Paris New Years Eve
 

As Delta Airlines is having a great FF seat sale (60K RT Biz Class) I booked Paris leaving Cincy 12/29, direct flight. Now to determine what to do on New Years eve. Any suggestions for dinner, etc. for my wife and I?

Also, any suggestion for activities on New Years day in Paris?

What's your price point for dinner? A lot of restaurants have fixed settings for NY eve and it's very expensive, so maybe those in the know can recommend something if they know what you are willing to spend. The top restaurants can charge 200 euro and up per person for that night. Some cheaper places you can get away with maybe around 100 euro per person

This is old, I think, but gives you an idea what you're dealing with http://www.cometoparis.com/catalog/n...eve-in-paris-7
A lot of those are crazy expensive and the typical tourist cabaret shows, but it shows some prices. If I were going to pick anything on there to think about, it would be Brasserie Julien at only 119 euro. Here's their website http://www.julienparis.com/en/

Some typical tourist things are open on NY day, like Eiffel Tower, of course churches, the boats on the Seine (not sure how enticing taht would be on January 1st) if it isn't iced over, and usually some museums are open. Musee d'Orsay is usually open on NY day, I believe, but you can check those closer to the date. A lot of restaurants are actually closed on NY day. I guess walk around and sightsee, they do have an ice rink at Hotel de Ville.

I can't believe your good fortune in getting that flight. I thought I was doing well to book for 42,000 in main cabin with upgrade to economy comfort. All the business class seats appeared to be 125,000 and up. Is it a special deal that applies only to Cincinnati (which BTW is my favorite airport to fly from). Good for you. Lucky you.

You'll need to make your restaurant reservations well in advance in order to get a table. There are no places that I am aware of that accepts walk-ins, except maybe an international hotel with a restaurant (not celebrating NYE).

Also, a great number of restaurants are closed New Years Eve and NY day, some for the entire Christmas period (25 December to 6 January).

Julie:

I was advised that a deal was advertised for the winter on the Skymiles site. I checked several destinations, Paris was one of the lowest so I booked it. Not sue of other gateways.. Paris is the only direct, European flight from Cincy left. We usually are required to travel through other cities. Being retired, I have few time constraints but minimal opportunities to earn miles. However, I do not miss the business travel rat race.

Christina:

I have looked at all the old entries but had hoped for more current info. Price is always a issue but 200/250 E per couple might be feasible. Depends on food quality and not necessary to be "seen." I spent my career in the food/flavor industry.

Thanks to both of you for your response.

H

Robert:

That is why I am asking now so I can reserve. Any specific suggestions?

Don't even know where or how long I am staying in Paris. I only know I need to be at CDG on Jan. 21 to return to the US.

I grab the flight and then plan around it.

H

Topping for Paris experts.

It's way too early for restaurants to advertise their NYE menus, and most places won't accept reservations more than about 90 days in advance, anyway.

It's possible that the "palaces" (grand hotels) and really grand restaurants like Laserre, L'Ambroisie and Le Grand Vefour might get on the bandwagon soon, but those places will set you back more than triple your budget for a lovely evening. Most of the smaller, trendy places won't even think about their NYE menu before December.

You can try dummy bookings on sites like TheFork, etc, to find the soonest possible date to reserve, but it probably won't be until October.

Some many restaurants, including one of our favorites, La Fontaine de Mars, are closed during the Christmas season. La Fontaine de Mars does open after NYE.

A few that you want to keep an eye on for NYE are , La Dame de Pic, 20 rue du Louvre, in the 1st, Les Fables de la Fontaine, 131 rue Saint-Dominque, in the 7th, and possibly Dominique Bouhet, 11 rue Treihard, in the 8th. All are Michelin 1-star restaurants.

Fish la Boissonnerie, 69 rue de Seine in the 6th, is open during the Christmas season. Pothook (very French Basque), 4 rue de l’Exposition, in the 7th, was open last NYE. They offered a 115€ menu, without wine.

Porte 12, 12 rue des Messageries, in the 10th, should also be open of NYE, as will be Au Passage, 1 bis passage de Saint-Sebastien, in the 11th.

And of course the most expensive restaurants, like Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athénée, 5 avenue Montaigne, in the 8th, will be serving their NYE fare. Expect it to be around 1500€/person, wine included.

Robert:

Many thanks for your assistance. Alain may have to wait until my ship comes in! Do enjoy good food though but I am sure he will be able to fill my spot at his table.

H

If you want to book one of the special New Year's meals at the restaurants, keep in mind that you will be kept "prisoner" until after midnight and that everything will be very slow to get people to the countdown. Of course, there will often be music and dancing and other entertainment to help pass the time. Some people love this sort of thing, but it does not appeal to me at all since I don't enjoy spending 3 hours in a restaurant.

If you want a little more "action," the best thing to do is to have a more ordinary (yet festive) meal earlier in a brasserie or something and then go to the Champs Elysées to join the crowd of several hundred thousand ringing in the New Year with their own choice of beverages. The avenue is closed to traffic starting around 10pm.