I'm going to Paris by myself for nine days next week and would like to do something I've never done there before - have dinner in a really good restaurant. I'm prepared to spend around $100. I'm not a big drinker so an expensive wine would probably be wasted on me. I'd like someplace where I'd feel comfortable dining alone, and that feels like a special Paris experience. Welcome your suggestions.

andib,

I usually travel to Paris alone & last trip was as a single woman traveler for 9 days (just like you, so I can relate).

My most enjoyable single dining experience has been at Le Vieux Bistro on the Ile de la Cité facing the northern façade of Nôtre Dame. For an 84€ lunch I had:
Escargot de Bourgogne-14€
Asperge Blanche au Vinaigrette-16€
Bśuf bourguignon-19€
Tarte Tatin Flambée au Calvados et sa Crème Fraiche-9€
accompanied by a 2001 Fournier Sancerre (rouge) ~ 26€

If you skip the wine you could have it for around 58€, for dinner it would be a little bit more. It has a very cozy atmosphere & I felt very comfortable there. In fact, I stayed *3 hours*!!

You may read my full review here:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/fa94c/


Other restaurants I enjoyed as a single woman diner was Afternoon Tea in the Bar Vendôme garden at the Ritz (32.10&euro:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/10125c

And dinner at Bofinger under the lovely glass domed ceiling:
Soup à l’oignon gratinée
supremely tender châteaubriand steak
haricots vert (French green beans) & grilled tomatoes
kir vin blanc (white wine with crème de cassis, a blackcurrant liqueuer)
glass of Beaujolais
crème brulée
46.50€
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/101506/

Single female travelers to paris seem to be all the rage these days!

I'm going alone for 3 days November 17-20 and am so excited! My husband has a business trip in London starting the 21st, so I'll take the Eurostar to London on Sunday. but...I just had to fit in a few days in paris

Thanks so much to everyone for their great insights and tips on traveling alone. I was so glad to see Beatchick's review and will look up that restaurant for sure.

I plan on taking a 1/2 day cooking class on Friday the 18th which sounds like such fun!

If there's anyone else who will be in paris those dates and would like to share a cafe creme or meal..please drop me a note!

Hi A,

You can have lunch at Taillevent for 70E.

http://www.taillevent.com/

You could have dinner at Le Train Bleu
http://www.le-train-bleu.com/

Ira,

Droooool, lunch at Taillevent! Great suggestion. That's 70€ excluding the wine. Wonder how much it is including wine, approximately? I really should do that next trip as it's one of the places I've *always* wanted to dine.

andib, Le Train Bleu is where some of us Fodorites are meeting February 18 so that's another great suggestion. The décor is gorgeous - wait 'til you see the website.

Thank you, margyb.

Hi Beatchick ([email protected])
>..lunch at Taillevent! ...how much it is including wine, approximately? <

I expect that you can get a 1/2 bttle of a good wine for about 30E.

Or, you could ask for a pichet de l'eau and see if the waiter is so appalled that he brings you a glass of wine.

We had lunch at Taillevent once and noticed a single woman dining across the room from us. She received the same attention as everyone else in the restaurant, including a table of 7 men looking to have a business lunch.
She looked exceedingly comfortable with her dining experience!

Why in this day and age would a woman NOT be comfortable in a restaurant?
Sheesh...Particularly in a city LIKE PARIS...excuse me??? It is an international BIG CITY! LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of woman there...gee, some on business, some with lovers, some with families, all just hungry...
Reservethebest.com calls my fav, Le Fumoir "Fun and Trendy"... I don't consider myself Trendy, fun yes..not trendy. BUt the maitre'd gave me a seat by the windows, treated me beautifully...all by my wittle wonesom...
I wish I could duplicate the dressing on my salad...pommes au pamplemousse...

Reserve a table at Au Petit Marguery, in the 13th. You'll be treated well and enjoy the convivial atmosphere.

SuzieC, we LOVE Le Fumoir!
Our first few stays in Paris were in a hotel just around the corner from that restaurant and now we must eat there every time we're in Paris. I had the best vegetable tart I've ever had there.

When I went to Le Train Bleu a few years ago we were pretty disappointed, thought the food ok but not a good value given the prices. That's just offering an alternate opinion.

I think Bofinger is a good suggestion. If you book on line there is a 15% discount off the a la carte items, not off the fixed price menu.
www.bofingerparis.com I think

Another vote for Le Fumoir and that great salad dressing. Town and Country Travel - Winter 2005 issue has an article titled, "Why Taillevent Endures". It mentions "the beloved proprietor" Jean-Claude Vrinat who gives attention to all his guests, not just the VIPs, so you'd proabably be treated very nicely. We hope to go there on our next trip to Paris.

For 98 euros you could have the tasting menu at Atelier Joel Robuchon! Service is at counters and regardless of language you'll probably chat with someone in your vicinity during the meal. No reservations... except if you make a reservation for 6:30. Dinner will take about 2 hours. Restaurant is in the Pont Royal Hotel in the 7th. Nice residential type neighborhood with easy access to many top sites.
Our meal there was certainly a special experience for us.

Its been a long time....(1997 maybe?) but a friend and I had a fabulous dinner at a place called Chez Rene'....and it wasn't full of Americans. We also had an excellent Prix Fixe meal at Le Coup Choux (sp?) but it was more touristy. Ahhh....Paris...enjoy! It is a great place for a woman alone...very safe. 60 Minutes even did a feature once on personal safety issues in Paris compared to the U.S. and said it was very safe.

Yes, I suggest Le Coupe Chou as well. There are two menus and the more costly one costs 32 euro. Two lone female diners were there when I went: myself and another lady. And it is a place that locals like to eat at as well.

"I expect that you can get a 1/2 bttle of a good wine for about 30E."

So, basically for 100€ one could have a divine dining experience at Taillevent!

"Or, you could ask for a pichet de l'eau and see if the waiter is so appalled that he brings you a glass of wine."
LOL, Ira - so all this time I've been using the wrong phrase - I ask for "un carafe d'eau" and get water when I *should* be asking for "pichet de l'eau" to get free wine.