The 60 best places to eat, sleep and play in Paris this ... - TripAdvisor

THE
PARIS
60
Summer 2006
The 60 best places to eat, sleep and play
in Paris this summer
With more than 5 million reviews and opinions, TripAdvisor makes travel planning
a snap for the 20 million travelers visiting our site each month.

INTRODUCTION
TripAdvisor, the most trusted source for where to eat, sleep and play in thousands of destinations around the
world, has collected the best insider tips from its 20 million monthly visitors to produce a unique series of travel
guides to 25 top summer destinations. In addition to the best hotels, restaurants and attractions for every type of
traveler, you’ll get great advice about what to pack, how to get around and where to find the best views. Be sure
to check out the summer travel guides for all 25 destinations at www.tripadvisor.com/triptips.
Every time you download a guide, you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of 10 trips worth up to $5,000 to one
of our top summer destinations.
You’ll find reviews for more than 160,000
hotels, 65,000 attractions and 90,000
restaurants on TripAdvisor.com. Learn from
other travelers what to expect before you
make your plans.
PACKING TIPS
1. Comfort zone—“Paris is best seen on
foot, but wear comfortable shoes as
you cover immense distances.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Tokyo, Japan
2. Smart move—“Always carry your
valuables in a money belt.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Seabrook, Texas
3. Convenience—You’ll need to carry lots
of small change: “For first timers to
Paris, a little tip...You have to pay to use
the restrooms.”
—TripAdvisor Member, San Carlos,
Calif.
Inside
PARIS
Elegant, romantic, exciting, unforgettable… It can only be Paris.
Founded in the third century, on what is now the Île de la Cité,
Paris did not become France’s capital until the sixth century.
Throughout its history, the city has prospered and has been at
the forefront of cultural and political innovation, most notably
during the French Revolution of the late 18th century. In the
early 1900s, the halcyon years of the belle époque ushered in
the Art Nouveau movement, bringing with it advances in the
arts and sciences.
As capitals go, Paris is relatively small, with a population of just
over two million. Explore its plethora of landmarks on foot and
you’ll quickly work up an appetite for the superb cooking for
which its restaurants and cafés are famous.
tripadvisor.com 2

Top
VIEWS
PARIS’S BEST VIEWS
The Eiffel Tower “was easily one of
the biggest highlights of my trip through
Europe. I’ve been up other skyscrapers and
landmarks and usually my response is ‘Eh,
so what now?’ But this was one experience
that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
—TripAdvisor Member, San Francisco, Calif.
Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, quai Branly,
01-44112323
Where
FAMILIES
At Disneyland Paris, “the kids thoroughly
enjoyed themselves.”—TripAdvisor
Member, East Yorkshire, England
Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallee,
01-60306030
ROMANCE
“A boat ride on the Seine is an absolute
must. Many of the most beautiful
monuments were built along the Seine
River. The night cruise is also beautiful
because all the buildings are illuminated.
Most of the boat companies are located
by the Trocadero near the Eiffel tower.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Alsace, France
to PLAY
TOP 10 Attractions
1. Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel), Champ de Mars, quai Branly, 01-44112323
2. Musée du Louvre, 99 rue de Rivoli, 01-40205317
3. Musée d’Orsay, 62 rue de Lille, 01-40494814
4. Notre Dame Cathedral (Cathédrale de Notre Dame de Paris), 6 place
du Parvis, Ile de la Cité, 01-42345610
5. Sacré-Coeur, 35 rue de Chevalier, Montmartre, Place du Parvis du
Sacré Coeur, 01-53418900
Keep an open mind about the Eiffel Tower.
“I was quite cynical about it, but it turned
out to be one of the biggest highlights of my
trip.”—TripAdvisor Member, San Francisco,
Calif.
Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, quai Branly,
01-44112323
In the city itself, there are donkey rides and
a puppet show at the Jardin des Tuileries
along the Seine.
Jardin des Tuileries, Rue de Rivoli
“You can’t imagine the wealth,
expanse and beauty of the place.”
For a romantic day out of the city and a
glimpse of how French royalty lived, visit the
Chateau de Versailles and its magnificent
gardens. “You can’t imagine the wealth,
expanse and beauty of the place.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Oklahoma
Palace of Versailles, Versailles, 01-30837800
Call an Expedia Travel Specialist now 877-633-3716
“Stand at the arch opposite the Louvre
around sunset. In the distance, you see
the Champs Elysées with the Arc de
Triomphe at the end. To your left, you see
the Eiffel Tower light up in the distance
and the Musée d’Orsay to your immediate
left. We spent an hour watching the lights
get brighter as the sun disappeared and
night fell.” —TripAdvisor Member, Durban,
South Africa
Musee du Louvre , 99 rue de Rivoli,
01-40205312
6. Musée Rodin, 77 rue de Varenne, Hotel Biron, 01-44186110
7. Père-Lachaise Cemetery (Cimetièrre du Père-Lachaise), 16 rue du
Repos, 01-55258210
8. Arc de Triomphe, place Charles de Gaulle, 01-55377377
9. Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg), place Edmond-Rostand,
place Auguste-Comte, rue de Vaugirard, 01-42342000
10. Centre Pompidou, place Georges Pompidou, 01-44781233
Vedettes de Paris organizes river cruises
with an onboard pirate. It “has smaller
ships than the other lines and a very
convenient dock at Pont Neuf.”
—TripAdvisor Member, California
Vedettes de Paris, Port de Suffren,
01-44181950
Sacré-Coeur is a grand basilica
whose famous white dome provides
excellent views of the city. “It was simply
breathtaking.”—TripAdvisor Member,
California
Sacré-Coeur, 35 rue de Chevalier,
Montmartre, Place du Parvis du Sacré
Coeur, 01-53418900
tripadvisor.com 3

Where
BUDGET
ADVENTURE
The brave should head down into Les
Catacombs, which hold the skeletons of
several million people. “This is a real tomb,
with real bones. It’s not for small children,
the faint of heart or the infirm.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Washington, D.C.
Les Catacombs, place Denfert-Rochereau,
01-43224763
EDUCATIONAL/HISTORICAL
The Arc de Triomphe “is a superb
monument, one of the finest in Europe.
Really enjoyed the view from the top.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Los Angeles, Calif.
Arc de Triomphe, place Charles de Gaulle,
01-55377377
RELAXATION
to PLAY
Entry to Notre Dame Cathedral is free,
although you will be charged if you want to
climb the towers. “Entering the cathedral
is almost overwhelming. It is impossible
to put into words just how beautiful and
impressive this building is.”—TripAdvisor
Member, Laurel, Md.
Notre Dame Cathedral, 6 Place du Parvis,
Ile de la Cité, 01-42345610
“a real tomb, with real bones...”
During the day, you can relax in the
Luxembourg Gardens, which are
“beautiful, peaceful and yet fun.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Dunkirk, N.Y.
Luxembourg Gardens, Place Edmond-
Rostand, Place Auguste-Comter, rue de
Vaugirard,
01-42342000
Père-Lachaise’s 118 acres contain the
final resting places of the famous and the
infamous. Luminaries from Oscar Wilde
to Jim Morrison, and Marcel Proust to
Gertrude Stein and Alice B.Toklas, are
buried here. It’s a “slightly spooky treat.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Evanston, Ill.
Père-Lachaise Cemetery, 16 Rue du Repos,
01-55258210
Fat Tire Bike Tours offers bicycle tours
of Paris (day and night), Versailles and more.
Also, check out their Segway tours. “We
booked a Versailles bike tour with Fat Tire
Bike Tours and we had a grand time! It was
exciting to navigate the streets of Paris on 17
bikes, take the train to Versailles and then
shop for a picnic lunch at a great French
market!”—TripAdvisor Member, Los
Angeles, Calif.
Fat Tire Bike Tours Paris, 24 rue Edgar
Faure, 01-56581054
Considered the world’s greatest art
museum, the Louvre offers an unparalleled
collection of items covering the full
spectrum of art. “There is something there
for everyone.”—TripAdvisor Member,
Stuttgart, Germany
Musée du Louvre, 99 rue de Rivoli,
01-40205317
For sun-worshippers, there’s the Paris
Plage, an artificial beach on the banks of
the Seine.
“I’d tell anyone,
‘Do it at least once!’”
Call an Expedia Travel Specialist now 877-633-3716
It costs nothing to wander the Champs-
Elysees. The grand, tree-lined boulevard is
“incredibly charming and a lot of fun.”
—TripAdvisor Member, San Diego, Calif.
TripAdvisor members have posted
more than 250,000 photos on the site.
The good, the bad, and the very candid.
It’s almost like being there!
If you enjoy in-line skating, join the
thousands of like-minded people for Pari
Roller, and skate your way through the
city (starting at the Montparnasse Metro
station) every Friday night from 10 p.m. to 1
a.m. “To participate, you just need to come
with your skates. There is indeed only ONE
condition to your participating in the skate,
but it is a vital one: You absolutely must be
a GOOD skater!” —TripAdvisor Member,
Paris, France
Pari Roller, 62 rue du Long, 01-44183039
The beautiful Musée d’Orsay was once a
railroad station and now houses a stunning
collection of Impressionist art. “Fantastic!
Superb! Magnificent! Tremendous!”
—TripAdvisor Member, Oxford, England
Musee d’Orsay, Rue de Lille, 01-40494814
“My wife has always wanted to go to
Moulin Rouge so I set this up as a surprise,
expecting rubbish and to be ripped off at
every turn. Instead we had a great evening!
I’d tell anyone, ‘Do it at least once!’”—
TripAdvisor Member, Great Yarmouth, U.K.
Moulin Rouge, Boulevard de Clichy,
01-53098282
tripadvisor.com 4

What’s
the TOUR
Beware—“When crossing roads, expect the unexpected. Parisians
drive like they first got in a car that morning.”—TripAdvisor Member,
England
Convenient—A carnet, or 10 Metro tickets, is cheaper and more
convenient than buying individual tickets and “can be used by any
number of people.”—TripAdvisor Member, London, England
FAMILIES
Le Relais de l’Entrecôte is a family
favorite among Parisians because of
the simplicity of its menu—steak frites
or nothing. A “truly memorable and
interesting Parisian dining experience.”
—TripAdvisor Member, New York
Le Relais de l’Entrecôte, 15 rue Marbeuf,
01-49520717
How to Get Around
WHERE to
WHERE eat
to
eat
ROMANCE
From your table at the swanky La Tour
d’Argent, you can see the floodlit Notre-
Dame and the boats cruising the Seine.
What could be more romantic? “One of
Paris’s greatest and most famous dining
experiences.”—TripAdvisor Member, Paris,
France
La Tour d’Argent, 15-17 quai de la Tournelle,
01-43542331
The reasonably-priced and child-friendly
Crémerie-Restaurant Polidor is one of
the most popular restaurants on the Left
Bank and is “well worth a visit, serving
traditional French cuisine in an authentic
bistro atmosphere.”—TripAdvisor Member,
Dublin, Ireland
Crémerie-Restaurant Polidor, 41 Rue
Monsieur-le-Prince, 01-43269534
A visit to the venerable Taillevent is “a
three Michelin star restaurant that’s well
worth the experience.”—TripAdvisor
Member, Nottingham, England
Taillevent, 15 Rue Lamennais, 01-44951501
“One of Paris’s greatest and
most famous dining experiences.”
Call an Expedia Travel Specialist now 877-633-3716
River view —The Batobus takes you to eight different stops
along the Seine and is “a relaxing way to get the lay of the land.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Monterey Bay, Calif.
Want more information on Paris?
TripAdvisor.com offers free weekly e-mail
updates filled with new deals, reviews and
articles for Paris or any other destination
you choose.
If your kids are getting fed up with French
cuisine, you can always go to Joe Allen for
hamburgers and New York cheesecake. In
other words, “great U.S. food.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Paris, France
Joe Allen, Les Halles, 01-42367013
“...authentic bistro atmosphere.”
Several outfits, including Bateaux-
Mouches, offer dining on the water. “A
fantastic and very romantic dinner cruise
on the River Seine, which I’d highly
recommend.”—TripAdvisor Member,
London, England
Bateaux-Mouches, pont de l’Alma, Right
Bank, 01-42259610
tripadvisor.com 5

WHERE to
eat
BUDGET
“You couldn’t ask for a more Parisian
atmosphere” than the “moderately-priced”
Chartiers.—TripAdvisor Member, London,
England
Chartiers, 7 rue Faubourg, 01-47708629
HEALTH-CONSCIOUS
Le Potager du Marais is 100 percent
vegetarian. “Reservation highly
recommended, especially for dinner.”
—TripAdvisor Member, France
Le Potager du Marais, 22 Rambuteau,
01-42742466
HIDDEN GEMS
Have a “truly exquisite meal” at the
“wonderful” L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon.
—TripAdvisor Member, Cambridgeshire,
England
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, 5-7 rue de
Montalembert, 01-42225656
Didier Lockwood and Kenny Garrett perform for free in the Parc
Floral at the Paris Jazz Festival, weekends, June 10 - July 30.
Paris Jazz Festival, Parc Floral, 01-49572484, www.parcfloraldeparis.
com
Musicians from all over the world perform free concerts throughout
the city as part of the Fête de la Musique on June 21.
Fête de la Musique, 08-92683000, www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr
The world’s largest city with an openly gay mayor holds its colorful,
flamboyant Gay Pride festival on June 24.
Gay Pride, 01-72703922, www.gaypride.fr
American country music comes to southern districts of the French
capital for the Paris Country Festival on June 23, 24 and 25.
Galerie 88 is “right across the river” from
Notre Dame. “All vegetarian. Hip little
space, playing American Blues. Would go
back, and would certainly recommend
it.”—TripAdvisor Member
Galerie 88, 88 quai de l’Hotel de Ville,
01-42721758
Call an Expedia Travel Specialist now 877-633-3716
Auberge de la Reine Blanche is a friendly
little bistro on the Ile St. Louis. One of “our
favorite restaurants.”—TripAdvisor Member,
Richmond, Va.
Auberge de la Reine Blanche, 30 Rue St
Louis en L’ile, 01-46330787
South of Montmartre, sample Le Domaine
de Lintillac’s “very Parisian atmosphere,”
as well as the “great duck specialties. Very
affordable!”—TripAdvisor Member, Austin,
Texas
SPECIAL SUMMER EVENTS
Le Domaine de Lintillac, 10 rue St. Augustin,
01-40209627
Paris Country Festival, 01-64498749
Chez Denise, an “old-time bistro,” is “the
best in Paris.” —TripAdvisor Member,
Hoboken, N.J.
Chez Denise, 5 rue Prouvaires, 01-42362182
The chic Goumard “is one of my favorite
seafood restaurants.”—TripAdvisor
Member, Paris, France
Goumard, 9 Rue Duphot, 01-42603607
“Hip little space,
playing American Blues.”
“Le Nemrod is a pleasant café/brasserie.
Very pleasant for people watching. Usually
very busy. Nice daily specials, different
salads, etc.”—TripAdvisor Member, France
Le Nemrod, 51 rue du Cherche-Midi,
01-45481705
More than a dozen cinemas take part in the Paris Cinéma Film
Festival, June 27 - July 11.
Paris Cinéma Film Festival, 01-55255525, www.pariscinema.org
Bastille Day, France’s national day, is a day of celebration ending
with a massive fireworks display and throngs of people in the city
streets, July 14.
Shakespeare’s Love’s Labours Lost will be performed in the open-air
theater at the Jardin Shakespeare on September 9, 10, 16 and 17.
Théâtre de Verdure du Jardin Shakespeare, 01-42766467
tripadvisor.com 6

Where
BUDGET
The Holiday Inn Disneyland Resort
“cannot be beaten for value. Great site
with views of gardens and the lake. Rooms
clean and reasonably sized.”—TripAdvisor
Member, Essex, England
Holiday Inn Disneyland Resort, Marne-la-
Vallee, 01-64633737
LUXURY
to
FAMILIES
At the top of TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index
is the four-star Hotel Bassano. “Forget
that rumor about indifferent staff at Parisian
hotels: If you choose Bassano, you will have
the best hotel staff in the city.”—TripAdvisor
Member, Charlotte, N.C.
Hotel Bassano, 15 rue de Bassano,
01-47237823
ROMANCE
Pavillon de la Reine was among the
luxury hotels on TripAdvisor’s 2005
Travelers’ Choice awards. “This elegant
boutique hotel is the very definition of
Parisian romance.”—TripAdvisor Member,
New York
Pavillon de la Reine, 28 place des Vosges,
01-40291919
The Renaissance Paris Vendome is
praised for its “excellent, central location,”
and its service is “second to none.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Oxford, England
Renaissance Paris Vendome, 4 rue du Mont
Thabor, 01-40202000
STAY
“Pure elegance.”
You can have a good family holiday at the
Hotel de Fleurie. “We stayed in the family
room, which consists of two connecting
bedrooms, and were very comfortable.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Mexico
Hotel de Fleurie, 32-34 rue Gregoire-de-
Tours, 01-53737000
The Hotel Le Walt “is a must for lovers in
Paris. The staff delivers five-star service and
the location and decor of the hotel could
not be better.”—TripAdvisor Member,
Batesville, Ark.
Hotel Le Walt, 37 avenue de la Motte
Picquet, 01-55331655
Monsieur and Madame Plumerand
make guests feel “most welcome” at
the “absolutely charming” Hotel La
Sanguine.—TripAdvisor Member,
Baltimore, Md.
Hotel La Sanguine, rue de Surène,
01-42657161
“Hotel Le Bristol is pure elegance. Our
room was lovely with a balcony overlooking
the gardens and the restaurant. It’s
within great walking distance to Champs
Elysees.”—TripAdvisor Member, Rhode
Island
Hotel Le Bristol, 112 rue du Faubourg Saint
Honore, 01-53434300
Call an Expedia Travel Specialist now 877-633-3716
“We cannot recommend Disneyland Hotel
too highly—in our view it is the best hotel
we have ever stayed in. The food was
excellent, the room was very comfortable,
and my daughter particularly enjoyed
meeting the different characters.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Bristol, England
Disneyland Hotel, Marne-la-Vallee,
01-60456589
The Victoria Palace is “cozy and romantic.
Our room was beautiful, with ample space
and extremely clean.”
—TripAdvisor Member, New York, N.Y.
Victoria Palace, 6 rue Blaise Desgoffe,
01-45497000
“...a must for lovers in Paris.”
Have questions about Paris?
Get insider advice from local experts in
our forums. The majority of questions get
answered within 24 hours.
Dormouse House Bed and Breakfast
“is situated 20 minutes by train to Paris, but
feels as if it is in the countryside, far away
from the city. It has the most beautiful,
impressionistic views and coloring.”
—TripAdvisor Member, Jerusalem, Israel
Dormouse House Bed and Breakfast,
34 Rue de Medan, Villennes-sur-Seine,
01-39759573
The Four Seasons Hotel George V
is Paris’s top luxury hotel, according to
TripAdvisor’s 2005 Travelers’ Choice
awards. “If you only visit one hotel in your
life, this has to be it.”—TripAdvisor Member,
Manchester, England
The Four Seasons Hotel George V, 31
avenue George V, 01-49527000
tripadvisor.com 7

Where
to
HIDDEN GEMS
Les Jardins du Trocadero is an “amazing
gem. We wanted a cozy and romantic
hotel and that is exactly what we got. Stay
in it once and you will be sorry if you ever
stay anywhere else in Paris.”—TripAdvisor
Member, Athens, Greece
Les Jardins du Trocadero, 35 Rue Benjamin
Franklin, 01-53701770
About
STAY
Call an Expedia Travel Specialist now 877-633-3716
Hotel Britannique, just a block from the
River Seine, is recommended for “anyone
wanting a romantic weekend.”—TripAdvisor
Member, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Hotel Britannique, 20 Avenue Victoria,
01-42337459
TRIPADVISOR
The restored Terrass Hotel, the only fourstar
option in Montmartre, is “absolutely
fantastic.”—TripAdvisor Member, London,
England
Terrass Hotel, 12 rue Joseph de Maistre,
01-44923414
TripAdvisor.com is the largest travel community in the world with 20 million monthly visitors and featuring more than 5 million reviews and
opinions of 230,000 hotels and attractions. TripAdvisor.com is the most trusted source for travel recommendations about where to go, where
to stay and how to play for 24,000 destinations around the world. TripAdvisor.com also provides easy access to the major online travel sites to
make booking your next vacation, your best vacation, easier than ever.
Edited/compiled by Vivienne Crow
This brochure and its contents are copyright © 2006, TripAdvisor, Inc., all rights reserved. TRIPADVISOR, the owl logo and all other marks displayed herein are registered and/or
common law trademarks of TripAdvisor and/or third parties. Representations made in this brochure are current as of its publication date. This brochure contains reviews, comments,
photographs and other content regarding destinations, accommodations, airlines and other travel products and services submitted by users of tripadvisor.com. Reviews and ratings
represent the opinions of such users. TripAdvisor does not sponsor or endorse any user content and therefore is not liable for any statements, representations or other information
contained in such user content.
Further, reference to any products, services, processes or other information of any third party does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation of or
affiliation with, such third party by TripAdvisor. Such third parties are owned and operated by independent retailers or service providers, and TripAdvisor cannot ensure that you
will be satisfied with their products, services, business practices or provided information. TripAdvisor recommends that you pursue any and all investigation you feel necessary or
appropriate before transacting with any third party.
tripadvisor.com 8