Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Paris Trip Report

Wow! Thanks for your kind comments ddena and for sharing my report jelane.

Here's the rest of Chapter 6. A great restaurant to try and a list of fun bars in St. Germain des Pres.

For pictures/links, read the report here:

http://www.parisescapes.com/paris_tr...hap6_cont.html

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Chapter 6 (cont): A Night in St. Germain des Prés - Dinner and Drinks

This trip we decide to behave ourselves and not stay out all night. But, we are curious if St. Germain is still as hopping as we remember it.

We start out the evening by having dinner at a restaurant I had heard about that has a great dinner menu for under 30 euros called La Boussole.

La Boussole

La Boussole means "compass" in French and the restaurants theme is to follow the Spice Route from East to West. Think Marco Polo meets French cuisine. Each dish uses an interesting blend of Eastern spices and are exotic as well as delicious.

The stone-walled dining room is cosy and inviting. Perfect for dinner with friends or an intimate meal for two.

Samatha and I ordered from the 25.4€ prix fix menu for dinner, and a bottle of red wine for 19€. We both started with fois gras, then ordered the popular steak with gingerbread sauce, and finished with a delectable dessert. Samantha had the crèmes brulées assortment with spices, and I ordered the Mango tajine,litci, kiwi and coconut sorbet.

The five small crèmes brulées were a real treat. We had fun sampling each brulée and trying to guess which exotic spice was used for the flavor. We figured that two of the brulees were ginger and pumpkin, but were stumped on the rest. Still, they were delicious.

Address: 12 rue Guisarde
75006 Paris
Tel.: 01 56 24 82 20

The night is young, so after dinner we have drinks at three of our favorite bars in St. Germain des Pres. This time we actually made it back to our apartment before the crack of dawn - barely.

The Old Navy

Opened in 1700 for sailors and merchants to have a home away from home, this rustic bar on people watching St. Germain Blvd. does feels like a neighborhood hang out. With many beers on tap, a friendly waitstaff, and a huge tv playing sports or videos in the rear the atmosphere is more "Cheers" than a typical French cafe.

One visiting US executive was so taken with The Old Navy on a vacation to Paris that he changed the name to his new chain store from Elevator to Old Navy. It's true. A Gap exec. named the Old Navy clothing chain after this famous Parisian bar.

Address: 150 Bld Saint-Germain

Barroco

Barroco is a Brazilian restaurant with a French twist. A great place to have a Caipirinha and tapas. The interior is designed to look like a Latin American mansion with lush curtains, wrought-iron chandeliers, and comfortable striped velvet chairs to sink into while listening to singers with acoustic guitars.

Food and drinks are reasonably priced. If eating a full meal, budget around 30€ per person.

Address: 23 rue Mazarine

Le Bar

Walking down a narrow cobble-stoned street in St. Germain des Pres, you'll pass a storefront with large, black, painted windows. Like Samantha and I, you may assume that its just another store that has un expectantly shut down. But, you can hear music and laughter inside.

Peer a little closer and you'll notice a name in small print on the door "Le Bar - Open from 11:00pm to 4:00am." If you dare, knock, open the door and enter Le Bar, a secret Parisian hideaway in touristy St. Germain des Pres.

Le Bar is an ideal place to unwind after a long night out. The intimate leather couches, dim candlelit interior, Asian artifacts and unique gravel floor convey an other worldly, intimate atmosphere. The crowd is low key, the bartenders are very friendly and the cocktails are excellent.

Address: 27 rue Condè

More chapters to come...check back