A friend in Paris

A good friend of mine, Sev is a local to Paris. She now lives in London, however, throughout the years has formulated a bit of a “Paris Guide” for her friends. There are no better tips than from a local’s perspective, so below are some of her personal suggestions in her own words:

Enjoy these as I know from experience, sometimes its just nice to have something booked in advance.

Restaurants:

2^nd arr.

Aux Crus de Bourgogne is definitely one of my favourites! Hidden away in a small side street, nicest staff I have EVER seen (don't know how their English is) and gorgeous food. Careful though, they’re not open on the weekend, so better to go there on the Friday night

Address: 3 Rue Bachaumont 75002 Paris
Website: http://www.auxcrusdebourgogne.com/
Tel: +33142334824
Metro: Sentier (M3)

Great place just around the corner from the above is Le Tire Bouchon. Small restaurant in a tiny street, people go there because they know the place and there’s always duck on the menu!

Address: 22, Rue Tiquetonne, 75002 Paris
Website: http://www.le-tirbouchon.com/
Tél: +33142219551
Metro: Étienne Marcel (M4)

4^th Arr.

If you’re in the Marais, Le Dome du Marais is a great place but you’ll definitely need to book in advance! Awesome venue located in an old chapel. The food is unbelievable, it’s something like a 4 or 5 course meal. You’ll need to be rolled out of there but that’s what French food is all about!

Address: 53 bis, Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, 75004 Paris
Website: http://www.ledomedumarais.fr/
Tél: +33826100409
Metro: Rambuteau (M11)

For an awesome steak tartate, try Ma Bourgogne (it’s the house specialty)

Address: 19 place des Vosges, 75004 Paris
Website: http://www.ma-bourgogne.fr/
Tél: +33142784464
Metro: Saint Paul (M1)

Caviar Girl Review : to come soon

 8^th Arr.

L'appart, just off the Champs Elysees has quite a cool setting with sofas and all

Address: 9-11, rue du Colisée , 75008 Paris
Website: http://www.l-appart.com/ 
tél: +33153754200
Metro: Champs Elysées

Chez Clement, on the Champs Elysees, a restaurant chain but that does nice upmarket French Foods

Address: 123 avenue des Champs-Elysées 75008 Paris
Website: http://www.chezclement.com
tél: +33140738700
Metro: Champs Elysées

l'Atelier, also on the Champs Elysees, inside the Renault showroom, upstairs, does a mean steak tartare

Address: 53 Champs-Elysées, Paris 75008 Paris
Website: http://www.atelier-Renault.com
tél: +33811882811
Metro: Champs Elysées

9^th Arr.

If you are into steak tartare, you can also try Le Manoir, a brasserie just off the Boulevard Haussmann in the Opera District it's a small place with a purple front.

Address: 34, Boulevard Haussmann, Paris 75009 Paris
tél: +33147709010
Metro: Opera  

Also in that area, just off the Boulevard des Capucines, is le Grand Cafe which has possibly the best seafood platters in Paris, and is open 24 hours

Address: 4, boulevard des Capucines - 75009 Paris 
Website: http://www.legrandcafe.com/
tél: +33143121900
Metro: Opera  

  

Cafes:

Cafe du Marly (Right in the Louvre) is a must. When you're facing the Louvre Pyramide, with the gardens behind you, go to the wing on the left hand side. If you can sit outside, it's great to watch the people go by, but the inside is really cool as well. Does the best hot chocolate ever!

Address: Palais du Louvre, 93 rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris 
Website: http://www.maisonthierrycostes.com/cafe-marly/accueil 
tél: +33149260660

Caviar Girl review: Here 

Other nice one is Les Editeurs near the tube Station Odeon (I used to spend hours there).

Another one is on the Ile Saint Louis, one of the islands on the Seine. Go to Notre Dame, go behind the cathedral and after the small park, you'll see a bridge on the left that goes to the other island.

Right at the foot of the bridge, in front of you, there are 2 cafes. The one to the right is better, but a little expensive. but they do serve ice cream from the oldest ice cream maker (Berthillon) in the world which also happens to be the best.

Food shopping:

Rue Montorgueil is really lovely and has loads of little food shops/ markets. So if you want to buy cheese, that’s the place to go (Metro: Étienne Marcel (M4))

If you like macarons, you’ll need to go to Pierre Herme, 4 rue Cambon (Metro: Concorde M1,M8,M12). So, so worth it!

And if you want to try ice cream from the oldest ice cream maker in the world (Berthilion), you should go to the actual shop 29 rue saint Louis en l'île, on the Ile Saint-Louis. Website: http://www.berthillon.fr/

And for a really good shop, as in the French version of Fortnum and Mason, you should try La Grande Epicerie 38 rue de Sèvres, 75007 (Metro: Sèvres - Babylone M10, M12)

Do you need a place for wine as well? Then try Lavinia, 3 boulevard de la Madeleine, 75001 Paris, great wine store! And there’s another really good gourmet store just around the corner from there called Fauchon: 20, place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris