Crepes that melt in your mouth….ahh, Paris!

Paris is really very easy to understand and to get around. The “neighborhoods” of Paris are broken up into districts called “arrondissements”. There are 20 in total and are situated in the form of a circle- check out this map above.

We decided to use up some old hotel points that we had accumulated so we found ourselves at the Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel, located within the 14er (arrondissement). Although it may look like the 14er is on the outer banks of the city center, it truly is not. Our hotel was situated about 1 block from a subway station that took us wherever we needed to go in minutes. Otherwise, we could walk. One day, we did walk from our hotel all the way over to the 3er and it only took us about 30 minutes- not bad. As for the hotel itself, we were sorely disappointed. Whether we paid cash or not, our decision would remain the same- we would NEVER stay here again! The rooms were extremely tiny and the bathrooms were much worse. The shower was made for infants and the maid service was a D+ at best.  The hotel itself needing some serious upgrading and for a Marriott ranked in a class of a Holiday Inn.  Their one redeeming quality was their concierge desk. The individuals there were so helpful and very friendly and sent us to some amazingly delicious restaurants around the city!

Anyway, the first day we arrived was around lunchtime and we were starving so we headed down the street to a quaint neighborhood cafe called L’Alouette, at the recommendation of our hotel concierge. DELICIOUS! We toasted with a glass of champagne & devoured our tartines, which are french open-faced sandwiches- delicious:)!

Later that evening on our first night in Paris we headed to a show. Beforehand, we needed something to hold us over so we headed to Le Rollin (which was near the show). We shared a plate of unbelievably fresh oysters & french bread. Delicious….but back to the show. There was a great recommendation on TripAdvisor called “How to become Parisian in 1 Hour”, by Oliver Giraud. What an AMAZING Show!! This is a 1 man comedy show spoofing Parisians as well as other nationalities and it was absolutely hilarious- plus its all in English! I would highly recommend that you do go to this upon arrival in Paris, that way you will understand everything that Oliver mentions throughout the rest of your trip! We cannot say enough great things about this show, plus the venue is adorable and very quaint. It was called the Theatre de la Main d’Or, located in the 11er. It held about 250 people and there was a bar out front to bring drinks in if you desired. Word to the wise….if you decide to speak up, be prepared to be brought up on stage! Be aware that this is more of an ADULT show- there is quite a bit of explicit language and content.

After our hilarious show, we walked down to Le Chardenoux (another recommendation from our hotel concierge). Upon arrival, we immediately entered into “old world” Paris. In fact, this restaurant opened up in 1908 and is currently one of the oldest true Parisian Bistrots in existence & is a historical landmark. Covering the walls were old gilded mirrors & intricate moldings. The wine list was basic but suburb and the food was out of this world. We enjoyed the pork chops and homemade lobster ravioli. It was literally THE best meal we had in Paris! Plus by Parisian standards….quite affordable!

In the afternoon, we checked out the Eiffel Tower. Of course this is a must do while in Paris but I do have 1 recommendation- buy your tickets in advance online so that you can bypass the huge queue.  That is what we did and it was well worth the extra time it took! The view from the top is absolutely spectacular:-).

Later that evening, we headed out for a celebratory dinner at Cafe Bergamote, in the lively Latin Quarter (5er). David’s parents’ friend who used to live in Paris, recommended that we try this place out. It was great food, don’t get me wrong, but not our favorite. The menu does consist of mostly fresh, in-season ingredients, but the ambiance could have been a bit better. That being said, we had a great time people watching after dinner as we walked along the wild streets of the Latin Quarter- where college & 20/30 somethings were bulging out of the huge array of bars & restaurants lining the cobblestone streets. We finished off our evening with a true favorite- a grand marnier crepe at a street side creperia- yum!!

Our third day in Paris was set up to be a packed & fun-filled adventure! We started out a La Cuisine Paris, a local cooking school situated just alongside the Siene in the 4er & another great recommendation from our favorite travel site TripAdvisor. We decided on the 2-hour crepe making class and it did not disappoint! The class was small (about 10 people) so everyone was able to participate easily. Our chef/teacher spoke wonderful English and explained the steps every well. In fact we found out he also is a chef in a restaurant in Paris as well as having a couple back in the states (one I believe opening up soon in Chicago called Le Fochet). We made both a savory as well as a sweet crepe along with a salad and sparkling wine. They printed out recipes for all of us on the whole meal & after cooking, we were able to sit and enjoy our creations. They also provided us with a map detailing the locations of several kitchenware stores around the city should we decided to buy any of the ingredients or utensils, etc. We highly recommend this class- though I am sure all of their classes offered are great!

After our class, we walked nearby to the Notre Dame de Paris– wow, a magnificent & intricately carved cathedral. Absolutely breathtaking- both inside and out! The Notre Dame is situated on an “island” of sorts on the River Seine called the Ile de la Cite. Another must do!

At the end our day, we found (again on TripAdvisor) a fabulous place for wine tasting called O Chateau Wine Tasting and Wine Bar.

We took the 2 hour: 5 wines/1 champagne class. It was downstairs in a makeshift wine cellar, complete with brick walls and rustic wooden tables….the most perfect ambiance. Our sommelier (wine steward) was very well versed and spoke great English too. He studied and worked back in the states as well as on his family’s vineyard in France.  The wines were fantastic and they offered a French baguette to soak it all upJ. The pours were generous too- ha ha. After this decadent afternoon, we decided to stay and eat upstairs. They did not disappoint! The chef actually is American from LA and she sure does know her French cooking! She served us a 4 course meal that was amazingly delicious. Every course was paired perfectly with a glass of wine. We would go back in a heartbeat!!

For our final evening, we got all dressed up again and headed out for a romantic dinner at the highly tauted (both by TripAdvisor & friends) Le Coupe Chou. This hidden & old establishment is located within the Latin Quarter and is fabulously charming. The entire place is situated within an old townhouse building so the tables are scattered throughout small rooms & up winding staircases, complete with fireplaces & ivy along the walls. Terrific ambiance, delicious food, and superb wine menu!! One thing I will say, this is a favorite for expats so you will hear a lot of English and the service could be a bit better but overall, an absolute must! We enjoyed it very much!