Paris, Mid Sept. - Mid Oct.
 

I am leaving on Wed. and will be in Paris for one month..returning Oct. 11th.

I will have my laptop. I am staying in a www.parisperfect.com apartment.
I can post dining, sight seeing and even search for something for some of you, perhaps.

Let me know if you are interested.

Joan

What an offer. Sounds like a wonderful trip. Perfect time of year. Enjoy.

I have friends leaving for Paris Sept. 17. If you are familiar with Casa Olympe in the 9th, they'd be interested to get your perspective. They've booked for lunch but are having second thoughts after reading reviews with somewhat differing viewpoints.

Will also be interested to hear about your parisperfect accommodation.

Have a wonderful month.

Joan's post are always wonderful.

How I wish I were going to be in Paris when she's there.

I am going to be in Dubai for part of the time.

..Looking for anything and everything French ;-)

Karen
<a href="http://www.bonjourparis.com">Bonjour Paris</a>

A bunch of us are meeting up for breakfast* and tattoos on the 26th.
Why not come along - if only for a drink if you don't fancy breakfast?

Details here:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35138735

*well they call it lunch - but they're just trying to mess with my head.

I just went to the GTG website and asked if I could join!! No tatoos, though!! Sounds fun.

Karen, have not seen you on Fodor's before. Yes, I'm sorry that we have missed each other, again. We can try for Spring!! Hope you made that airport transportation reservation OK.

Re Paris Perfect apartments. They are regular stays for me. I find that I can't do better. I like the St. Dominique/Bourdonnais area. Feels like home when I arrive.

Joan

Enjoy your visit, Joan

((I))

Joan,
Have a wonderful trip...of course, we'll be interested in hearing from you. As you know, DH & I can't wait to return to a ParisPerfect flat in spring '09. Meantime, we'll visit vicariously through you! Bon voyage, EJ ((#))

..have a great time. I am off to Paris just as you leave. I am looking forward to any comments you may make esp re small restaurants for an evening meal.

I will do some posting while there...I always try some good new places...all prices. Have made these advance reservations..La Regalade, the Bristol Hotel High Tea/High Fashion Show, Les Ambassadeurs (Crillon) for brunch, Spring for both lunch and dinner (not on the same day!)Gerard Besson, l'Epigramme, Fables de la Fontaine (always the Constants, on a regular basis)..many, many more on my list. Will do my wandering around..Never too much planned in advance..depends on the weather for the day. No problem in keeping busy!

I am confirmed to join the lunch GTG on the 26th at Chez Lena et Mimile! Sounds like fun..minus the tattoos!!

Now to just hope that my luggage arrives with me..........

Joan

Looking forward to your restaurant posts. I've heard mixed things about l'Epigramme: from raves to disappointment, so I'm very interested to hear some details of your meal there. La Regalade was our top pick last time and we'll return again when we're back in Paris in May 09. Don't miss it. Spring was good, but I thought over hyped.

Have a great time!

I have been to l'Epigramme twice for dinner. Both times were really very good..and the price is certainly most reasonable.

I have also been to La Regalade twice for dinner. It is an excellent spot.

Daniel Rose has a good thing going. I have been twice and will be doing lunch and dinner this trip..

There can be what appears to be an off visit anyplace..sometimes you make a mistake in what you order. Can happen anyplace, anywhere!

I have lots of new places that I am going to try. I do enjoy some of the "big" hotel bars for their "light lunches". I have enjoyed Le Meurice a number of times..Will add others to my list. Might be something that many would like to give a try!

All will be fun!!

Plafield...

I have another Paris Perfect apartment rented from April 14 to May 13, 2009.

Never know, our paths may cross.....

Joan

We're virtually overlapping, Joan. I'm hoping for good weather although this time of year you have to pack for all possibilities. We're also planning to go back to la Regalade this time, and were thinking of l'Epigramme.

We've had two dinners at Spring in the last year and adored the first one, just blown away by the quality and inventiveness, while the second was quite fine, but nothing spectacular.

JulieV, I loved our meal at Casa Olympe last fall. We went on the recommendation of a friend who's been eating there for years; it's his favorite in Paris. Although not necessarily a comment on the food, it's also a favorite of designer Jean Paul Gaultier. We saw him there and I've since heard it's his "cantine". He was certainly greeted as if that were the case.

http://tinyurl.com/6bgg49

I bet all those tattoo places will get a sudden rush after your post!!

Shellio,

A few good spots:

Au Gourmand, 17 r. Moilier

Le Florimond, 19 ave la Motte Picquet

Le Clos des Gourmets 16 ave Rapp

Le Folle Avoine 91, r. Grenelle

Huitrerie Regis 3 r. de Montfaucon

Chez Pierrot 9 r. Amelie(simple place)

Au Petit Tonneau 20 r. Surcouf (simple place)

La Ferrandaise 8 r. de Vaugirard

So many, many more....
Enjoy....

Joan

Correction Aur Gourmand the street is Moliere

Joan

Shellio, thanks for the recommendation on Casa Olympe. My friends will be relieved and now excited to be dining there. Appreciate your reassurance.

Drooling here.

Joan, seems our taste in restaurants is quite similar! I really enjoyed Au Gourmand as well as many of the others on your list.

Unfortunately, I'll miss you in May because although I land at CDG on the 9th, I'm onto Belgium for a week before spending another week in Paris.

I am hoping for a GTG at some point while we're there and so wish I could be there for the upcominjoy!

I will enjoy hearing about your Belgium trip!!

Could easily do that with my Paris visits....

Enjoy...........

Julie,

This is from a good friend who stays in the area and a very good judge on restaurants..for what it is worth...

"We have eaten there several times as it is on St. Georges close to some of the places we have stayed. Olympe Versini was the female wonder chef of Gault-Millau about a decade ago when she was in Montparnasse. She is from Corsica and some of the dishes have a Corsican flair. It is a proper little restaurant, linens, etc, and usually you have to reserve. I would not cross town to eat there but if you are in the area it is of good quality."

Which of the parisperfect apartments have you stayed in? They all look so nice.

I travel alone, so I don't need one that is too large....

I have stayed in the Grenache, Kir, St. Amour and will be in the new Meursault for a month beginning on Thursday. I also have next Spring in the Kir (but it may change to a different one) and Fall taken care of..deciding which with Madelyn.....

They are nice places..you can easily become spoiled.....

Dear Joan,
After 3 trips to Paris, we splurged and spent last October in Paris... had not one day of rain. Weather was idyllic!

A few highlights: lunch at Ardoise on rue Thabor just off rue Rivoli, hot chocolate at Angelina (commonly recommended but truly the best!), noodle soup at Higuma on rue St. Honore or rue St. Anne (quick and cheap and a change of pace from rich food), Stohrer's pastries on rue Montorgueil, Margueritas at La Perla, quiche carried out from Lenotre (many times!), Musee Carnavalet in the Marais, the 9th floor rooftop cafeteria/restaurant of Printemps dept. store...fabulous view., Jacquemart Andre Museum and its lovely lunch, duck confit at Allard in St. Germain, and an affordable dinner at quaint Perraudin in the 5th. And, bread everyday from Eric Kayser.

I always meant to make a trip report, esp. to thank the person who told me about the All Belgium ticket to Brugges. We saved a ton combining it with train fare from Paris. Charming trip to take, and a wonderful hearty Belgium lunch at de Vlaamsche Pot...Waterzoi and beef stew were perfect. Also many were eating afternoon snack of huge, crispy waffles with tea.

MAP

I was also in Paris last October. I stayed in the Paris Perfect Grenache. I told a person that I knew that I had space for her if she would like to go. She had never traveled before..it was a special treat for her. I planned some thing for her as a firt timer and off she went and I to whatever. She really enjoyed herself.

I do remember the last half of the month being a bit chilly..glad that I had that coat that I had!!

Sounds like you made the most of it. Lots to do..for everyone....
Joan

Joan,
Yes, I remember scoffing at someone's suggestion that I throw in a pair of gloves. I wore them several times near the end of our trip. I have really enjoyed reading tips from Fodorites and will look forward to your trip report later!

I keep reading good things about a restaurant called Paul Bert for steak frites.....let me know if you go!

MAP

I always take a black cashmere cardigan with me..it is packed! I also have a wool scarf. Layering is the name of the game. I have been watching the weather. Nights can be cool. I live in Asheville, NC...our mountains create a big difference between day and night temperatures.

Not sure about going to Paul Bert. Yes, it has had some good reviews...a very busy, crowded place..will see!

Joan

bookmarking

Most of the ParisPerfect apts are great, we stayed at the Reisling, and it was great, its nice to come back to a comfortable large apt, after a long day out.

I dont think this is their most sought after apt, especially for elders, as the 3-4 fliughts of stairs can get to you after dragging sitcases and bags up each day.

Also, I would think about bringing warm clothes this Sept/Oct, as this so far is a cooler Aug/Sept than last year, and last Oct was pretty cold as well, I say this from experience. This AUg I bot an a/c for our apt, only to find we needed it for 3-4 days.

Intex,

Yes, the Reisling is an unusual one for Paris Perfect...both for the location and the lack of an elevator. Most are in the 7th..really, my preferred area.

I think I am prepared for the weather..........

Joan,
Another afterthought....Cafe Constant in the 7th was good. I loved the Ille Flotante for dessert, and overall, the lunch prices were moderate. Two charming Parisian ladies were lunching and helped us order. We encountered friendly people everywhere. In fact, a clerk in Stohrer's on rue Montorgueil gave me a box of macarons as a goodbye present! I saw him later on a Samantha Brown travel episode.

Correction in my above post: Rue Mont Thabor is the street name, and L'Ardoise the restaurant...really good.

MAP

I know the Constants well. I have been dining with them for many years, Their restaurants are right along St. Dominique..Cafe Constant (I start off with breakfast there, often), Les Cocottes, Violon'dIngres and Le Fables de la Fontaine.

Mont Thabor also has Le Souffle. I have been to Ardoise..several years ago...so many, many.....

Grace,
I really dont know why so many people prefer the 7th over the 6th, and why ParisPerfect has all their apts. in the 7th?

I really think the location of the Reisling is ideal, maybe someone will enlighten me on the merits of being in the 7th.

Intex,

You will find that many do not prefer the 7th over the 6th!

For me, the 6th is good for first timers..lots of activity. I took my granddaughter and her husband to Paris in April and rented a Parisian Flat apt. on r. Dauphine while they were there. When thy left I moved into the Paris Perfect St. Amour apt. on r. Bourdonnais on the corner of St. Dominique. The 7th is not so crowded, touristy. It has more top notch and bibb gourmand restaurants than the 4th, 5th, 6th combined..for whatever that is worth...I love having the Eiffel Tour as a neighbor..always in view! The 7th has a very village-like atmosphere. The buses and metro are very convenient to every place..so many places to walk to.

I think Madelyn has something on their www.parisperfect.com website re the 7th and their being there pretty exclusively..they are branching out a bit.

Don't know how helpful this is. I know when I arrive in the 7th that I feel like I am in my Paris area "home"!

Joan

Bookmarking

Joan,

How do you like the new apartment?

Joan,

if you are checking the posts before you leave,
I will be arriving on the Sept 19 ad leaving for Nice on the 29th.

I'll be meeting you on the 26th at the GTG but maybe I will be able to find you before and we can have lunch together.
You certainly know the places to go.

I'm staying in the 6th arr. on Rue du Rigaud.

I'll have my laptop with me and try to reach you through this thread when I arrive.

Regards
Mahya

bookmarking for October trip, and thanks to gracejoan3 for the post, and to everyone with such great ideas.