Well Fodorites, this may be bad news to some, but we were in Paris in mid June and the Starbucks at the Odeon Metro was almost finished and soon to open.

viva la starbucks!

Starbucks list themselves as having 4 shops in paris. did anyone mention the one at La Defense? well if they have 4 they will soon have 400!

Oh horrors. Would Starbucks open one branch in the heart of the louvre (beside Lady Venus herself), like what they did in Beijing's Forbidden City?

We can only hope!

Starbucks La Defense has a terrase and it is very plesant. In the business district with all of the large skyscrapers, it almost reminds you of seattle, except there is not another starbucks accross the courtyard...and yes there are 4 starbucks at this time, soon to be 10 by the end of the year.

Viva la Starbucks!

Dommage Dommage

as much as we cry and whine over the opening of Starbucks in Paris and the feared loss of the traditional french cafe experience, something tells me that there is a french business man in this mix and he could see a money making opportunity even if only the tourists go there. isn't Paris the most or is not one of the most visited cities in the world? yes, many euros to be made there.

When Starbucks (or should that be Star$$$$?) opened in Australia concern was expressed about the possible impact on neighbourhood coffee shops. In the event there was no need to worry. Star$$$$ is certainly making a $ or two, but they entered a market in which decent espresso had been available for decades in practically every suburban and even small-town shopping centre, so their impact has been muted at best. (A big thank-you at this point to our Italian immigrants.)

America was tailor-made for a Starbucks, whose product tasted ambrosial by comparison with the insipid, stale, brewed substance that most US consumers associated with the word "coffee".

I'm not all that surprised that they've been successful in Europe - after all, McDonalds has been successful in China, a phenomenon clearly unrelated to the quality of its offerings or any sane notion of value for money.

I visited both the Starbucks in St. Germain and the one in Montparnasee a couple weeks ago. Both are pleasant, air-conditioned, and with good bathrooms, and you get a tall latte for about 2.90 Euros. That's a lot compared to what I pay in Canada, but it's a typical rate, particularly since you can sit in Starbucks as long as you like. I visited a bar in Montmartre because I wanted to get some type of coffee prior to going on the Paris Walk of Montmartre. The cappucino cost 2.80 Euros, you were to drink it standing at the bar, and the tiny, ill-lit bathroom had no toilet paper. Why romanticize such places compared to Starbucks? Maybe if I had searched for a long time I would have found a better place to get coffee, but the point is Starbucks is reliable.

Travelnut - you made me smile - tres drole! More on a terrace than a pied! indeed.

I had cafe au lait in the morning, heavy on the lait, because I don't tolerate cafeine that well..so no little short blasts for me during the day and evening, but my companion had them frequently, all at local cafes except when we were at museums.

There was a profile and a series oof articles when I was returning from my trip about American fast food in Paris. One waiter was quoted as saying that it is mostly popular with students who have no money and once theybegin to work and have money they will go to (real) restaurants. I could pcture the whole conversation.
No offense Babette. Coffee is not the same as fast food, and I can understand the attraction to Starbuck's, which I enjoy when I spread out with the Sunday Times at my local bookstore. I personally just don't frequent American chains when I travel, and try to stay away from the french ones. Unfortunately, my Parisian friend likes American-style chains, like Cafe Indiana and Hippotamus, and Cafe Brioche. So we try to strike a balance.

The french do participate in the shareing of the profits of parisian Starbucks. Starbucks Paris and Starbucks Spain are both partnerships between Starbucks Coffee international (which has ties to Starbucks corp seattle) and european Grupo Vips. Also an interesting note, all of Starbucks paistries (des muffins, le pain perdu <french toast>, des pains aux chocoalait, etc.) are prepared fresh each day by a well known french chief, specialy designed to meet the needs of a french palete and for us Starbucks java junkies lets us try something french without leaving our safety net of american familiarity.

Glad to know that the pastries are excellent unlike the ones in the US.

I would no more have a coffee in Starbucks in Paris than eat cheese in the USA

We were in Paris a couple of weeks ago and I spotted a Starbucks on Boulevard St. Germain, within sight of the Metro stop Odeon. Did not go inside however.

ody, if you would not eat cheese in the USA, then you are missing some wonderful experiences. There are many excellent cheesemakers in the USA these days (no, not Kraft).

Rufus is right. My husband would eat cheese for every meal if it wasn't for me, and having grown up in Ireland, he appreciates good, fresh cheeses. Most grocery stores in the US carry a decent selection of cheese (usually in a section away from the strangely orange cheddar).

Why does everyone get so worked up about Starbucks? I'm not a big fan, as I think the food there is horrible. Why in the world can't Starbucks buy decent bagels or pastries? Because DH is a fan, I've spent time in S'bucks in the US, England and Ireland, and the food is bad everywhere.

But it is somewhere I can go, sit for an hour or two reading and sipping coffee in a big comfy chair without being pestered by the staff.

Ah, the freedom of choice. It's a wonderful thing.

Have you people ever heard of "free enterprise"? Starbucks is simply trying to make more money. If the French or other Europeans don't like it, they won't go. Remember how the Euros were supposedly opposed to McDonald's so they started the Pret a Manger chain because it was more "European"? It still hasn't really caught on while new McDonald's are popping up all over the world. Beleive it or not, you have a choice. You don't have to buy their products. I get so sick of hearing people tell me what I can and can't like.

I agree with Zeus. If you don't like these fast food chains and coffe chains don't patronize them. But don't knock people who want to do so. Sure I do eat the local food and I appreciate it wholeheartedly. But if I get a craving for some fast food that's fine with me too. And if you've got a child you will probably understand better the situation about eating at McD's and Quick. I have heard the whole story about forcing your child to eat the local food. My child does eat the local food when he visits Paris, but he's fond of McDonalds too! Nothing is wrong with that. I think the French people like these chains alot as attested by the growing number of branches in Paris.