Paris
Updated 10/2/23
Hi! I’ve found more activities and information for your free time. If you’re interested, you can book driectly, or you can let the group know you’re interested and perhaps others may be interested in joining you. The pink text is connected to a hyperlink taking you to the site.
There are 2, 4 and 6 day passes. It will start when you visit the first museum. Here’s a list of the over 50 museums on the pass . A two day pass might be perfect for Thursday and Friday if you’re interested in seeing multiple museums. There are several sights outside of Paris which would make a fun day trip on Friday.
Museums “Off the beaten Path” (other than the Louvre and Musee D’Orsay) An article written by HipParis.
Tea and Chocolat Chaud (Hot Chocolat) Salons
Mariage Frere - Lovely tea salon with desserts and teas. A huge selection of bulk teas
Angelina - Famous for Hot Chocolat
Laduree - Famous for pastries, coffee/tea. There is a location not too far from the hotel Madeleine.
Le Meurice - A beautiful five star hotel serving breakfast and brunch. They offer a chocolate brunch periodically that is delicious and very fancy!
The Catacombs - “A veritable labyrinth in the heart of underground Paris, the Catacombs were installed in the tunnels of former quarries. The Catacombs contain skulls and bones moved to this location and carefully arranged”.
Le Moulin Rouge - “Lights, music, on stage!
In the effervescent spirit of a real Parisian party.
The stage is already set for the big night: champagne bubbles, shimmering feathers and… most of all, you.
At 9.00 or 11:00pm, below the wings of the Moulin Rouge, our celebrated Féerie show will enchant you.”
Wine & Cheese Tasting : Available Thursday at 12:00 pm Cost: 50 euro
This new offer is an excellent opportunity for people who want to have a light introduction to French wines and discover how their pair perfectly with French cheeses.
You will get the all the basic information your need to know about wine in France. This includes proper terminology, proper wine tasting etiquette, and most importantly, proper appreciation. This tasting will include 4 different wines:
1 white from Loire Valley
1 white from Burgundy
1 red from Burgundy or Beaujolais
1 red from Languedoc or Rhône Valley
You will also have generous portions of 4 cheeses selected by the famous cheese maker Beillevaire to pair perfectly with those wines.
Day Trip to Normandy - Here’s a link to one of the companies. It appears to be a doable day trip from Paris. I would suggest skipping the market and going on Thursday rather than Friday so you don’t miss the Farewell Dinner. Burkhalter will also help with tour companies for Normandy Day trips.
Day Trip to the Champagne Region - This could be done Thursday or Friday via TGV. Champagne house tours can be booked in advance.
Day Trip to Versailles - Can be done via Metro/RER and walk/taxi to the Palace
Eternal Notre Dame - a virtual experience of Notre Dame. It looks to be 21 euros per person. Tickets required. This takes place at La Defense. - This may have closed.
Ritz Escoffier Cooking Class - I believe the school is closed for renovation.
Web Sites and Blogs + Podcasts
The Earful Tower - great guide podcasts and summary of each arrondisement
Join Us in France - Fun reference and podcasts all about France and Paris
https://joinusinfrance.com/category/about/addicted-to-france-tours/
Addicted to France - This is the same group, but a members only site with additional information
https://www.dreameratheart.org/restaurants-by-canal-saint-martin-eat-well-in-paris/
https://www.sortiraparis.com/
David Lebovitz - Pastry Chef + author
Molly Wilkinson - Pastry Chef + author
Hip Paris - web site
Le patisserie delange - Instragram
Le Bonbon Francais - Instagram
Parisian Postcards (Lina is Oliver’s wife - Earful Tower) - Instagram
Restaurants (* means I’ve been there and recommend, others I’m very curious about)
Chez Paul * traditional French, great steak au poivire, profiteroles
Le Petit Vendome * perfect lunch
Chartier * very historic, traditional French
Benoir (for lunch) * Michelin Star, lovely and fancy. Fun for lunch
Brasserie Lipp * Traditional Alsatian
Ora (Vegetarian)
Blue Elephant (Thai) * Very pretty and delicious
L’ilot Vache * On Ile St. Louis, one of my favorites. Have the Soupe de Poisson for an appetizer.
La Basilicata * A neighborhood pizza place in the 15th
Pizza Pompei * An Italian cozy restaurant around the corner from the Madeleine.
Vachon D’henri (or any of the restaurants of rue Guisarde) * Delicious! Traditional
Buvette * Hip, fun for lunch/brunch
Le Hangar * Traditional, order the chocolate soufflé and Beef Stroganofff
Cafe Acacia
Cafe Pigalle Paris
L’Ambre Paris
Cafe Carrousel Paris
Restaurant La Fontaine
Chanceaux Paris
Berthillon * Ice cream, very famous
Treize au Jardin
Le Colimacon Marais
Mariage Frere (tea salon) * A fun, relaxing cup of tea and a pastry
Parcelles - 13 rue Chapon 3 eme
Cafe de la Paix * Try the café, so pretty
Creperie du Port Manache https://creperieportmanech.fr/fr 52 rue du Montparnasse * or any on this street
Maisson de la Truffe - Place de la Madeleine * (the wine bar next door is good too)
Le Grand Cafe Fauchon *
Brasserie Rosie - 53 rue de faubourg St. Antoine Paris
Carette - place des Voges and Place du Tertre
Le Train Bleu * I think this is a must! In the train station, so beautiful!
Le Meurice - Fancy High Tea *
Le Jules Verne (Michelin dining on the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tour) * Need I say more?
Ritz - fancy cocktails * Another fun stop. Dress a little fancy and go for a glass of champange (it’s pricey)
Boulangeries/Patisseries
Boulangerie Duquesne
Boulangerie de Musée
Arnaud Delmontel *
KL Patisserie Paris
Lauren Duchene Paris *
Dalloyau Paris *
Chambelland Paris - Organic and gluten free 14 rue Ternaux (11 eme)
Poilane *
The French Bastards - 61 rue Oberkampf and 181 rue St. Denis
Mamiche (9 and 10th)
2022 winners of the best butter croissant in the Greater Paris:
1st: Jean-Michel Carton, "Carton" bakery, 75010 (6 Bd de Denain)
2nd: Grégory Paillette, Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne
3rd: Benjamin Turquier, "Tout autour du Pain", 75003
4th: Éric Petit, Vitry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne
5th: Éric Teboul, "Chez Meunier", 75017
6th: Frédéric Comyn, "Boulangerie au 140", 75020
7th: Stéphane Louvard, "Maison Louvard", 75009
8th: Cédric Arsac, "Lorette" bakery, 75015 *
9th: Jean-Charles Thévenin, "Maison Thevenin", 75006
10th: Alexandre Chauvin, Alexandre & Aatika bakery, Saint-Maur, Val-de-Marne
11th: Jérôme Bails, "Basil" bakery, 75016
12th: Frédéric Antunes, "Au fournil du château", Vincennes, Val-de-Marne
13th: Filipe Fernandes, "L’Artisan des Gourmands", 75015 *
14th: Joël Defives, "Baptiste" bakery, 75017
15th: Éric Thevenot, "Vibrations Gourmandes", Nogent-sur-Marne, Val-de-Marne
16th: Didier Lavry, "Le Petit Mitron", 75014
17th: Arnaud Lefevre, "L’Écureuil" bakery, Malakoff, Hauts-de-Seine
18th: Patrick Benichou, "Liberté" bakery, 75010
19th: Clément Buisson, "La Pompadour" bakery, 75016
20th: Dominique Jerry, "Milligramme” bakery, 75019
Best Sole Meuniere in Paris
Chez Georges
Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie. “The epitome of a classic French bistro in the middle of Paris. I don’t see it on the current menu
Chez Fernand
La Fontaine de Mars. The Dover Sole Meunière was extraordinary.
Restaurant du Paradis. “ Salmon were very tasty.
Golden Pat
Chez Marcel. “Fantastic service, food and energy at the place.
Reference: www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Sole+Meuniere&find_loc=Paris
Tours and Classes and Self Guided Sight Seeing
Le Bon Paris Tours
Paris By Mouth
Ritz Escoffier
La Cuisine Paris
Paris Walks - I highly recommend any tour from this group
Fat Tire Bike Tours (Paris and Versailles) Groups have loved these tours
Beautiful Streets to Explore in Paris
I would add:
Food Shops
Fromagerie Beau Fils 118 rue de Belleville
Le Grand Epicerie
Galeries Lafayette Food Emporium * - anything food!
Maille Mustard
G. Detou - Pastry ingredients, Canned gourmet items
Monoprix - Cookies, grocery items
Best Covered Passages in Paris
Galerie Vivienne Paris – 4 rue des Petit- Champs, Paris 2
Galerie Colbert Paris – 2 rue Vivienne, Paris 2
Passage du Grand Cerf Paris– 145 rue de Saint-Denis, Paris 2
Passage des Panoramas Paris –11 boulevard de Montmartre, Paris 9
Passage Jouffroy Paris – 10 boulevard de Montmartre, Paris 9
Passage Brady Paris – 43 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Martin, Paris 10
Passage Choiseul Paris – 40 rue des Petits-Champs, Paris 2
Passage du Bourg-l’Abbé – 120, rue Saint-Denis, Paris 2
Passage des Deux Pavillons Paris – 6, rue de Beaujolais, Paris 1