Looking for suggestions on lunch and dinner restaurants and any excursions that are a must. We are two 65+ couples who just love experiences. We love yummy food, but probably not Michelin type peeps. Suggestions on maybe a specific E Bike tour….we are scheduled for a TUK TUK tour one evening and we will be coming off of a 7 day Normandy river cruise. Do you have basic suggestions on how to tour the Eiffel Tower? Love a good pre dinner bar for a good glass of wine. We are staying in a B&B……I think Arrondissement 5 maybe.

Thank you for any and all suggestions / comments. It’s our bucket list trip.

Our favorite on every trip to Paris….Le Train Bleu
Absolutely gorgeous but also casual as is it in a train station, Gare Lyon, near to where you are staying. Memorable for sure.
Lunch or dinner but be sure to reserve ahead of time.

https://www.le-train-bleu.com/en/pho...tual-tour.html

Le Train Bleu would be your "go all out" night. While you may wish to kick up your dress a bit, remember it's above the train station so travelers drop in wearing hiking gear, backpacks. All are welcomed. We have frequently stayed in the Fifth arr very near Lux Gardens and Blvd St Michel. Suggest going with G7 in Paris for all transportation beyond walking and the Metro. Operates like Uber. You remove the app when you leave Paris. You would be best served by taking this from 5th to Le T B, if you go.
Wine Bar extraordinaire: Walk thru Cour du Commerce from Bvld St.Germain and a block or so past find this gem: Augustin Marchand d'Vins. The wines were suggested with each course we had. Super tiny, but 3 light courses/small plates served in this tinier-than-ever spot frequented by locals who all were alot younger than we (70s and up). Owner and wife are the whole staff. Again, must reserve as soon as you can. We picked evening of arrival, a Sunday, when much closed.
Restaurant extraordinaire: Les Papilles - tiny, resv as early as possible, one menu decided by the house. Each course was more delicious that the previous. Lots of locals which speaks well for the establishment, but tourists (like us) found it a few visits ago.
Shopping: Do yourselves a favor and head first to the 7th to Le Bon Marche: The oldest dept store in Paris. The vibe here is more sophisticated than Gallerie-Lafayette, which is stuffed with tourists, to the point where they must close the top floor vista point. Go there only if time allows after Le Bon Marche, which is just fabulous. Be sure to visit the Epicurean store just behind the department store, and pick up a snack or two. Grab lunch before/after at the historic (WWII)and posh Hotel Lutecia and stroll back east along Rue de Sevres, beautiful small shops.
Museums: You know what you want to see, but do save a 1/2 day for Musee Carnavalet, in the 3d, which is a gem. The whole history of the city, not paintings per se. Set in two gorgeous mansions. And free. Not a long walk from the 5th

We have been to Paris 7 times (last Christmas our last trip) and still have lots to see. We have never dined in the Eiffel Tower, but if you really want to splurge on alot of euros, people seem love it. Also don't miss Montmartre, but probably wise to G7 up there too, we went years ago, but had a very hard hike when trying via Metro Xmas 2024. September is an ideal month in Paris!

How many days will you spend in Paris? Other than seeing the Eiffel Tower and a Tuk Tuk tour and you don't indicate where that tour is going to go, it really depends on your interests and how much time you have and want to spend. I would recommend Notre Dame Cathedral with the renovation from the devastating fire now completed as well as Sacre Cour. In addition to the Louvre, there are outstanding museums including of course the Musee D'orsay and the Rodin Museum. Not sure when the Pompidou is set to reopen. The Luxemburg Gardens are one of my favorite places in Paris.

For the Eiffel Tower, visit their website as there are several levels and ticket prices depending. I think that I have only been to either the second or perhaps third level despite several trips to Paris over the years.

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Great small group walking food tour with Paris By Mouth. Cheese, bread, chocolates, macaroons, wine, what could be better? Guides are knowledgeable and fun. http://Parisbymouth.com

Hungryonion.org site has good Paris restaurant recs. Also Paris by mouth is good way to go for a culinary tour.

It has been many years so double check Blueeyedgirl, but DH and I took a night tour by bus that ended with a choice of either dinner at the Eiffel Tower (mid level resto) or the Moulin Rouge.

I also vote for Train Bleu...so pretty. Lunch less expensive!

Eglise Sainte Chapelle
Musee Jacquemart-Andre

Have a great time!

Ditto for hungryonion for restaurant recs. Also G7 is the way to go for taxis. Maybe I'm an outlier but did not have good luck with uber.

Yo Blue,
I always trot out the following funky-boho restaurant in the Butte aux Cailles (13e) area for genuine home-cooked style fare in Paris:
'Le Temps de Cerise' (time of cherries). It is the real deal, a coop filled with locals that takes no reservations.
The neighborhood is one of Paris' best for street art and has a residential feel not as common elsewhere.

*DO NOT confuse it with the chi-chi cafe of the same name up in the Marais. How the latter got away with that copying is beyond us.
I am done. the beret and the lasso

Le Train Bleu is indeed a special place - we had Thanksgiving dinner there this last year. The decor is amazing, feels rather like dining in the Sistine chapel! It is indeed a splurge place, not a bargain eatery but worth it at least once. Do make reservations.

A much less formal but quite authentic and delicious place is le Chalet Savoyard at 58 Rue de Charonne in the 11th for scrumptious raclette or fondue. Reservations also helpful.

Thank you for your suggestions!! We will be cruising the river for 10 days and then staying in Paris for 4 nights