Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lingerlongeroverdinner—restaurantsexpectyoutoenjoyafullmeal.Mostrestaur-
ants I've listed have set-price
menus
between €20 and €35. In most cases, the few extra
euros you pay are well-spent, and open up a variety of better choices. Remember that a
service chargeisincluded intheprices (solittle ornotippingisexpected, althoughit'spo-
lite to round up). Eat early with tourists or late with locals. Before choosing a seat outside,
remember that smokers love outdoor tables.
Good Picnic Spots
Paris is picnic-friendly. Almost any park will do. Many have benches or grassy
areas, though some lawns are off-limits—obey the signs. Parks generally close at
dusk, so plan your sunset picnics carefully. Hoteliers frown on in-room picnics.
Here are some especially scenic areas located near major sights:
Palais Royal:
Escapetoapeacefulcourtyardfullofrelaxinglocalsacrossfrom
the Louvre (Mo: Palais Royale). The nearby Louvre courtyard surrounding the pyr-
amid is less tranquil, but very handy.
Place des Vosges:
Relax in an exquisite grassy courtyard in the Marais, sur-
rounded by royal buildings (Mo: Bastille).
Square du Vert-Galant:
For great river views, try this little triangular park on
the west tip of Ile de la Cité. It's next to the statue of King Henry IV (Mo: Pont
Neuf).
Pont des Arts:
Munch from a perch on this pedestrian bridge over the Seine
(near the Louvre)—it's equipped with benches (Mo: Pont Neuf).
Along the Seine:
A grassy parkway runs along the left bank of the Seine
between Les Invalides and Pont de l'Alma (Mo: Invalides, near Rue Cler).
Tuileries Garden:
Have an Impressionist “Luncheon on the Grass” nestled
between the Orsay and Orangerie museums (Mo: Tuileries).
Luxembourg Garden:
TheclassicParispicnicspotisthisexpansiveLeftBank
park (Mo: Odéon).
Les Invalides:
Take a break from the Army Museum and Napoleon's Tomb in
the gardens behind the complex (Mo: Varenne).
Champ de Mars:
The long grassy strip below the Eiffel Tower has breathtak-
ing views of this Paris icon. However, you must eat along the sides of the park, as
the central lawn is off-limits (Mo: Ecole Militaire).
