Alexth82...your opinion please

Hello Alexth, You seem to be right on with your restaurant recommendations and I am looking to branch out from my regular favorites. What are your favorite little neighborhood places? Where do you go for great ethnic cooking?

Looking forward to trying something new. Thanks!

|||

well, something that is funny, is that when i am with a friend, and we wonder where to go dinner, we never have any idea lol! even if we went to hundreds of restaurants. well, restaurants i went and i liked, are of course le 1728 for a really romantic dinner, very personnal.

when i dont have any special idea, we go to la grande armee or any costes restaurants (avenue, murat etc), they serve late, it%26#39;s ok and not too slow. georges also is nice, on the top of baubourg, a bit fashion with modern decor, but if you have a table near the view it%26#39;s great. king is also fashion, and nice decoration (but if you can the 2nd floor is better, better view, it%26#39;s near la samaritaine). in the first, near colette there is a place, place du marche st honore and there are some restaurants there, i had dinner in 2, barlotti which is an italian chic restaurant, and another one outside but dont remember the name.

one day i went to an african restaurant, very very small, something like 3 tables, but it was fun i think it was la jungle in the 2nd, i%26#39;m sure it was in the 2nd so i suppose it was this one, it was very colored.

in the marais, i like place ste catherine, there are some restaurants there, the food is not wonderful, but in the summer when the weather is nice, there are people doing things in the streets, %26#39;spectacles%26#39;, and it%26#39;s very nice. this is a little place near bastille. in the marais we went also one time to caves st gille, nice ambiance spanish food. and many nice restaurants also in le marais, i like sometimes just walking and to stop in a little restaurant.

i like walking around 5th or 6th district, there are many little restaurants there, near rue de buci, rue st andre des arts, between st germain and odeon. there are some little restaurants also rue des cannettes or just near, and a creperie les etoiles, with lots and lots of choice, rue princesse.

in the 7th, when we dont know where we want to go, we often go to 7eme sud it%26#39;s a nice little restaurant, i like the food, it%26#39;s simple but ok.

i went in many restaurants in the 8th, because i lived next (in the 16th) and there are many restaurants, i used to go out a lot also and that%26#39;s where all the nighclubs are. i like buddha bar, it%26#39;s a mix of asian french food, fashion restaurants to have a drink also. for japanese food i went 3 times to lo sushi, rue de berri, nice food. in front of it there is a great chinese restaurant, with fishes on the floor, very exotic decoration lol and big restaurant. l%26#39;appart is a restaurant that looks like an appartment, the food is ok but we waited very long to seat. market is another fashion restaurant, with nice world food, like nirvana that serves indian food, a bit expensive but nice decor very kitsch. i went 2 times to asian in the 8th also, asian food big restaurant it was good. i used to go often to have a drink at tanjia, a marocan fashion restaurant-night club, dont know if it still works, but downstair the decor was nice, i liked it a lot.

i like spoon also it%26#39;s good, world food but a bit expensive. i like la maison blanche also, it is expensive but the food is greeeat and the view also. for libanese pastries i go to al diwan or noura, in the 8th, they do restaurant also. a great chinese restaurant is diep, it%26#39;s not cheap but the food is nice. la cantine du faubourg is a fashion restaurant, the decor is modern, the food nice. when i go out i eat at doobies because we stay there after, they have a great brunch on sunday.

one day i was in a russian restaurant, near bastille, i think it was kazaki, we ended singing with the owner of the restaurant, everyone was drunk it was very funny. i was also one time to la favela chic, it%26#39;s a bresilian restaurant, nice ambiance but you have to know that you will seat at the same table than people you dont know, on a bank, and the menu was not huge but nice place.

if you like chinese food you can go to 13th, it%26#39;s not beautiful but you will have hundreds of restaurants, some japanese but mostly chinese restaurants, in a funny ambiance beecause some are like %26#39;cantines%26#39;, and you eat between only chinese people, it%26#39;s noisy, but it%26#39;s fun and not expensive. but they also have more chic restaurants.

i went one time to la butte aux cailles, there are little streets with many restaurants or bars, it can be nice during the summer, lots of people were walking in the streets.

in the 16th, i liked le petit pergolese a nice little restaurants, great food but not cheap but ok. i would like to try chalet des iles because my friends told me it%26#39;s really great, it%26#39;s in bois de boulogne on an %26#39;island%26#39;. i used to live almost in front of la gare, which is an old metro station, now a big restaurant. i would like to try also cristal room baccarat, it seems so beautiful. i went also to casa tina, a really smal spanish restaurants, with tapas etc in the 16th also. i often go to coffee parisien, an american restaurant with great hamburgers, pancakes etc. often lots of people. to have a great pastry, when i am in the 16 i always fo to the cool. you MUST try the starlette lol, they only have the receip and no one can do it as they do it. it%26#39;s 0%, so good and non caloric.

in montmatre well like lots of people i like walking place du tertre, with all its little restaurant, or in the descending streets around. i prefer it in the summer, when you can eat outside.

i was one time in the 14th to palais de vandan, an indian restaurant, it%26#39;s not beautiful inside, but the food was nice and really not expensive.

i live near rue monge, i mean by car it%26#39;s not too far so sometimes we go rue mouffetard, there are many restaurants, near or rue mouffetard, creperies also, greek restaurants, some with %26#39;fondues and raclette%26#39;.

well i dont know if this helped you lol, but that%26#39;s some of the restaurants or places i go to have dinner, but i went to many others but probably dont remember them. so my favourite neighborhood places to have dinner in little restaurants are st germain-odeon, marais and near rue mouffetard, but i often go in the 8th in fashion restaurants also (some i wrote but many other one like barfly, man ray etc).

|||

kong not king for the restaurant near samaritaine.

|||

What is the address of that restaurant 1728? And do they have a website?

Merci

|||

www.galerie-1728.com/old_pages/flash.html

they are rue d%26#39;anjou in the 8th, near concorde and madeleine.

|||

Thank you Alex. Will be visiting Paris end of May. Looking forward to it. 16 more weeks to go.

|||

I went to 1728 website and they don%26#39;t have a menu and a price list, how much would I figure it would cost avec un bouteille de vin rouge pour diner.

Thank you

|||

it%26#39;s not cheap but it%26#39;s not too expensive, for two with one plate each one, wine, cheese, a dessert and 2 teas it cost us something like 100-120 euros. the food is good, the meals are not huge lol but if you take cheese dessert you will have your belly full.

|||

Thanks Alexth. I%26#39;ve been to Chalet aux Iles, it was fun but the food was just ok. Looking forward to trying La Jungle.

London to Paris

Any suggestions as to getting to Paris from London? I am studying in the UK and have friends coming to visit. We%26#39;d like to travel to Paris but we are on a limited budget and want to see as much as possible. We have been invited to visit friends in Germany and Poland also. I don%26#39;t have time to do much investigating...

|||

YOu have 2 options, either take the train (eurostar.com) or fly (Easyjet.com)

I%26#39;d bet that it%26#39;ll be much cheaper to fly but takes longer (checking in at least 1 hour in advance, 4 minutes to get to airport and getting train into London afterwards).

Train will maybe be up to twice as expensive ($100) but you lerave from central Paris and 3 hours later, step out in central London.

|||

Not much difference in the costs of flying or train, if you book in advance train can be as low as 60 quid return.

|||

%26quot;40 minutes to get to the airport%26quot; is what I meant.

So check out the sits that people here suggest with your dates (different dates can often throw up very different prices)

|||

If you are a student, there are cheaper rates for you on the train, so the Eurostar may not be that much more than the plane. I usually get my tix for 70 Euros r/t, and I%26#39;m not a student.

RyanAir

Easyjet

VirginExpress are all airlines that may have cheap flights for your trip.

|||

You would have to check with EUROSTAR to find out but several years ago,they used to offer some sort of %26#39;..student stand-by..%26#39; fare, which allowed students to purchase tickets but did not guarantee them a reserved seat on any particular train (all seats are reserved on Eurostar). If there was a seat available 30 minutes or so before the train left, the student could take it; if not they had to wait and take their chances on the next, Since trains left every hour,this was never a great hardship. But as I said this student stand-by fare was offered perhaps 10 years ago. Today???

In Need of Some Romantic Travelling Advice Please!

Hi All,

I am going to Paris for 4 nights over Valentine%26#39;s W/e and I am intending to propose to him whilst we are out on Valentines Night,

But where??

Can anyone give me some nice romantic areas, ideas, estaurants near my hotel?

After reading the reviews for every hotel on this site! It%26#39;s just so great to get to read about real experiences, instead of some glamourised %26#39;puff%26#39; peice in the brochure.

We have 4 nights here: Best Western Plaza Elysees, so anything not too far from the hotel would be great, but any advice would be really appreciated.

Many Thanks

SM

|||

Sorrry. No full moon for Valentine%26#39;s Day this year...but almost anywhere the mood strikes will work---it%26#39;s PARIS for pete%26#39;s sake !! How much MORE romantic do ya%26#39; need. But if you%26#39;re stuck, the Eiffel Tower is probably the most frequented spot. But the Pont des Arts works nicely....or during a stroll along the Left Bank quais, down beside the Seine, from Pont de Sully, under the bridges, past the illuminated south facade of Notre Dame to Pont des Arts, between the illuminated facades of Institute Francais and Louvre. This stretch of the Seine made even Woddy Allen look like a %26#39;..romantic leading man..%26#39;.

|||

As always, KDKSAIL has given some great ideas. Let me see if I can propose a couple more. Consider a proposal while on a sunset cruise on the River Seine. Perhaps wait until the boat travels down towards the Tour Eiffel.

During a stroll in the Jardin de Tuileries isn%26#39;t a bad idea. I really like the Left Bank idea. Perhaps if you are going to Versailles, a proposal in the gardens there? During an evening stroll in the quieter end of the Champs Elysees, away from the Arc de Triomphe isn%26#39;t a bad idea. If you are willing to shell out the money, a proposal at Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower is a possibility.

Under a bridge over the Seine, as KDKSAIL already suggested is also a great idea, but so is over the bridge looking down the Seine as well.

|||

I think the common thread that%26#39;s running through these ideas is the inherent romance of the SEINE--over, on, around...it makes little difference. The Eiffel Tower always stikes me as just a bit too prosaic and over-used. But for a bit more %26#39;gravitas%26#39;, though not usually associated with %26#39;..romance..%26#39;. Paris has some absolutely beautiful churches--Saint Etienne du Mont and many others--which add a certain degree of %26#39;solemnity%26#39; to the occasion of proposing marraige vows.

|||

The most romantic picninc that I%26#39;ve seen in Paris was on the Pont des Arts. Someone had thought to bring candles and about three dozen roses, which they had placed in between the slats of the bridge to make a little %26quot;fence.%26quot;

The paths along the Seine are romantic in the abstract, but I find the smell of urine to be overwhelming.

The western tip of the Ile de la Cite has a prime view of the city at sunset and you have the Seine rushing by at your feet.

The top of the Tour Montparnasse would have you prosposing with the world at your feet.

You could find out where Ren�� Miller%26#39;s Wedding Band will be playing (they are a street band and play at various landmarks) and ask while dancing to some great jazz.

|||

The Pont des Arts certainly gets more than it%26#39;s fair share of interesting events. Though I%26#39;ve never seen the roses along the rail, I have seen impromptu picnics on blankets (a loaf of bread, a jug of wine and thou) on the decking and even bridal shower with 15 or so young women celebrating, a long folding table, decorated cake, party hats, gifts, music, the works. But the most romantic %26#39;dinner%26#39; I%26#39;ve ever seen was a young-ish couple having dinner on the Pont with table-for-two set with crisp linens, silver, glassware, china, candles, flowers, champagne chilling in a bucket, dinner music coming from somewhere, (pretty much the way it might be set-up in a better restaurant), with uniformed waiters shuttling back and forth, serving the couple from a mini-van parked along the quai. Occcasionally I wonder what l%26#39;addition was for that dinner?..and then I think....who cares??

|||

Virtually anywhere in Paris will be romantic. I would keep in mind the personality of who you are proposing TO. Would they feel embarrassed or shy to have such an important personal moment be on display of so many people rushing by? etc etc. Keep their wishes foremost in the plan and you can%26#39;t go wrong.

disneyland paris.

i%26#39;m off to disneyland paris in february.there will be four of us.

please can i have advice re getting to disney from charles de gaulle airport.would it be cheaper to get a taxi than a bus or train and where does the train or bus drop off at disney.On our return our flight is at 1000 so we will have to be at the airport by 0830.what times to the trains etc start going to the airport. we are staying at the newport bay club hotel if anybody has any tips/advice i would be most grateful.my children%26#39;s ages are 5 and 6 if that helps. thanks

|||

IMHO it%26#39;ll always be more expensive to take a taxi than a train. You%26#39;re paying for the extra confort.

A shuttle will set you back about 100euro though for a family for 4. It%26#39;s your choice is you really want to pay that much.

The trains start at 5:30am or so but I%26#39;m pretty sure that you%26#39;ll have to pass through Paris to get to Disneyland which is a pity as CDG and disneyland are both in the east of the city.

I%26#39;m sure someone will be around later with better info :)

|||

You can get a Vea shuttle from CDG which runs seven days a week at regular intervals to DLP tel +33(0)149644708 - check on Disneyland Paris Website for details under How to Get There. We are going in March and staying at the Newport Bay also, so will be interested to see what you thought of it, if you can post something when you get back - enjoy.

|||

As has already been suggested, the VEA airport shuttle from CDG directly to your DP hotel (and others) will be your best, most direct and most economic way to make the transfer. The VEA shuttle (http://www.disneylandparis.com/uk/good_to_know/access_and_times/paris_airports.htm ) is 14 Euro per person. There really are no direct or convenient public/rail connections between CDG and MARNE-la-VALLEE (RER B-3 from CDG to CHATELET-Les HALLES (30 mins--8 Euro) then switch to RER A-4 to MARNE-la-VALLEE (40 mins--6,20 Euro) would probably be 100 or more Euro--approx twice the cost of the VEA shuttle--with very little more speed or convenience.

Small, quiet and romantic restaurant needed

Our %26quot;big blowout%26quot; dinner at La Tour d%26#39;Argent is going to happen the evening after our anniversary (it was booked solid the day of) so we are still in need of something special for the actual night. Looking for something lovely, but not super expensive, as we%26#39;ll be spending a fortune the next day. So many small places i Paris seem to be full of noise and bustle, and we want something serene, beautiful and quiet, and not too expensive. (Maybe about 100-150e for 2, or thereabouts.) Any ideas??

|||

L%26#39;Ambroisie - 9 pl. des Vosges - 01-42-78-51-45

This may not be within your budget, can%26#39;t recall.

Claude Colliot Le Bamboche 15 rue de Babylone 75007

01 45.49.14.40 M��tro: S��vres-Babylone

VERY small and quiet and should meet the budget.

La Fontaine Gaillon (la) - Place Gaillon - 75002

01 47 42 63 22 M��tro Op��ra (Depardieu owns this one and Carole Bouquet is responsible for the elegant decor)

|||

We had an amazing dinner at Le Coupe Chou. One of the most romantic and wonderful dinners I have ever had. The address is 9, rue de Lanneau in the 5th. Telephone is 01 46 33 68 69. Metro is Mabuert-Mutualite. Web site is www.lecoupechou.com.

Ask to be seated in one of the back rooms - built in the 14th century. Amazing place - amazing food.

Crowds and lines in February

Are the crowds much less in February? How about the lines at the Louvre? It%26#39;s winter and hear that Paris is not too crowded during this time of the year. Someone I know visited Paris in Nov 2002 (also winter time) and told me that there were no lines at all at the Louvre. What should I expect?

Thanks.

|||

No lines at the Lourve last Sunday at about 3pm.

Or course there%26#39;ll be less lines than usual (it%26#39;s Very cold out there today), but I wouldn%26#39;t expect to wait for more than a few minutes.

In saying that, if you intend to visit something that%26#39;s on for a limited amount of time and it%26#39;s heading towards it%26#39;s last days then things are different. Last week I waited 90 minutes to see the Turner, Whistler %26amp; Monet expo.

|||

We just got back yesterday and there were NO lines anywhere. Not at the Louvre or D%26#39;Orsay. Restaurants had less than a 5 minute wait. It was wonderful...cold but not freezing. Rained only at night (late). All the museums had coat checks - no charge - which we used as they were quite warm and comfortable inside. Have a great time. We are already planning a trip back.

|||

Oh.. what a relief! Thanks for the info.. I will be leaving for Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam next week for 2 weeks. I guess I shouldn%26#39;t worry about that anymore.

7th district laundromats?

We%26#39;ll be staying at the Hotel De Varenne I don%26#39;t want to pack much, does anyone know if this hotel has laundry services, or are their any laundromats around that area?

Thank you

|||

Yes, the hotel has laundry service. There is also a laundry and dry-cleaning service nearby (used by the hotel). Send them an email and they will confirm the address.

You%26#39;ll find that this is a very nice hotel to deal with.

|||

Thank you Robert looking forward to our trip !!!!!!!! This website is awesome to ask questions and get info.