5 Quiet Places to Dine in Paris

About 27 million tourists visit Paris every year, and more than a half of them being travelers from places outside of France. With a rate like that, it's highly possible to spot cafe's and restaurants overflowing with guts to feed. This may not only be an inconvenience for travelers who are natural at finding quietude but for travelers who face problems with finding available seats to occupy. Because truth be told, it's literally hard to compete for tables with the other 27 million. 

Below are 5 food corners, tucked away from disruption, that you can dine in Pair-ee:

1. St. Germain Courtyard

It's a garden veiling at the back of Hotel de l'Abbaye. It has a restful atmosphere surrounded by green ornaments and wooden tables in front of a gazebo- type structure. It serves drinks and menus in prime service. Best to come for a light meal in the afternoon. 

Location: Hotel de l'Abbaye 10 Rue Casette 75006 at the heart of St. Germain

2. L'Etage de Pastavino

This place is pretty decent for a peaceful dinner. The strangest part is that it's a secluded restaurant in a deli- sandwich shop in Paris. Its name is written in a blackboard beside a winding staircase in a dark corner close by-- something that makes it more worth discovering than frightening. 

Menus are written entirely in Italian but waiters translate them to you detail by detail. It serves honestly palatable meat and cheese fresh from the deli downstairs. It plays soft jazz music in the background which I think brings justice to feeling cozy and quiet in a busy city. 

Location: 18 Rue de Buci 75006 Metro Mabillon Odeon & St. Germain des Pres

Open Hours: 8:15 - 11:30 PM, Closed on Sundays

3. Cafe' Craft

French coffee perhaps comes only second to Italian. But having to find a good one betwixt-and-between the crowded Paris is like being able to tell how good the moon looks like in the other side of the globe. 

Craft serves the rather best and addictive cappuccino  and other healthy nibbles like quinoa salad. They set the mood in tune of a contemporary jazz music in perfect volume-- enough to give you sanity to get your creative raps going. Most people come here to either snuff out an excellent coffee in their bloodstream together with their friends, or resort in a conducive place to finish a project or work and still be in touch with the internet world through the wifi connection. Not to mention the free coffee refills. 

Baristas can also speak in English-- which is hard to find around the city. 

Location: 24 Rue Des Vinaigriers 75010 Paris, Near: Canal St. Martin/ Gare de l'Est, 10 eme

Open Hours: Mon- Sat: 9:00AM- 7:00PM, Sun: 10:00AM- 7:00PM

4. La Rose de France

This is a little less low- key restaurant set in a humble location. It serves amazingly delicious French bites and wine in a bit higher price than regular. It has a friendly and moderately fast service. The restaurant is fairly small, it's worth to set reservations ahead of time. 

It's getting considerable good reviews, too, on its escargot. It's largely an upscale version of wine and dine in an intimate setting. Facing fears of meeting Paris at full volume? You would probably just make face in the back of your head. Tee hee!

Location: 24 Place Dauphine 75001 Paris, Near: Ile de la Cite/ Ile St. Louis, 1er

Open Hours: Mon- Sun: 10:00AM- 11:00PM

5. Bistrot de l'oulette 

This place is owned by a Tunisian restaurateur who is good with English that you will hardly worry about speaking in broken French language. It serves highly recommended traditional French meals in a romantic setting. Their cassoulet is perhaps their best-selling food on the menu-- tantamount to saying it's a must-try. It's not an overly fancy restaurant, as most restaurants in Paris are. 

Location: 38 Rue Tournelles 75004 Paris, Near: Bastille and Marais, 4eme

It's surprising how  jam- packed Paris can offer places to celebrate food in silent divinity, in the same way that they also have places to give your senses a break from people and simply enjoy a book. 

See you on my next post for The Quiet City [Paris] Travel Series!

Photo Credits:

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25 Ways to a Parisian Travel Dream

My affinity to romantic cities always finds its way to one, among many other places, Paris. I'm probably one of the most hopeless romantic person you'll ever find in the planet because of it.

Most people think that life has no mystery and magic. But think about me, and all the other people out there who dream of one day setting foot on Paris. The fact that we share the same fascination is mystery enough that relative things happen to different people at different parts of the globe.

They sure have their own version of Paris. But me? This is how I hope it'd be:

    1. Brunch at a Parisian Cafe'

Find a table at Le Petit Cafe', Paris

I wouldn't mind whatever pavement cafe' it may be. The important thing is having to laze and see the usual social and culinary life in Paris- nestling my derriere on a couch while ruminating on a delicious  French croissant and wearing a quintessentially French tongue.

French croissant

     2. Experience an elaborate French Gourmet

Won't you drool just by the look of it?

French gourmet is known to be exquisite, not only for the jet set. I wonder how an authentic French culinary cabaret feels like. After all, they say a dinner in France is never second best. A little refining of the palate here and there.

     3. Spend afternoons at Shakespeare & Co

Heaven on earth

It's an English bookstore that stood across from Notre Dame on the left bank since 60 years ago. If you are like me who finds ultimate happiness in reading, this would also be your sanctuary. My goal is to find and read an authentic first edition- a classic book at that- and have it stamped with their insignia on my way out. Some say, the bookstore has readings every Monday night at 7. I would sure dare try.

     4. Visit the Louvre

Architectural masterpiece

And why not? Paintings are another reason to visit Paris, and the Louvre is one of the world's largest and most historic museums that contain the awesom-est work of art-- The Raft of Medusa, Death of the Virgin, The Coronation of Napoleon, and the eminent face of Mona Lisa. 

     5. Stroll from St. Germain to Notre Dame

I'd like to see the narrowest streets of the city, the oldest churches, and other best English bookstore.

     6. Visit Musee d' Orsay

Home to French art since the 1800s. My objective is to see the works of Vincent Willem Van Gogh. He must be familiar to you too, mustn't he?

     7. See the Place Des Vosges

It is the oldest square in Paris. Victor Hugo, the French novelist of the famous Les Miserables was said to have lived there.

     8. Go to Vogue Paris

I am a sucker for fashion as I am for travel, and to be able to visit the office of one of the most credible fashion authorities is another dream to cross off my life list.

     9. Pastime at La Siene

It's another way to complete my Parisian trip aside from the Eiffel. I want to see the best of spectacles in Paris by cruising the Siene river especially by night, when monuments and landmarks shimmer as they reflect in the waterway. C'est magnifique!

    10. Buy a Parisian Beret

Beret- wearing French might have already stopped the craze of wearing one, especially the navy  blue ones, back from when Simon and Garfunkel were even formed. At one point French fashion nowadays may be a little intimidating, with natives being an ultimate believer of high fashion standards (read: polished shoes, no underrated day wear like flip flops, no mismatch, edgy, and NO FAKE). But berets are still piece for French fashion. The secret maybe is to pay respects to their fashion standard by wearing ensembles clean, with confidence, and sleek-- meaning, no too many statement pieces. It's not dressing to the nines.

    11. Visit Disneyland Paris

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I cannot miss a nostalgic park like that. Not even the one in Hong Kong, or LA.

   12. See the Versailles Palace

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I like a little history from time to time. What I know is that Versailles is where most French monarchs lived. Its architectural design is also worth a capture.

    13. Experience Paris Story by Victor Hugo

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I could probably do this on my first day in Paris. To see France in a forty-foot panoramic onscreen audiovisual presentation hosted by a holographic Victor Hugo would be a perfect starter!

     14. Watch a show at the Paris Opera House

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I'm an endless dreamer for classical operas and stage plays. If Broadway is for New York, and West End is for London, this could most likely be for Paris.

     15.  Try a delicious brewed coffee and a French toast

I don't drink brewed coffee. But I might try, for the sake of Paris. A cup wouldn't be bad I guess and a French toast will compliment it perfectly. Besides, I think it's better than to try to wear a ridiculous mustache.

     16. Eat tons of French Macarons 

Can Parisian calories be an exemption to the slimming rules? Tee hee! 

     17. Stop by the Arc de Triomphe

For the hope of seeing it in the flesh than in magazines and books. Plus it's one of the most historic sites in Paris.

     18. Go to Mont Saint-Michel

I also want to go somewhere a little far from the center of the City of Lights. Saint-Michel is a good option, a small island just off the coast of Normandy. I'd love to see structures from the medieval times. From afar, it looks like the jumble of towers in Harry Potter's Hogwarts.

     19. Buy homecoming treats at La Grande Epicerie 

La Grande Epicerie is said to be the most impressive food find store in Paris- quoted as, the Temple of Foodistas, so why not bring some home?

    20. Shop at Saint Germain, hopefully, really hopefully!

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To shop at what they call, the hub of French bourgeois, perhaps my guiltiest Parisian fashion pleasure, the other being Shopping with Jackie (Kennedy Onassis) in Paris and Audrey Hepburn in Paris. I'll sweat it out! 

    21. Dine at La Maison Rose Paris

Blissfully because there is the same restaurant in Cebu, Philippines which I also love!

    22. Visit Moulin Rouge Paris

I love the movie, and surely this one too. I'd like to see can-can dancers in this cabaret. 

     23. Window shop at Montaigne Market

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If buying a beyond-150-dollar item in a one-off boutique is a little far out for me; at least, I could get into a place where I could find fashion inspirations the way I flip through the pages of Vogue.

      24. Have a photo taken in front of a colored art door 

For the love of all things dainty!

     25. Trip up the Eiffel Tower

Oh Eiffel! My Eiffel!

Of course! It's in my life list. Kudos to Gustave Eiffel for engineering this global icon. It isn't Paris without it. 

Audrey Hepburn was right, Paris is always a good idea. 

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