 |
| L'Alcazar
62, rue Mazarine
75006 Paris.Metro Odeon
Open daily, noon-3:30pm, 7pm-1am
Tel: 01.53.10.19.99 |
Absinthe is the
name of a popular Paris bistro where, though they don't
serve Absinthe, they do serve excellent food in a friendly
setting. Located on a quiet but very chic square, in
warm weather you can dine on the terrace. The bistro
is part of super-chef Michel Rostang's restaurant empire
so, quality is kept high while prices run at about 40
euros per person with wine. |
| Les
Philosophes
28, rue Vieille-du-Temple
75004 Paris
Metro Hotel de Ville
Open until 2am
Tel: 01.48.87.54.91
|
It's new again.
Super chef Alain Ducasse has settled into his new home
at the Plaza Athenee hotel, in a contemporary space
designed by the young Patrick Jouin. Meals to remember
(with many new dishes) from the only French chef to
have received two three-star Michelin ratings in the
same year. Prices to remember too. Count 140 euros and
up. |
| Cafe
Charbon
109, rue Oberkampf
75011 Paris, Metro Parmentier
Open daily, 9am-2am.
Tel: 01.43.57.55.13
|
An Argentine restaurant
set in an old butcher shop, is sure to have atmosphere,
but here they also have good food, Spanish wines and
friendly service. Very popular with journalist and fashion
people. About 40 euros. |
| Cafe
de l'Industrie
16, rue Saint-Sabin
Metro Bastille
Tel: 01.47.00.13.53
Open 10am-2am. Closed Saturdays. |
Sashay over to
the sushi bar or past the boutique to the dining room
at this new eatery owned by Laurent Taieb (owner of
Lo Sushi) and designer Philippe Starck. After over ten
years of directing his talents elsewhere, Starck has
again turned his eye to Paris and created a seductively
homey space filled with theatrical touches. The cuisine
is anachronistic for Paris: continental fusion with
Eastern accents and a Zen devotion to well-being. However,
if you crave steak-frites, you can find it listed on
the menu under "I Am Bad." |
| Le
Fabrique
53, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine
75011. Metro Bastille
Open daily until 2am
Tel: 01.43.07.67.07
|
A few years ago
Guy Savoy, a chef who has a two-star restaurant named
after himself, decided to extend his domain by creating
gastronomic bistrots that would serve simply cooked,
excellent food, at affordable prices in a friendly atmosphere.
This is one of these bistrots. Les Bookinistes is facing
a row of bouquins, or book stalls, on the Left Bank.
Inside, there is a sense of fun and ease that is reinforced
when you receive one of the warmest welcomes in Paris.
The set lunch menu of three courses is 25 euros, a seriously
good price for the quality of the food on offer in a
restaurant that prizes simplicity, flavor and fun over
pomp and ceremony. |
| Cafe
Marly
93, rue de Rivoli
75001. Metro Louvre-Rivoli
Tel: 01.49.26.06.60
Open daily until 1am |
Expect to wait
at the bar before you're able to catch Omar's eye for
a table. Once seated, order a mechoui or other Arab
dishes and enjoy the friendly atmosphere. Open until
midnight. Closed Sunday lunch. No Credit Cards. 30 euros.
|
| Natacha
17bis, rue Campagne-Premiere
75014. Metro Raspail
Tel: 01.43.20.79.27
Open until 12:30am.Closed Sunday. |
The owners are
Arnaud Pitrois and his wife Christel. He creates his
magic in a five square meter kitchen, and she runs the
dining room. Arnaud is only 28 years old and has a very
impressive background that shows up in every dish. He
has worked with Guy Savoy and Christian Constant, who
have probably done more to add new ideas to classical
French cuisine than anyone else in this city. They have
trained an increasingly important group of young chefs
who are dedicated to their craft and who have opened
their own restaurants where one can eat superbly at
very reasonable prices. Le Clos Des Gourmets is one
of these. The menu changes slightly every week, and
daily additions are marked on a blackboard. |
| Le
Web Bar
32, rue de Picardie, 75003
Tel: 01.42.72.57.47 (bar) 01.42.72.66.55 (events).
Open 11:30am to 2am |
With a superb
view of the Arc de Triumphe, a fresh menu by young chef,
Didier Doucet, an elegant high-ceilinged interior and
all new management this restaurant is on the upswing.
Tony Gomez presides over both restaurant and downstairs
nightclub with the style and taste that has made him
the man to follow on the Paris night scene. Here he
has created an atmosphere where you eat well (and maybe
see some beautiful people) without entering the stuffy
world of four-star mannerisms. He is as happy that you
enjoy the scallops topped with thin truffle slices,
as the art work large format photos of jazz musicians
from Gomez's own collection. |
| back to top |
|
| Bouillon Racine
3, rue Racine
75006. Metro Odeon
Open Daily until midnight
Tel: 01.44.32.15.60 |
This recently
renovated historic monument has an art nouveau interior
and a Belgian menu with beer inspired dishes, from rising
chef Olivier Simon. The name bouillon was given to restaurants
that served a bowl of inexpensive bouillon or hot broth
any time to anybody. There aren't many left. |
| La Coupole
102, blvd du Montparnasse
75014 Paris
Tel: 01.43.20.14.20 |
When La Coupole
opened in 1927, it was the first "warehouse" restaurant
in Paris, serving traditional dishes. There is seating
space for 450, and columns topped by fabulous paintings
divide the restaurant into more intimate sections. In
1989 the restaurant was bought by the Flo group, and
the regular clientele held their breath. The landmark
was renovated, but the result was very good. They still
specialize in seafood platters, probably the best and
freshest served anywhere in Paris. Every Tuesday the
Coupole crowd starts to swing to a live Salsa band downstairs.
Come early, 8:30 for a pre-evening dance class, 7 euros.
Otherwise Dancing from 9:30pm to about 3am. 15 euros
including a drink. |
| Fouquet's
99, avenue des Champs-Elysees
Metro Georges V
Tel: 01.47.23.70.60
open daily until 1am |
The most elegant
cafe and restaurant on the Champs-Elysees has just undergone
a complete renovation to bring it back to its past glory.
The upstairs restaurant menu has turned toward the gourmet
while downstairs, the traditional favorites remain like
steak tartare and smoked salmon. |
| La Maison
d'Alsace
39, avenue des Champs-Elysees.
75008 Metro George V
Open daily 24 hours
Tel: 01.53.93.97.00 |
Just the facade
takes you back to the old country. What better on a
cold night than a warm and filling choucroute, the traditional
sauerkraut dish with a selection of sausages and ham?
If this is not your idea of healthy, try the salmon.
|
| Au Pied de
Cochon
6, rue Coquilliere
75001. Metro Louvre
Open daily 24 hours a day
Tel: 01.40.13.77.00. |
Don't let the
name scare you, they do serve pigs feet and other French
comfort food, but the menu is very diverse and the interior
is turn-of-the-century elegant. In fact, this well-known
restaurant overlooking Les Halles, serves a very good
French onion soup. |
| Bofinger
5, rue de la Bastille
75004. Metro Bastille.
Open daily until 1am
Tel: 01.42.72.87.82 |
Sitting just off
the Place de la Bastille, this is a good spot for a
meal either before or after attending the new Paris
Opera. The historic setting with its beautiful glass
copula, is matched by good service and traditional French
fare including warm foie gras, sea food and pig's feet
with frites. |
| Le Grand Cafe
Capucines
4, boulevard des Capucines,
75009 Paris
Open daily 24 hours
Tel: 01.43.12.19.00 |
Near the old Opera,
this time honored restaurant on Paris' grands boulevards
has just been restored. A sumptuous Belle-Epoque decor
attracts more French then tourists, probably because
it's a popular after the theater spot. Food is classic
if not exceptional. About 43 euros with wine. |
| Brasserie
Balzar
49, rue des Ecoles
75006. Metro Cardinal Lemoine
Open daily until 1am.
Tel: 01.43.54.13.67 |
This traditional
noisy brasserie with true French food, across from the
Sorbonne, is simply wonderful. So, when a large restaurant
company bought the Brasserie regulars threatened to
strike if anything was changed. So far, so good. |
| back to top |
