Paris Eating and Bars

Esto Fidelis

Hi

I am looking for some tips on reasonably priced bars and restaurants. Heading over this weekend and will be staying in the Notre Dame area. Also, we will be there for 4 days really, so I am wondering the best option for getting around, do they have an oyster card like London. And has anyone used the hop-on- hop off or is it better to use public transport

thanks in advance

Eponymous

Is this your first time in Paris?

From where you're based a lot of stuff is within walking distance. The beauty of walking is that you get to see a lot more of Paris, stop at shops and cafes you might never have found otherwise, find small markets and galleries. Taking the Metro is far quicker, yes, but you miss the little things as you shuffle between tourist traps and the stations.

Best bet is to get a "carnet" of ten tickets, which you can use on the Metro or bus and use them to get to any points of interest which are not in walking distance, such as La Defense. The beauty of that is you can get a carnet between you.

If you do prefer to use Metro to get around everywhere, then a Paris Visite would be perfect. A three day unlimited pass is about €26 for zones 1-3 and includes concessions to some museums etc, so unless you're heading out to Versaille or somewhere else outside the city, it'd be perfect: http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/r_61654/parisvisite/

As with any major tourist destination, you'll get creamed for eating/drinking on the main boulevards or close to attractions. You could pay well in excess of €5 for a coffee on a terrace in the Champs Elysee or beer can cost in excess of €10. Try going back a street or two from the main thoroughfares, wine is always better value.

If you want somewhere special to eat, give Sergent Recruiteur a go. It's on Ile St. Louis (the island behind Notre Dame).

Crank Stain

Hi,
There is a good selection of reasonably priced rerstaurants around the Place de la Contrescarp and on the Rue Du Pot-de-Fer, which are behind the Pantheon and only a short walk up Boulevard St Michel from Nortre Dame.

https://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en-IE&gbv=2&ie=UTF-8&q=place+de+la+contrescarpe&fb=1&gl=ie&hq=place+de+la+contrescarpe&cid=18251818581301274194&ei=h3wpU-utMtHxhQeC24GgBw&ved=0CCcQtgMwBA

Its one of my favourite areas of Paris, it can be quieter and less touristy than the restaurants nearer to the river.
For transport, as the other poster said, walking and the Metro are best.

Esto Fidelis

Guys,

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, this is my first time in Paris. Thanks again for sharing your personal experience.

Esto

Eponymous

Just love Paris. You'll have a blast.

If you're looking for a really cheap dining experience, go to a market, get some nice cheeses and meats, go to a boulangerie and get come nice breads then get some decent wine and take yourself to Jardins des Touileries, between the Champs Elysee and the Louvre and have a picnic. In good weather there's really nothing to beat it.

Take a look at Le Bon Marche too. One of the oldest department stores in the world, it's a beautiful building - worth a look, even if you're not into shopping!