paris to do list [one month stay jan 4th through feb 4th]
Dec 28th, 2012, 01:29 AM
#21
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There really isn't much to the July column. It's big. It's there.
It's also round the corner from the Promenade Plantée, and if the weather's nice that's worth a stroll as far as you feel like from Bastille.
And with a whole month, I really would take some time out of Paris. TGV trains put a whole lot of France within easy reach for a day trip or an overnight. Lille? Tours? Provins?
It's also round the corner from the Promenade Plantée, and if the weather's nice that's worth a stroll as far as you feel like from Bastille.
And with a whole month, I really would take some time out of Paris. TGV trains put a whole lot of France within easy reach for a day trip or an overnight. Lille? Tours? Provins?
Dec 28th, 2012, 08:11 AM
#22
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@denisea: yes you're right, reed only offers dinner. weekender confirmed this. 
i appreciate the clarification on comptoirs... we want to try out both. i like Les Cocottes from your list... everything in a cast iron pot sounds fun. our friend also recommended joel roubuchon, which i know is super pricey. of all the super high end fine dining restaurants (i.e. guy savoy is another one we're consiering), which one would you recommend? we only want to go to one.
@yestravel + @weekender: i added les cocottes as it seems to be a great place.
@StCirq: i will look into the link you provided. i don't mind if everything is not green if we go. just want to see the countryside, meet some country folks, and learn about and taste some wine.
@jelopez33: thanks for the tip! we will purchase the tickets online. every euro counts.
@mamcalice: i will look into chartres today. hoping to get a solid idea/plan of our side trip before we fly out.
@Ackislander: loved reading your thoughts! i understand your point of view and completely agree that places which are highly rated are sometimes overrated. we see it in new york all the time. i know having a long list like ours almost defeats the purpose of going on a trip like this, but since there is so much to see/do/eat in paris, i think it's important to at least to do some research beforehand so we maximize and make use of our time wisely. also, we plan to cook meals from what we pick up at the market probably 50% of the time. so if we're going to go out for a meal, we want it to be truly special and unique to paris. i want to have a meal better than what i can cook at home and that is worth the $. oh and as i mentioned in my original post, we like casual even divey restaurants and we don't care if it's michelin rated or not.
our plan is to visit each arrondissement and stay there to get a real sense of the neighborhood. so coming up with a good list of sights and places to eat in the particular area gives us a destination / reason to go and then we can wander around aimlessly. of course for the smaller arrondissements in the center, we will probably venture to multiple ones in a single day.
@PatrickLondon: lol my husband but july column in there... not even sure what that is yet. thank you i will add promenade plantee to our google maps. yes agreed, i think i will want a short getaway from paris! so hard to choose though. i am thinking i don't want another major city like london or barcelona. we are going to those places sometime in the future anyway and should combine it with other areas within the country. i am definitely gravitating towards the french countryside or perhaps the mountains in either france or switzerland.
i appreciate the clarification on comptoirs... we want to try out both. i like Les Cocottes from your list... everything in a cast iron pot sounds fun. our friend also recommended joel roubuchon, which i know is super pricey. of all the super high end fine dining restaurants (i.e. guy savoy is another one we're consiering), which one would you recommend? we only want to go to one.@yestravel + @weekender: i added les cocottes as it seems to be a great place.
@StCirq: i will look into the link you provided. i don't mind if everything is not green if we go. just want to see the countryside, meet some country folks, and learn about and taste some wine.
@jelopez33: thanks for the tip! we will purchase the tickets online. every euro counts.
@mamcalice: i will look into chartres today. hoping to get a solid idea/plan of our side trip before we fly out.
@Ackislander: loved reading your thoughts! i understand your point of view and completely agree that places which are highly rated are sometimes overrated. we see it in new york all the time. i know having a long list like ours almost defeats the purpose of going on a trip like this, but since there is so much to see/do/eat in paris, i think it's important to at least to do some research beforehand so we maximize and make use of our time wisely. also, we plan to cook meals from what we pick up at the market probably 50% of the time. so if we're going to go out for a meal, we want it to be truly special and unique to paris. i want to have a meal better than what i can cook at home and that is worth the $. oh and as i mentioned in my original post, we like casual even divey restaurants and we don't care if it's michelin rated or not.
our plan is to visit each arrondissement and stay there to get a real sense of the neighborhood. so coming up with a good list of sights and places to eat in the particular area gives us a destination / reason to go and then we can wander around aimlessly. of course for the smaller arrondissements in the center, we will probably venture to multiple ones in a single day.
@PatrickLondon: lol my husband but july column in there... not even sure what that is yet. thank you i will add promenade plantee to our google maps.
yes agreed, i think i will want a short getaway from paris! so hard to choose though. i am thinking i don't want another major city like london or barcelona. we are going to those places sometime in the future anyway and should combine it with other areas within the country. i am definitely gravitating towards the french countryside or perhaps the mountains in either france or switzerland.
Dec 28th, 2012, 10:42 AM
#23
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If you want to go to Le Comptoir....get on it. Reservations can be hard to get...it is very small. But if I remember correctly, you can queue up at lunch, which is a great way to experience it. If they have beef cheeks, get them! Same goes for lobster bisque.
Hmmmm, it's hard to say which is best of all the top restaurants and I have not been to all of them. We truly do love L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon. You don't have to do the degustation menu, just order off the menu. The service is excellent but not over the top. We like the seating around a bar with a view of the kitchen, but some don't like that concept. Le Cing is very traditional, for us Robuchon is bettter. Make reservations online.
Agree with Patrick on Promenade Plantee...even in winter.
Hmmmm, it's hard to say which is best of all the top restaurants and I have not been to all of them. We truly do love L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon. You don't have to do the degustation menu, just order off the menu. The service is excellent but not over the top. We like the seating around a bar with a view of the kitchen, but some don't like that concept. Le Cing is very traditional, for us Robuchon is bettter. Make reservations online.
Agree with Patrick on Promenade Plantee...even in winter.
Dec 28th, 2012, 11:17 AM
#24
denisea is correct re queuing up for lunch at Le Comptoir. We have lunch there every visit to Paris. We work it out so we get there a touch before 12 when it opens and have never waited more than 10 minutes or so. Last trip as we sat and watched the line, we thought coming towards the end of the lunch hour would work also. We've tried for dinner reservations and never been successful, but we have had superb lunches there many times.
Of the 2 Constant restaurants mentioned, we actually prefer Cafe Constant - food is good at both, but like the homey atmosphere at Cafe Constant. Can't go wrong with either though.
Hope u will report back as we arrive in Paris a week after you leave and would love to read about any new discoveries.
Of the 2 Constant restaurants mentioned, we actually prefer Cafe Constant - food is good at both, but like the homey atmosphere at Cafe Constant. Can't go wrong with either though.
Hope u will report back as we arrive in Paris a week after you leave and would love to read about any new discoveries.
Dec 28th, 2012, 11:43 AM
#25
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The L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon Etoile location http://www.joel-robuchon.net/#/en/restaurants/2/ does offer a 37 euro lunch menu. Many other higher end restaurants such as Le Cinq offer "bargain" priced lunch menus as well. Le Cinq is currently 95 euros IIRC. Guy Savoy may still be offering their 100 euro lunch special. The last time I checked it was for one table only and reservations have to be made online requesting this offer.
Weekday dinner reservations at Le Comptoir are very hard to get if you're not a guest of the hotel. Lunch and weekends are a different format with no reservations taken.
For fine dining that's not super pricey I really liked Kei http://www.restaurant-kei.fr/welcome.html To me, the food is more enjoyable than Le Cinq but the latter has the whole package if you're looking for over the top service, atmosphere, etc.
For casual/traditional, try Bistro Volnay http://www.bistrovolnay.fr/
We've taken at class at La Cuisine Paris and can highly recommend them.
I have 2 food focused trip reports where you may find something else of interest -
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ims-report.cfm
Weekday dinner reservations at Le Comptoir are very hard to get if you're not a guest of the hotel. Lunch and weekends are a different format with no reservations taken.
For fine dining that's not super pricey I really liked Kei http://www.restaurant-kei.fr/welcome.html To me, the food is more enjoyable than Le Cinq but the latter has the whole package if you're looking for over the top service, atmosphere, etc.
For casual/traditional, try Bistro Volnay http://www.bistrovolnay.fr/
We've taken at class at La Cuisine Paris and can highly recommend them.
I have 2 food focused trip reports where you may find something else of interest -
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ims-report.cfm
Dec 28th, 2012, 02:53 PM
#26
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You have not mentioned St Sulpice in the 6th. It's close to Luxembourg gardens with a cafe across the square for lunch. Gerard Mulot paterisserie nearby is also a must.
Another vote for Reed in the 7th. Fish la Boissonniere in the 6th is also great.
Rue Montorgueil is another market street that I prefer to Mouffetard.
Enjoy!
Another vote for Reed in the 7th. Fish la Boissonniere in the 6th is also great.
Rue Montorgueil is another market street that I prefer to Mouffetard.
Enjoy!
Dec 28th, 2012, 03:07 PM
#27
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On our last visit we discovered the outdoor market Marché Saxe-Breteuil - Avenue de Saxe, 7th Métro: Ségur 7h - 14h30 Thursday and Saturday. Great views of the Eiffel Tower too.
If you have any interest in Science, the Musee Louis Pasteur was a great 1-2 hour experience. It includes an overview of his major scientific contributions, the apt where he lived the last 7 years of his life and his crypt.
If you have any interest in Science, the Musee Louis Pasteur was a great 1-2 hour experience. It includes an overview of his major scientific contributions, the apt where he lived the last 7 years of his life and his crypt.
Dec 28th, 2012, 05:19 PM
#28
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We always go to the Robuchon location in the 6th, but I would think they both have some sort of lunch menu at a less expensive price. I totally second the Gerard Mulot rec! Great pastry, gorgeous shop!
