We will be in Paris in April. I know that Europeans (and many North Americans) eat dinner later than my family is used to. We usually eat dinner between 5:30 and 6:30 pm. While I expected this to be a problem last year in Rome, it turned out to be a non-issue since most restaurants in Rome were open by 5:00 pm, although mostly tourist, myself included, were eating at this hour.

My question is then: Will there be many restaurants (sans locals) open or should we plan on eating later than we are normally accustomed? No big deal either way, just curious.

Thank You
Karl

The major restaurants usually open around 7:30, but you will find many brasseries--and cafés serving full meals--that stay open all day.

Even 7:30 is considered early. Dine later and it will be nice to enjoy eating with locals around you to get a better feel of Paris.

Thank you Underhill & Cigalechanta. We are very easy to please and plan to "go with the flow."

We did spend 2 days in Paris a couple years ago but did not have nearly enough time. We have 8 days this time and plan on seeing Paris a little more in depth this time.

Karl

One advantage of being willing to dine early is that you can often get a table. But that only works if the restaurant is open. Aim for dinner no earlier than 8 (preferably 8:30) if you want to eat in a restaurant other than open-all-the-time cafe and want to see some other diners.

Of course, if you eat dinner that late, you can also plan to eat lunch a little later. We've found that is quite easy to find restaurants that are open and still serving lunch around 2:30-3:00 pm. So we've found that we have quite a civilised day on our weekend days off here- breakfast around 9, then sightseeing or shopping, a coffee around 11 or 12, more activities, a late lunch, followed by more activities (or, if wine was involved, heading home for a nap) before going out again at 8:30.

If you have a mini-bar in your room, stash a bit of bread and cheese, so that you can have a snack in the late afternoon if you get the munchies.

One of the advantages of dining early is that the locals aren't there lighting up their cigarettes.

(Hey Mimi! )

Hi K,

We have found that many good restaurants will allow reservations around 7:30-8:00.

The advantage is that you will get a good table, because they expect you to be gone by 9:00, when the lines form.