2 July 2024

PARIS RESTAURANTS

Here are a few recommendations from a recent three days in Paris experience. My most important advice is do not leave home without reservations as you will possibly be very disappointed. And my other advice is go out for a long relaxed lunch and then in the evening just pop into a wine bar near your hotel for a couple of glasses and a platter or two of lovely French food like the one above.

Top recommendation: SEPTIME

It's been a constant on the World's Best 50 and the five course set menu at lunch for 85 Euros is probably one of the bargains of the planet. Don't despair if you're on the waiting list as you will probably get in a day or two before like we did. Simple delicious food with friendly professional service. Loved the way they didn't even blink at a couple of allergies we came up with, and how kind everyone was.

Fantastic bistro with interesting wine: JUVENILES

I dream of dining wee bistros like this - wine piled up in boxes everywhere and cramped tables and real, real bistro cooking. I adored the rice pudding drizzled with lashings of creamy caramel sauce. Tucked into side street near the beautiful Jardins du Palais Royale

Dinner on the Left Bank: SEMILLA

It's hard to go past this fab restaurant which is part of the small empire that Kiwi Drew Harre reigns over on rue de Seine. The cooking is fresh and lively, the room fills up with lovely people and the staff are really knowledgeable about wine and the clever seasonal food. Worlds away from the ubiquitous plates of duck confit, frites and tired salad that every restaurant around this part of Paris seems to dish up.

Wine Bars:

LE GARDE ROBE

Near the Louvre and La Samaritaine, this is a perfect wine bar with fab food. (See above) natural wines by the glass but they could even find one I loved! The mushroom salad with fresh grated cheese and good olive oil remains fast in my memory.

CHEZ NOUS

A noisy little bar with lovely wine and great French cheeses a mere stone's throw from the Seine on the Left Bank, opposite the almost restored Notre Dame.

FREDDY'S

Perhaps the wine bar you will love the most. A lively place that's part of Drew Harre's empire in rue de Seine where fun, great wines and excellent bar food is served.

Hotel:

HOTEL PLACE du LOUVRE If you don't want to spend a fortune on Paris hotels this is a cosy place adjacent to the Louvre, and even better really, really close to the brilliantly restored Samaritaine and some other terrific stores. Don't blame me if you spend a fortune in Uniqlo or the very sophisticated (!!) Zara store. Yes, true!