Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Budget Tips:
To save piles of euros, go to a bakery for takeout, or stop at a café for
lunch. Cafés and brasseries are happy to serve a
plat du jour
(garnished plate of the day,
about €12-18) or a chef-like salad (about €10-13) day or night.
Restaurant Price Code
To help you choose among these listings, I've divided the restaurants into three cat-
egories, based on the price for a typical main course.
$$$ Higher Priced
—Most main courses €25 or more.
$$ Moderately Priced
—Most main courses between €15-25.
$ Lower Priced
—Most main courses €15 or less.
To save even more, consider picnics (tasty take-out dishes are available at charcuteries).
ThePalaisRoyal(acrossplaceduPalaisRoyalfromtheLouvre)andplacedesVosgesinthe
Marais make exquisite spots for peaceful, royal picnics. For great river views, try the little
triangular Henry IV park on the west tip of Ile de la Cité, the bench-equipped pedestrian
pont des Arts bridge (across from the Louvre), or the grass parkway running along the Seine
between Les Invalides and pont de l'Alma (near rue Cler). Parks, such as the Tuileries and
Luxembourg Garden, make for ideal picnics—as do the gardens behind Les Invalides and
the Champ de Mars park below the Eiffel Tower (eat at the sides ofthe park; the central area
is off-limits). Be aware that parks, including the grassy area on place des Vosges, close at
dusk.Foranurbansettingandterrificpeople-watching,trythePompidouCenter(bythe
Ho-
mage to Stravinsky
fountains) or the courtyard around the pyramid of the Louvre. Hoteliers
frown on in-room picnics.
The Rue Cler neighborhood caters to its residents. Its eateries, while not destination places,
have an intimate charm. I've provided a full range of choices—from cozy ma-and-pa diners
tosmall andtrendyboutiquerestaurants toclassic, big,boisterousbistros.Forallrestaurants
listed in this area, use the Ecole Militaire Métro stop (unless another station is listed).
On Rue Cler
