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Paris Tips, where to drink, eat and shop
Many good ones. Many bad ones too. Ask your favorite sommelier for recommendations at the end of the tasting!! or check out this page for the best paris restaurants.
Le Moulin Rouge, Le Lido, Le Paradis Latin... traditional, touristy, but always fun!
A good place to spend a sunny afternoon or nice evening in Paris. Sitting there chatting while sipping on a few drinks... la vie est belle! Cool cafés/bars can be found by Odéon (Métro: Odéon), Mabillon (Métro: Mabillon), Bastille (Métro: Bastille), or Champs Elysées (Métro: George V)
The park at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Bring a blanket and enjoy the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles every hour!! (Métro: École Militaire)
The pedestrian only bridge over the Seine leading to the Louvre. And don't worry about the music- there's always someone playing guitar or singing!! (Métro: Pont Neuf)
From the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame- its all beautiful!
Paris is probably shopping heaven! It depends on what you are looking for...
St Germain des Prés (Métro: Odéon, Sèvres-Babylone, Rue du Bac) Highlights: Le Bon Marché, Vanessa Bruno, Comptoir des Cotonniers...
Avenue Montaigne (Métro: Franklin Rossevelt or Alma-Marceau)
Highlights: Christian Dior, Chanel, Balmain, Céline, Christian Lacroix..
Place Vendôme, Rue de la Paix (Métro Tuileries)
Highlights: Cartier, Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels...
Paris Soccer Team (Paris Saint Germain, aka PSG) Shop on Les Champs Elysées (Métro: Franklin-Roosevelt), Le Vieux Campeur (Métro: Cluny - La Sorbonne)
Au Nain Bleu (Métro: Concorde)
La Grande Epicerie du Bon Marché (Métro: Sèvres Babylone), Dehillerin (Métro: Les Halles)
French restaurants include a 15% service compris in the price of their food. Yet, giving tips is appropriate (and appreciated) if you're happy with the service. (10% of the total check is usual in that case). If you're not, no tip is also perfectly acceptable. (Our sommeliers kindly remind you that our wine tastings are not service compris.)
No. Absolutely not. Our little tip would be to try and use a simple "bonjour" instead of a "hello" or a "merci" instead of a "thank you", or an "excusez-moi" instead of an "excuse me". You'll be amazed how much of a difference this little effort will make (even if most people will answer in English).
No worries!! Everyone and their mother in France speaks at least a bit of English (even if they don't admitt it). Especially the ones you're likely to interact with initially (hotel concierges...). But once again, knowing a few basic words in French will make your stay much more pleasant.
Many hotels offer internet connections. Otherwise, you can find internet cafés in touristy neighborhhods. They are usually quite cheap and not too busy in the day time. Wireless hotspots can be found through out the city, so just keep your eyes open!
Cafés, bars and restaurants are an option. Start a discussion and you'll be amazed: the French are nice!! They just get a bad wrap because French people are more private, you could even say shy, with people they don’t know. It's all a matter of breaking the ice!
Dinner in French restaurants usually starts at 7.30pm. If you're hungry before, you can indulge in a « gouter » or snack at 4 or 5... just go into a bakery and ask for a croissant or a "pain au chocolat" . If hunger catches you a bit later, make it an apéritif. Just take a seat at a café and enjoy a few drinks (it's usually happy hour) before dinner!
If you're going to a club at night, clubs start at midnight or so and are open until 7 in the morning in most cases.
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