A part tea room, part antique shop – a blast from the past – a French turn-of-the century schoolhouse cafe. Peeking through eyelet curtains, people amuse on the schoolhouse chairs and tables and menus on school paper—a unique atmosphere 100% non-smoking. Run by an adorable couple who put heart in their cooking, Mamie Gâteaux serves tea, coffee, and delicious homemade tarts among an array of unusual antiques and collectibles such as old cookie tins and recipe books all for sell. One can savor exotic teas as China cherry, peach on the vine, or smoked tea with vanilla and caramel or one of their robust French steaming coffees while delving into pastry cream puffs, pear hazelnut tarts, scones, and French toast with vanilla ice cream. The daily lunch specials are mouth-watering such as homemade vegetable cream soap, blue cheese tomato tart, tuna and green been tart with zest of lemon, mushroom and bacon quiche plus various salads. Sorbets and sundaes are served in the summer. Situated in a great shopping area for discounted designer clothes and the nearby Bon Marché department store.
Yam’tcha 4 rue Sauval Paris 75001 (rue Saint-Honoré) Metro: Louvre-Rivoli line 1 Area: Louvre 01-40-26-08-07
The hot-hot restaurant of Spring 2010 is a hybrid of French and Chinese influences. Chef Adeline Grattard's place is officially a hit: all the major French critics have stampeded and adored, following François "Le Figaro" Simon's first-night sampling. He was just awarded a Michelin star so go quick before prices sky-rocket. Their uniform approval means that booking ahead is already a must. Food is prix fixe and regularly changing, but expect some proper veg and Asian prep for French foie gras. The name Yam'tcha translates to "drink tea" and alludes to the available tea pairings. There's also (Yam'Merlot!) wine on offer. Count 30€ for lunch and between 45-65€ at dinner. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
39 V 17 rue Quentin Bauchart 75008 Paris Metro: George V Area: Champs Elysées Type: French gastronomic cuisine
Right in the heart of Paris’s ‘Triangle d’Or’ you will find this restaurant perched on the 6th and top floor of an elegant Haussmann-style building 8th district, 39 V is a truly peaceful haven managed by Frédéric Vardon. Alain Ducasse, corporate chef for the last 14 years, offers neo-classical French gastronomic cuisine high in the rooftops of Paris. 39 V is resolutely a modern restaurant adorned with chic and fashionable decorations offers a wide view of the open kitchen. Add to all of this a terrace that is bordered by a kitchen garden, which overhangs an interior courtyard and you have a ‘must’ for the end of 2010!
Cardel Limousine provides VIP airport transfer services with bilingual limousine chauffeurs unparalleled in terms of quality and attention, chosen for their professional values on safety, reliability, helpfulness and courtesy, with a car fleet designed to meet all forms of transportation needs. They provide luxury Mercedes 600 & 500-Class E/S/C, as well as Peugeot 607, Velsatis or Renault Espace & Mercedes Viano. All cars are fully equipped with leather upholstery, A/C & telephone lines. Newspapers and mineral water are always provided and all their vehicles are exceptionally well maintained, prepared to the highest standards of cleanliness.
The Driver will greet you outside of baggage claim with a signboard with your name on it. The transportation will be charged on your final bill.
Les Ombres 27 Quai Branly 75007 Paris Metro: Alma Marceau (line 9) Area: Eiffel tower/Champs Elysées
Les Ombres, by many aspects, is a magic and different place. Located in one of the most emblematic and innovative museums of the capital, this restaurant of a new generation really has more than one trick in store to conquer your gourmet heart.
Les Ombres is more than 300 sqm of modern design and original décor. Located on the roof level, the restaurant is enclosed in an asymmetric volume, with a beautiful panoramic view and a cover really reminding you of a tortoise shell. The décor is resolutely sober and elegantly so, with tables in noble materials, dark grey colors, deep tones, reds, browns, mocha, wine reds... A really refined mix by Jean Nouvel, but that is nothing in fact if you compare it to the view you get on the Eiffel Tower. Our steel lady looks like she is just springing from the landscape, she is a jewel by daylight and a glowing gem at night, when she sparkles in the Parisian night. As for the cuisine, it is a mix of traditional flavors associated with some touches of nouvelle cuisine, in the light of inspirations from elsewhere. A true door open to the world, according to the expression used by the museum director. The result is fabulous, delicate, light... A gourmet suggestion full of flavours and of colors, the colors of your journey to all four corners of the world. In beautiful settings, for a business lunch or for a different kind of tête à tête, enjoy the sober décor, the designer interior and the incredible, unique view overlooking the Eiffel tower.
By chance we were close to the Louvre last night. The air was warm, the moon almost full and the setting was – frankly – magical. Proof that there are many different ways to see Paris…
They say that Paris is an expenseive city (what? Compared to London? or New York?) but there are plenty of things to do that will cost you absolutely nothing. For example, we have some remarkably well-preserved architecture here, great for walks. During the daytime the city is beautiful, and at night too, albeit differently. Depending on the time of day, Paris changes. It likes having a multitude of cities and ambiences to explore. Leaving a restaurant last night we had a sudden urge to go for a walk by the Louvre. At 10.30pm people were still exiting the Tuileries Gardens and we had a superb view over them, onto the obelisk at the Place de la Concorde and beyond towards the Champs Elysées, all of it bathed in the amazing orange light of the setting sun.
The Louvre buildings looked different depending on the exposure of my camera, either illuminated by the moon or mysteriously dark…
The buildings courtyard is still just as impressive and the glass pyramid has aged well (whereas there was an outcry during its construction). In the evening, an unusual calm reigns over the place, with people picnicing in the adjoining gardens and subtle street lighting that gives the place a magical air. We continued our walk by crossing over the Seine. A boat illuminated in green slipped slowly by underneath us, and the long exposure of my camera turned into a weird fluorescent, aquatic snake-like creature…
…and more neon was waiting for us nearby. On the Pont Neuf, the statue of Henri IV has been a luminous addition by designer Jean-Charles Castelbajac, ordered by the French Ministry of Culture to commemorate 400 years since the monarch’s death. It’s a great success, deceptively simple, that really adds something to the statue. Henri even has a Star Wars-style lightsaber now! Another example – like the Louvre – of how a touch of modern can meld with the historic, without one getting in the way of the other.
Take one 18th-century grande dame, whisk in some Philippe Starck contemporary flourishes, wrap it in elegant excess and you have a recipe for sumptuous decadence that has attracted kings, presidents, A-listers and artists for a 100 years or so and excess is the word.
In its delicious spa, femmes fatales have long given in to seductive treatments that promise to hold back the years. Intensive facials from Swiss skincare specialist Valmont, combined with the latest high-tech wizardry, aim to leave you wrinkle-free and radiant. Indulge yourself. You are worth it. www.lemeurice.com
Annapurna 32 Rue de Berri, 75008 Paris 09 60 50 50 37 Metro : George V line 1 OR St. Phillipe de Roule line 9 Area: Champs-Elysees
Established in 1967 this is the oldest Indian restaurant in Paris. Upon entering you will discover the beautiful decorations and splendid mural fabric of this superb restaurant. Every evening, a sitar player, entertains their guests as they enjoy the hot tandooris, spicy curries and delicious biryanis (saffroned rice mixed with lamb or chicken).
Metro pass These metro passes are unlimited use for a consecutive day period. Prices are in euro. Ask your host for pre-purchase. Adult 1day : 9,30 2days : 15,20 3days : 20,70 5days :29,90
With the Paris Museum Pass you gain free entry with no waiting in line, to over 60 museums and monuments in and around Paris. Plus you can visit as many times as you wish. Ask your host for more details about pre-purchase. RATES: 2 Day Pass 35 Euros 4 Day Pass 50 Euros 6 Day Pass 65 Euros Note: These days are consecutive Most museums and monuments are free for under 18's.
Here are the details of all the museums included in the pass:
Chateau de Versailles- Versailles (20 minutes from Paris by suburb train, RER C)
Arc de Triomphe - 8th arrondissement - Musee de l'Armee - 7th arrondissement - Musee de l'Art Moderne de la ville de Paris - 16th arrondissement - Musee National d'Art Moderne - Centre Georges Pompidou - 4th arrondissement - Musee des Arts d'Afrique et Oceanie - 12th arrondissement - Musee des Arts Asiatiques - 16th arrondissement - Musee des Arts decoratifs - 1st arrondissement - Musee des Arts et Metiers - 3rd arrondissement - Musse national des Arts et Traditions populaires - 16th arrondissement - Musee de l'Assistance Publique - Hopitaux de Paris - 5th arrondissement - Maison de Balzac - 16th arrondissement - Musee Bourdelle - 15th arrondissement - Musee Carnavalet - 3rd arrondissement - Musee Cernuschi - 8th arrondissement - Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie - 19th arrondissement - Conciergerie - 1st arrondissement - Musee Cognacq-Jay - 3rd arrondissement - Musee Eugene Delacroix - 6th arrondissement - Musee des Egouts de Paris - 7th arrondissement - Musee d'Ennery - 16th arrondissement - Musee Hebert - 6th arrondissement - Musee Jean Jacques Henner - 17th arrondissement - Maison de Victor Hugo - 4th arrondissement - Musee de l'Institut du Monde Arabe - 5th arrondissement - Musee national de la Legion d'honneur et des ordres de la chevalerie - 7th arrondissement - Musee du Louvre - 1st arrondissement - Musee de la Marine - 16th arrondissement - Memorial du Marechal Leclerc de Hauteclocque et de la Liberation de Paris-Musee Jean Moulin - 14th arrondissement - Musee de la Mode et du Textile - 1st arrondissement - Musee de la Monnaie - 6th arrondissement - Musee des Monuments Français - 16th arrondissement - Musee Gustave Moreau - 9th arrondissement - Musee du Moyen Age, Thermes de Cluny - 5th arrondissement - Musee de la Musique-La Villette - 19th arrondissement - Musee Nissim de Camondo - 8th arrondissement - Tours et crypte archeologique de Notre Dame - 4th arrondissement - Musee de l'Orangerie des Tuileries - 1st arrondissement - Musee d'Orsay - 7th arrondissement - Pantheon - 5th arrondissement - Musee du Petit-Palais - 8th arrondissement - Musee Picasso - 3rd arrondissement - Musee des Plans-reliefs - 7th arrondissement - Musee de la Poste - 15th arrondissement - Musee Rodin - 7th arrondissement - Sainte Chapelle - 1st arrondissement - Musee de la Vie Romantique - 9th arrondissement - Musee Zadkine - 6th arrondissement -
