Category Archives: Paris tips

Insider information for Paris tourists

No Waiting: Make a Paris dinner reservation online

03 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by in French food and wine, Paris guide, Paris nightlife, Paris tips, Paris Wanderings

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Not a new concept, but not everyone is aware that you can book ahead at certain restaurants all over the world. Paris is no exception and the options for each restaurant vary. A very slick service that has a very comprehensive list of establishments is thefork.com (lafourchette.com). They make it easy, just fill in the date and time you’d like to arrive.

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Il était un square, 54 Rue Corvisart, 75013 Paris

reservations: https://www.thefork.com/restaurant/il-etait-un-square/36296 or https://module.lafourchette.com/fr_FR/module/36296-5d91d/9283-1da?tracking_id=WGrn9QoQHHcAAKLPSckAAABP#/1042543/dhp

Lunch: de 12h à 15h (sauf dimanche)
Dinner : de 19h30 à 22h30 (sauf dimanche)

Charolaise beef, cooked or tartar, cheeseburger Montagnard, artisanal buns and original recipe small plates.bougn

Au Bougnat, 26, rue Chanoinesse 75004

reservations: http://aubougnat.com or http://aubougnat.com/reservation/

Wednesday – Sunday, 12h à 22h. Monday – Tuesday de 8h à 19h.  Located on the île de la Cité.

Bougnat’s burger is served on homemade bread.  Charolais beef, bacon & Cantal cheese, homemade fries
Panfried beef fillet (7oz), potato galette, foie gras sauce
Roast duckling fillet, sauted mushrooms
Sauteed tiger prawns with pesto sauce, creamy parmesan risotto

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Plaisir Gascon
16 Rue Grégoire de Tours 75006

reservations: http://plaisirgascon.com/reservations-plaisir-gascon.html

Small, cozy, intimate. Beef from Gascony is their specialty.  Superb croustade de pomme with more than a splash of Armagnac

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Boutary
25 Rue Mazarine 75006, metro: Odeon
reservations: https://module.lafourchette.com/fr_FR/module/200520-47ce4#/1337910/pdh

Puréed and smoked potatoes, seaweed butter, cream, caviar.
Crispy basmati rice with Comté , prawn kadaïf, Vermouth Carpano sauce.
Wild cod, seaweed butter & green peas, apricots, verbena-infused foam.
Rib-eye steak, home-made crisps, shiitaké powder, peppered cherry paste.

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Le Versance
16, rue Feydeau 75002
reservations: https://www.thefork.com/restaurant/le-versance/3388

Think lobster curry, calf’s sweetbreads and spiced pears. Elegant dining room.

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Le Christine
1, rue Christine 75006, 33 1 40 51 71 64
http://www.restaurantlechristine.com
reservations: http://www.restaurantlechristine.com/reservations/

Located between Saint-Michel and Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Excellent seasonal produce. Indulge in foie gras cooked au torchon [in a cloth], accompanied by delicious stewed red onions with grenadine or fillet of beef. Don’t miss the sweet notes of the tiramisu, a real treat!

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Bel Canto
72, quai de l’hôtel de ville 75004
http://www.lebelcanto.com/en/
reservations: http://www.lebelcanto.com/en/bel-canto-restaurants/booking-for-the-bel-canto-restaurant/

Opera is invited to your table at Le Bel Canto. Every evening, a quartet of young opera singers (soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone), accompanied by piano, participates in the service of the restaurant by interpreting great arias of opera. The opportunity for you to have dinner with Verdi, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini… You’ll either hate it or you’ll love it.

Dinner & show, without drinks: 85 € fixed price.

Under the category named “cabaret”,  the Paris tourist office recommends the Bel Canto as one of the best live venues for a night out in Paris: a unique show combining opera and French haute cuisine.

The restaurant is located on the banks of the Seine in the 4th arrondissement. Magnificent view from the dining room of Notre-Dame la Seine, île Saint-Louis. Inside, the decor with warm red and gold colors, is dedicated to opera.

After all the eating and drinking you’ll be ready for a nice long walk: No Worries Paris, your best friend.

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Nightclubbing in Paris

21 Wednesday Dec 2016

Posted by in Paris nightlife, Paris tips, Paris Wandering

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Nightcrawling at the tourist cabarets or hanging with the retro pop, indie, funky, bohemian chic crowd? Take your pick. Here are some choices that will jumpstart your after-dark adventures:

What better way to start than with the classic Moulin Rouge, ‎82 Boulevard de Clichy, (since 1889) where there are holiday specials going on right now. If you haven’t been there, the extravaganza is worth a trip.

Batofar
11, quai François Mauriac, 75013. A club on a boat. Open until or 2 or 3 a.m. with DJs. Good restaurant onboard.

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Blaine Bar (above), 65 rue Pierre Charron, 75008. A Prohibition ambiance theme at this speakeasy like cocktail bar. Jazz concerts and DJ spins all night long.

La Mano, 10 Rue Papillon, 75009. A small and cute bobo nightclub for cool 30-somethings on the Left Bank. It hosts hot electro parties (and electro salsa latino nights) for trendsetting locals but doesn’t try to be arrongant and keeps the party simple. Creative cocktails are at an average price of 12€. It’s also a restaurant serving good Mexican finger food.

 

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Chez Jeanette (above), 47 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 10th Arrondissement, Metro: Chateau D’Eau, Strasbourg Saint Denis.  Popular with a crowd of self consciously laid-back stealth hipsters. A typically Parisian old cafe that a full revamp and great music have turned into a destination.

Le Divan du Monde
75, rue des Martyrs, in the 18th. Small intimate venue in former art nouveauish theatre.

Le Baron
6, ave Marceau, in the 8th. 01 47 20 04 01. A former brothel, the club is now one of the coolest nightspots in the city with a strict door policy. No grunge.  Music starts at 11. Dance the night away here with style.

Social Club
142, rue Montmartre, in the 2nd. One of the hippest clubs in town. Serious musicians host the most famous DJs playing everything from house to hip-hop in an intimate setting.

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Lizard Lounge
18, rue du Bourg-Tibourg, in the 4th. On three levels, LL is a good warm-up/stay-on venue. The bar is a hip Marais hangout, while local DJs man the decks with a good mix of styles for the small booths downstairs.

Now that you’ve stayed up late, your day will presumably start at noon. Bleary eyed or not, pick up your No Worries Paris and head out for an espresso followed by a refreshing stroll  along the boulevards. Le savoir-vivre.

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Parisian etiquette: Unwritten rules you should know.

27 Sunday Nov 2016

Posted by in Paris tips

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mindyourmanners

A little politesse goes a long way.

Some handy tips:

It’s cheaper to stand at the bar, order your coffee and croissant and eat it standing. DO NOT take it to a table and sit down.

Bread comes with most meals. Don’t ask for butter, it will be considered a tartine, a breakfast item.

Food can be rich and filling. Don’t ask for a doggie bag. It’s okay to leave food on your plate.

Parisians have excellent manners. Always say “bonjour madame, monsieur, mademoiselle” and “au revoir madame………” when coming in contact with your fellow man. And say it softly as best you can, no need to shout.

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Even more tips inside No Worries Paris. A great Christmas gift for anyone headed for the City of Light.

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Merci: a cool concept store

31 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by in Paris shopping, Paris tips, Paris travel, Paris Wandering, Paris Wanderings

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Take a little trip to my newest discovery. You’ll enter through what looks like a cafe/bookshop, walk a few steps down a narrow passageway and Voila….it opens to a two story boutique full of items and ideas you will want to bring home.

After you get your fill, which could be hours and hours, finish your shopping day in their wine bar just next door.

MERCI

111 BOULEVARD BEAUMARCHAIS 75003 PARIS

MÉTRO – LIGNE 8 – MÉTRO SAINT SÉBASTIEN FROISSART
BUS – LIGNES 20 ET 65
Lundi 10h – 19h
Mardi 10h – 19h
Mercredi 10h – 19h
Jeudi 10h – 19h
Vendredi 10h – 19h
Samedi 10h – 19h

The time to go to Paris is NOW

25 Thursday Aug 2016

Posted by in Paris News, Paris tips, Paris travel

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If you detest standing in line or just being in crowded places your timing to go to Paris has never been better.  Visibly noticeable are the shortened queues at the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay,  Eiffel Tower, bateaux mouches, and special events.

paris2016Eiffel

The regional tourist board head has called it an “industrial disaster” since so much of Paris relies on visitor spending. The Ile-de-France figures for 2016 reflect big drops:

A 46.2% decline in Japanese visitors compared with the same period in 2015
A 35% decline in Russian visitors
A 19.6% decline in Chinese visitors
A 5.7% decline in visitors from the US

After recent major terror attacks in France, Paris is now seen as “less safe”.  So it’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons. I myself will take a chance on Paris. Some vacation rental landlords are willing to “talk turkey” and reduce the rent especially if you’re booking within a month’s time frame. Hotels too probably will soon be forced to offer more affordable rates.  A little direct negotiation with the front desk could mean extra savings for you.

paris2016alone

I’m hoping tourists regain their confidence and Paris returns to its superstar status of being one of Europe’s most visited cities.  After all, 14.97 million international visitors adds up to a lot of croissants.

concordeNoWorriesParis

As well as a lot of sold guidebooks:  No Worries Paris, a photographic walking guide.

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Packing for Paris. Fitting in street style.

23 Tuesday Aug 2016

Posted by in Paris shopping, Paris tips, Paris Walks

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WhatToWear2016

No one wants to look like a dweeb, unstylish, unhip, touristy. Just what are they wearing in Paris? What’s trendy? If you do your research on the internet you’ll come up with hundreds of opinions. Pinterest has all sorts of looks to sort through. Fashion houses, magazines, blogs featuring beautiful models in eyecatching yet unpractical ensemble are misleading. There is no ONE answer, it’s all about you and the confidence you have with what suits you. At the end of the day, after walking all over the city, one factor comes to mind:  comfort.  So start with that, just don’t look sloppy.

ParisWhatToWear2

A good rule of thumb is to sit in a cafe on a hip street like Rue Montorgueil and watch the passerbys. You’ll end up with load of ideas that you can immediately take to Galeries Lafayette, Bon Marche, Zara, H&M or cool little boutiques in the Marais. The right purse, scarf, shoes all add up to one great “feel good” look just for you.

Some links that will serve you well:

http://dresslikeaparisian.com/what-to-wear-in-paris/

http://www.parisinsidersguide.com/what-to-wear-in-paris.html

http://travelfashiongirl.com/what-to-wear-in-paris-packing-list-and-capsule-wardrobe-ideas/

ParisWhatToWear

http://photoparismode.com/paris-fashion-show/index.php/paris-street-style/2015-printemps-ete-rtw

http://www.whowhatwear.com/staple-pieces-that-were-once-trends/slide23

Confusing?  Understandable. Just start with the basics, go light, come back chic/cool.

WhatToWearParis4

WhatToWearNoWorries

Paris apartments: a few good picks

20 Saturday Aug 2016

Posted by in Paris budget accommodations, Paris tips

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Tourists are in luck this year. There are a glut of vacation rentals at attractive prices. We all know the probable reasons.

I recently trolled the scene at HomeAway/V.R.B.O. and other reputable agency sites and have come up with the following recommendations. Note: I don’t accept kickbacks, the listings are strictly my own.

A few tips: 1. Always check out the square footage. 2. Read the reviews. 3. Know if there is an elevator, if not how many steps to the apartment. 4. Street or neighbor noise?  5. Internet a must.  6. Proximity to metro/public transportation/city center. 7. Go to “street view” in Google Maps (see if there is construction going on). 8. Kitchen…stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave?). 9. Bathroom….nice shower?  10. Where’s the bed? Is this really a studio? Foldout?  11. Fall: When does the heat get turned on? 12. Don’t be afraid to ask the landlord questions. 13. All inclusive price?  Refundable deposit…when. 14. Who will be there to give you the keys (fee if your plane is late?)  15. How do they accept payment.  Make it easy. Normally you don’t have to sign contracts, give them your passport number. Book using Visa or PayPal most secure. Bank transfers costly.

apartmentsParis

The apartments:

Three from Welcome2France.com, an agency easy to work with offering a nice range of properties:

Champs Elysées – Faubourg Saint Honoré III
http://www.welcome2france.com/?apartments=633&situation=Paris

apartmentwelcome2france

Passy – Trocadero I
http://www.welcome2france.com/?apartments=673&situation=Paris

Saint Germain des Pres – Prince
http://www.welcome2france.com/?apartments=584&situation=Paris

Some others I randomly chose that are well priced on HomeAway/V.R.B.O.

Rue De La Roquette  https://www.vrbo.com/285742    Average $97/night

Rue Danielle Casanova – PARIS 1  https://www.vrbo.com/1462482a   Average $126/night, sleeps 4

Apart Galerie Vivienne  https://www.vrbo.com/960784a  Average $129

In upcoming blogs I’ll be showcasing more vacation rentals that I consider bargains.  Here’s hoping you find the perfect “home away from home.” Once you unpack your bags and are settled, start walking…….

NoWorriesParisCover

The No Worries Paris guidebook

 

Paris: make your night magical

10 Sunday Apr 2016

Posted by in Paris guide, Paris sidetrips, Paris tips, Paris Wanderings

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A quick fix to tired feet or general walking malaise can be had for a pittance. Bateaux Mouche prowl the Seine in style and if you don’t mind feeling like you’re on a cattle car smooshed together with a lot of other international tourists, get over it and buy a ticket.

Seine_NoWorriesParis

A ‘bateau mouche’ is a term used generically for such tourist boats on the Seine and does translate literally as “fly boats” (“fly” meaning the insect); however, the name comes from the fact that they were originally manufactured in boatyards situated in the Mouche area of Lyon.

Seine_tours_NoWorriesParis

Time your cruise:  Daytime cruises take about 1-1/2 hours.

High season (April to September)
10•15am – 11•00am – 11•30am – 12•15pm
1•00pm – 1•45pm – 2•30pm – 3•00pm
3•30pm – 4•00pm – 4•30pm – 5•00pm
5•30pm – 6•00pm – 6•30pm – 7•00pm

Low season (from October to March)
11•00am* – 12•00 – 1•00pm – 1•45pm
2•30pm* – 3•15pm – 4•00pm – 4•45pm – 5•30pm*
6•15pm – 7•00pm – 7•45pm – 8•30pm* – 9•20pm
Extra departures on weekends from 10:15am
A minimum of 50 passengers is required for the boat to leave the quay

Fares: It’s  best to go directly to their site. Lunch and dinner cruise prices can change. Click here: http://www.bateaux-mouches.fr/en/tarifs.php  The company has nine general cruise boats and 6 restaurant boats.

Board here: Pont de l’Alma
75008 Paris
Metro: Alma – Marceau

boats_night

“Nighttime is probably the right time to be with the one you love” when you’re in Paris. The boats blast the banks with light and all the monuments look pretty sensational. Seasick prone? Not a problem, the super wide hulls are totally stable. Best seat, front row…but of course. Shimmery and golden as they glide the river, this boat ride is a nice time-out. Of course there are other boats that basically cruise the same route, but this one has been on the job since 1949. Experience counts.

Once you’re rested, refreshed and ready to hit the town, get back on track with No Worries Paris, best walking guide for the city of light.

Paris: short course cooking classes

08 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by in French food and wine, Paris tips, Paris travel

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If you’ve been to Paris countless times and want to mix it up and come home with some authentic French cooking skills, give this list a good look.

At the top of the list is the Valentine Day workshop at Le Cordon Bleu, February 13.

Chocolate and raspberry heart-shaped entremets (a light dish served between two courses of a formal meal)
Rose macaroons
Participants will enjoy a glass of Champagne after the class. 190€ per participant.
Translated into English.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
Price: € 190.00
Address: 8 Leon Delhomme street
Duration: 6 Hours

One of the best culinary schools in the world. Le Cordon Bleu proposes a range of short term culinary discoveries for those with a passion for the art of cooking. A complete description of their short courses can be found on their website.

Francoise Meunier is located in the 2nd arrondissement. The Paris cooking school was opened in 1997 by Francoise Meunier, a pioneer of public cooking classes. During the three-hour class students prepare a three-course meal and then sit down to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Classes are in French, but Françoise speaks English.  Address: 7, Paul-Lelong Street.

chefForADay

A typical French cooking class

Promenades Gourmandes with Paule Caillat offers walking tours of culinary Paris and cooking classes. Classes are taught in Paule Caillat’s contemporary home kitchen, located in an easily accessible historic Marais building. With no more than eight students per class, you will relish an experience that is personalized, friendly and fun. Classes start at 9:00 am with an open-air market tour, followed by a hands-on cooking class and a four-course lunch, finishing around 3 :00 pm.Each class includes a cheese tasting, along with discussion and explanation of the subtleties that make France’s fromage so unique.   Address: 187 Du Temple Street.

International Kitchen gives one day cooking class. And “Cooking Vacations” for 1 to 8 nights. The full day in Paris is a gastronomic experience. Visit a Parisian market with the chef. Learn to cook a full menu. Prices range from $100 to $395 per person, and the cooking courses can usually be confirmed for as few as two people. The lesson takes place in Chef Frédéric’s beautiful apartment kitchen, which is located on the border of the 20th and 11th arrondissements. The class begins in a nearby local market, where you’ll choose your ingredients for your class. Back in the kitchen, Frederic shares some wonderful tips as you create a full menu, including appetizer, main dish and dessert. He will also teach techniques for recreating these wonderful dishes — such as stuffed lamb shoulder and fruit with honey and thyme — at home. After class, enjoy a tasting of everything you’ve created.

L’Atelier des Chefs is one of the best Paris cooking schools. You can select your level of cooking. Also offers 3 hours courses, 4 hours courses. There are five locations in Paris. Check their website for their schedule (in French). Priced right.

cooking_demo_Paris

Atelier des Sens offers 2, 3 hours courses specially designed for the gourmet. Under the guidance of professional chefs, learn basic cooking techniques and actions to master traditional recipes, be it refined or inventive. Fresh market cuisine, local product cuisine, fusion cuisine, gastronomic cuisine, quick meals, introduction to molecular cuisine and a focus on cooking techniques are classes offered. Address: 40 rue Sedaine Paris 11th arrondissement.

Academie Cinq Sens offers midday cooking where you can learn one recipe.  The also offer children’s courses.  65-85 euros. Address: Village royal 25 rue Royale, 8th arrondissement.

Guest Cooking is specially for tourists who want to learn French home cooking. Workshops for kids. Address:  6 Rue Ernest et Henri Rousselle, 75013 Paris

École de Cuisine Alain Ducasse. Learn to cook an entire gastronomical menu. Vegetarian classes, vitamin cocktails, fileting to cooking fish, kids’ course, 3 star cooking of the Riviera. 64, rue du Ranelagh – 75016 Paris

 

 

Park it in the Marais at Square Georges Cain

06 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by in Paris tips, Paris travel, Paris Walks, Paris Wandering

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Out of Paris’s 400 parks, the tucked-away Square Georges Cain, an oasis of greenery,  gets my vote for poetic escapes. Maybe it’s the circular design, the gardeners’ decision to fill the center surrounding the statue of Aurore with a sea of orange long-stemmed roses in the spring, or to color coordinate all the other flowers with a pastel palette to complement the archeological relics around the perimeter. The sign at the park’s entrance reads “colors too bright would monopolize the view of the passer by.” Walk in, sit down and I guarantee you’ll feel soothed. There always seems to be an empty bench, just how the neighborhood regulars  like it.

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square_Georges_Cain

Who was Georges?  Answer: a painter and writer who was a long time curator (1897-1914) at the Carnavalet Museum.

Pieces from the history of Paris dispersed in the square include the remains of the previous Town Hall, Merovingian sarcophagi, and the pediment of the central pavilion of the Tuileries Palace still blackened from the fire that destroyed it.

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If you intend to visit Musee Picasso or Musee Carnavalet, this is a place to head for afterwards . Your feet will thank you and you’ll have a chance to read your No Worries Paris guide for where-to-next inspiration.

Stay long enough and you might have a chance to hear ” Le Rossignol Electrique’ by Eric Samakh (1990), a small electronic bird that starts singing whenever the wind blows (iffy in the summer).

7 rue Payenne
75003 Paris
District : Le Marais