in wines from the Burgundy region and also offers a hearty selection of food, including cheese and cold-cut platters and several well-priced menus.

<>Bistro des Augustins 39 quai des Grands Augustins, 6e, M° St-Michel, tel: 01 43 54 45 75, open daily, noon-midnight. The premises of this little wine bar date back to the turn of the century, and look like it, with an appealing, retro mustiness, marble-topped bar, and menu specials chalked up on the board. It attracts a young branché crowd of students, media people and arty tourists. The selection of wines is limited but well-chosen, coming mainly from small producers all over France. Prices are as low as the lighting.

<>Le Sancerre 22 av Rapp, 7e, M° Alma-Marceau, tel: 01 45 51 75 91, closed Sun. With its large mural of the village of Sancerre and regulars perched at the bar, this pleasant establishment has been a neighborhood favorite for years. As the name suggests the star of the show is wine from the famous village. A further oyster bar offers a nice opportunity for the white Sancerre to shine, but don’t overlook the lesser-known red Sancerre, a perfect accompaniment to the house specialties: an excellent, if highly pungent, andouillette and a truly superb cèpes omelet.

<>L’Ecluse 15 pl de la Madeleine, 8e, M° Madeleine, tel: 01 47 20 77 09, 11:30am to midnight, open daily. One of several elegant wine bars that offer only produce from the Bordeaux region... Its pretty, old-style shop front with frosted glass and glowing tulip light fittings gives on to a charming chocolate and coffee interior, with a lovely back room winter garden overlooking a paved courtyard, and atmospheric downstairs cut-stone cellar.

<>Café du Passage 12 rue de Charonne, 11e, M° Bastille, tel: 01 49 29 97 64, open daily. One of the most comfortable wine bars in the Bastille district, with a cozy back room that is often overlooked, and a terrace that affords some great people watching. As well as boasting an impressive collection of wine that can also be bought by the bottle, the bar maintains an interesting calendar of tastings.

<>Les Vins des Rues, Chez Chanrion 21 rue Boulard, 14e, M° Denfert-Rochereau, tel: 01 43 22 19 78, closed Sun & Mon. A neighborhood wine bar par excellence, just off the animated rue Daguerre street markets near Denfert-Rochereau — winner of the “Coupe du Meilleur Pot” in 1989. The decor is more like some little place in the country than a Paris haunt, hovering comfortably between old-world atmosphere and neglect. The kitchen delivers simple, wholesome dishes at very reasonable prices, attracting a mainly young crowd.

<>Le Saint Amour 2 av Gambetta, M° Père Lachaise, 20e, tel: 01 47 97 20 15, open daily. While this wine bar between the Père Lachaise cemetery and the charming but tragically disappearing quartier of Ménilmontant looks like a regular café, it has an interesting selection of wines and a great range of clientele, from African émigrés to paint-splattered artists. Specialties include Pouilly Fumé, Pommard and Montagny Premier Cru, and there are also good value set menus.

Sheepie87 Dec 29th, 2007 12:48 AM

As for the safety thing--

Yes, I think Paris is quite safe. One major reason for this is the extremely strict control on guns--it's pretty much forbidden to have a concealed handgun. When I tell my friends here about the way things are in the U.S., they are pretty shocked.

I think the one worry you could have is pickpocketing. However, I traveled to Paris two times and now I've been living here since September and I've never been pickpocketed. If it's your first time going to Europe, I would strongly recommend using a money belt. This is NOT a fanny pack, which is basically an invitation to thieves saying, "Here's the money, credit cards, and passport, please help yourselves!" A money belt goes under your clothes. Don't get one of those ones that goes around your neck. It's really obvious and just looks like it would be a pain in the behind. If you are alert, speak quietly, and generally don't advertise the fact that you're visiting, I don't think you'll have any problems.

Just for reference, I'm a girl in my twenties and I go around at night (well, in the winter, night starts at 5!) and I've never been bothered.



jojuice Dec 29th, 2007 11:24 AM

Thank you for all of the wine bar recommendations. Also, thanks to one of you for your honest answer to my safety question. I realize that I am a newbie but I do know sarcasm when I read it. Will not be cancelling my Paris trip.
thank you
Jo Jo


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:54 AM.