What's a visit to Paris without seeing the view from the Eiffel Tower? For most people, the real reason for visiting Paris is to see the quintessentially French attractions for which the city is known. Besides the Eiffel Tower, you'll need to take a tour boat down the Seine at night and see lights from bridges older than the United States cast reflections in the water. And you'll need to hit the Musée d'Orsay, Cathédral de Notre-Dame, Arc de Triomphe, and Musée Picasso. But when you're ready to experience the real Paris, consider the following options.
The best restaurants
It's no question that one of the greatest things about visiting Paris is eating the delicious food! No matter where you decide to dine or what kind of food you choose, you can count on having some memorable meals. The following are exceptional restaurants.
- Chez Casimir: This restaurant near the Gare du Nord and far from the more touristy sides of Paris packs in loyal customers because Chef Philippe Tredgeu works magic in his kitchen, cooking with ingredients he finds at the market that morning or the night before. This is French comfort food at great prices!
- Le Cinq: You won't be disappointed in Le Cinq (if you can afford to eat here!). This three-Michelin-starred restaurant in the Four Seasons George V is truly extraordinary, from exquisite pull-out-all-the-stops food to its award winning sommelier and fantastic wine cellar. Dining here is a sumptuous experience!
- Chainterelle: You will feel as if you're visiting the Auvergne, the rugged, pastoral south-central region of France. Little fonts contain essential oils made from native plants; a sound system incorporates native birdsong, rain, and church bells; and the door even says "moo" when you walk in. A pretty, walled outdoor garden is a respite from Paris's bustle, and the peasant food is hearty and delicious.
The best shopping
A favorable euro-to-dollar rate has seen many new stores open and others expand, though sadly, department store Samaritaine is closed for the next few years while it brings up to code its antiquated fire system. Though the city has a well-deserved reputation as a bastion of over-the-top luxury (to understand why, head for the 8th arrondissement), discount, resale, and overstock stores also abound, as well as the wonderful Monoprix. Whenever you're in Paris, a visit to the following stores is a must.
- Monoprix, a reasonably priced department store with branches around the city, has stylish clothing and is also great for accessories, low-priced cosmetics, lingerie, and house wares. Many locations also have large grocery stores good for gift buying. The one at 52 av. du Champs-Elysées is chock-full of goodies and open until midnight.
- Le Bon Marché is elegant, but small enough to be manageable, and is the Left Bank's only department store. You can find the top designers here, as well as more affordable pieces, too, and the basement toy store has great gift selections. The third floor is particularly renowned for its large shoe selection and lingerie department (where dressing rooms have phones to summon your salesperson).
- Although it isn't cheap, Le Bon Marché's next-door grocery store, Le Grand Epicerie is one of the best luxury supermarkets in Paris and a great place to look for gourmet gifts such as olive oils, homemade chocolates, or wine. It makes for wonderful one-stop picnic shopping, too, offering a wide array of prepared foods and cheeses.
- Du Pareil au Même is the store to buy clothes for every child on your list — clothes are practical, très mignons (very cute), and very reasonably priced.
The best clubs
Each neighborhood makes a different contribution to Paris's vibrant nightlife scene. Listed here are some of the best places to dance the night away.
- Barrio Latino hasthree bars, private areas where you can see (but not be seen), a lounge complete with pool table, a second floor restaurant serving Latino food, a top-floor private club with a kitschy Che Guevara mural, and energetic Latin music that sets everyone to dancing. It's pure fun!
- Batofar, an Irish light ship docked right in the Seine, is one hot, sweaty, and ultimately fun time right on the Seine, with all types of music represented, from drum-and-bass to British pop.
- At Red Light — with multiple raised platforms above the floor for those who dare to dance — you can see the trendiest kids in town wearing the newest fashions available.
- Le Wax's décor is very Clockwork Orange, with plastic bubbles on the walls, yellow plastic couches, and lots of crimson and orange. The bathrooms are very psychedelic, too, especially after your second drink.
- Le Mix boasts spinning provided by music gurus Ministry of Sound and David Guetta (a holy name among Parisian clubbers). Come groove with the fashionistas.
- Le Pulp used to be one of Paris's hippest lesbian clubs, but everyone comes here now. Reminiscent of a 19th-century French music hall, this venue is très cool, with all types of cutting-edge music.
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