Bistros and Restaurants in Paris France

Gastronomy is taken very seriously in France and with the rich history for fine French cuisine, Paris is a city where you will find some of the Worlds finest chefs serving remarkable cuisine and you will find thousands of cafes and restaurants in Paris alone, ranging from the small bistro such as the Allard Bistro through to exceedingly plush restaurants.

Even at a small traditional restaurant like the Boeuf sur le Toit or at a fancy restaurant setting such as the Train Bleu, the quality of food is of the utmost of importance, but many places have to be booked prior and some require reservations weeks or even months in advance, like the Jules Verne at the Eiffel Tower!

When it comes to the type of cuisine, you have choices from all over the world such as the Blue Elephant which serves Thai dishes in beautiful surroundings, Brazilian food at the Brasil Tropical Cabaret and restaurant, Le Curieux Spaghetti Bar for true Italian delights, or the Tokyo Eat restaurant serving adventurous fusion cuisine.

There is so much variety to tempt your taste buds, yet obviously, it is the French food that really stands out in so many restaurants in Paris and some are in unusual surroundings like L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, 1970’s style Korova, the family restaurant Apollo or Altitude 95 in the Eiffel Tower and they vary in cost from only a few Euros to hundreds per person.

But if you want to splash out for that special occasion, the finest way of dining in Paris is with Haute cuisine, which is elaborate food preparation and presentation, and just some of the Michelin star rated Haute cuisine restaurants include the Le Grande Cascade close to the Longchamps horse racing, Guy Savoy, Taillevent, Le Grand Vefour and La Tour d’Argent, where you could be paying upwards of 250 Euros per person, but even the most expensive restaurants are cheaper for lunch than in the evening.

Now forgetting Haute cuisine, you will find most restaurants in Paris serving French cuisine have a Menu du Jour or a set menu of the day and this normally means the most reasonably priced meals, which change frequently depending upon what fresh produce is available.

Also, if you want to eat breakfast out it is likely to be at a Patisserie or Tea Salon where you can get croissants, bread, fillings like cold meats and cheeses, pastries and a nice cup of coffee and numerous places such as Angelina’s or Laduree, offer a choice of eating on the premises, or items to take away, but just one point worth mentioning is that many establishments add an additional charge to your bill if you decide to sit outside on their terrace, rather than inside.

When it comes to lunch, you will be able to find numerous different cafes and bistros whilst walking around Paris such as the Cafe Marly with a great view of the famous Louvre museum, and it may be an idea to mark these on a map so that you can find your next fuelling station!

As for the evening, meals are usually served from around 7.30pm and restaurants get far busier from around 9pm onwards. Plus we would like to point out that Parisians do tend to dress up for an evening out and in most restaurants it is expected that you have a glass of wine or two with your meal, but bear in mind that a table wine can be just as expensive as many others on the wine list, as they are still of excellent quality.

And numerous different options are available for an evening meal like the cosy intimate setting of Au Bon Accueil, or perhaps you have been to a nightclub and need to eat in the early hours of the morning, then Au Pied de Cochon that is open 24/7 is a good choice, or you could choose the friendly atmosphere and smells of food cooking on a spit at the Atelier Maitre Albert or contemporary cuisine at Spoon Food and Wine, but you also have cabaret venues where you can enjoy a meal and watch a cabaret show such as at the World famous Moulin Rouge.

And after all this eating out in Paris enjoying the fabulous cuisine on offer, it just may not be the same when you get home!

About the Author:

www.placesinfrance.com

Martyn Davis European Traveller, Author, Photographer and Business Development Manager, For all your French holiday needs and travel guide to France, with tourist information, landmarks and attractions – Restaurants In Paris

The City of Kings

The coastal city of Lima, Peru lies on the west coast of South America. During the days of Spanish colonial rule the city was regarded as the most important and prosperous city in Spanish America and was the finest in the region, known as The City of Kings.

Lima hugs a craggy patch of Pacific coast. The beaches are rocky, and the water is cold, but flower-abundant cliff-top parks offer the perfect place for a leisurely sun set stroll.

The streets, plazas and alley ways of the historical centre of Lima have a myriad of cafes and restaurants, which range from classic turn of the century, such as the Palais Concert to modern.

The heart of the old town is centred on the striking Plaza Mayor, or Plaza de Armas, gracefully colonial with its bronze fountain and old street lamps. It was once the central market place, where bull fights were held during Spanish rule.

As the largest city in the country, with a population of immigrants from around the country and the most international flavour, Lima certainly has Peru’s most varied nightlife scene. Nightlife centres around the penas, bars offering jazz folk music, jazz, Peruvian Creole a music that combines European musical forms with native Peruvian, Spanish, and African rhythms and instruments.

Barranco, a neighbourhood of beautiful 19th-century architecture, located by the municipal square, is the heart of the city’s contemporary arts and nightlife. Miraflores is Lima’s central cultural district, containing the many fine restaurants, theatres, and galleries.

Larcomar is a recently built entertainment and shopping, which has a privileged location on the sea front. It has a selection of restaurants, ice-cream parlours, and shops selling accessories, books and gifts as well as a multiplex cinema, bowling alley.

One of Lima’s main attractions is its delicious cooking; quality food is found every where and it is not necessary to only go to the most expensive restaurants to enjoy a good meal. The citys cuisine has managed to incorporate many influences and has made many traditions of its own.

Balneario La Punta is a Naval Base, with various boulder beaches, a picturesque sea front and family homes dating back between the 20s and the 50s coexist on this long peninsula jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. During the summer months bathers are especially attracted to these beaches as they offer an ideal place to cool off in the cold waters. As this quiet area is only an hour-drive away from Lima, it has become an ideal place to live.

Rome and Milan

Rome and Milan have beautiful historic buildings, architecture and art to connect them. But there the similarity stops as each also has their very own unique and individual style to offer a visitor.

Rome
Rome is the capital city of Italy and the countries largest and most populated city. It is known by many names, amongst them Capital of the World, The Eternal City and Threshold of the Apostles. Rome was lucky as it was left practically undamaged from the Second World War and so the buildings in the heart of the city remain renaissance and baroque in character. The seat of the Catholic Church, these days, Rome is a sophisticated modern city that attracts thousands of tourists each year.

Main Attractions
Locals and tourists alike enjoy meeting for a drink, or attend some planned event at one of the many squares found in Rome, popular for their architecture and many cafes and restaurants. One of the most significant is St Peter’s Square, the magnificent access to St Peter’s Basilica, the centre of Christianity.
The Pantheon (Temple of all the gods) is the best preserved Roman building in the world and one of the most impressive.
The Colosseum is one of the main tourist attractions in Rome, a huge structure that apparently took around ten years to construct. It is the centre of ancient Roman entertainment and the location of gladiatorial and animal combats.

Shopping
Rome is a great place to do some serious shopping with a huge Array of designer shops and department stores. Some good buys are leather goods and decorative items. Italy’s top designer stores such as Armani, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, can be found at The Via Dei Condotti. Via del Corso is the location of famous shops like the Ferrari flagship store and Swarowski Crystal. Piazza Navona is a great place for art lovers with lots of art galleries and antique shops.

Milan

Milan is famous for its fashion houses, many of which are found in the Piazza Duomo claiming to be the world’s oldest shopping centre. Milan attract designers, artists, photographers and models and has a air of glamour surrounding it due to the ancient city centre with high and interesting buildings and palazzos, The city hosted the World Exposition in 1906 and is due to host the Universal Expo in 2015.

Main Attractions
Duomo is the largest cathedral in Milan located in the city’s central square. Its style is late-Gothic and it was started in 1386.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II designed by the architect Mengoni, is today used as a shopping avenue with elegant cafes, restaurants and shops.
La Scala is a world-famous opera house first opened in 1778 with a theatre museum next door containing Verdi’s death mask.

Shopping
Milan is known as the city of fashion and there are a lot of choices here. All the top designer names can be found here, Gucci, Versace, Prada, Cartier Chanel and Kenzo. Corso Buenos Aires is one of the longest streets in Europe and home to the more commercial and affordable stores. Corso di Porta Ticinese is for more alternative purchases with second-hand clothes shops, stores with bizarre objects for the home, and handmade clothes.

Accommodation in Rome and Milan
Finding accommodation in Rome or Milan should not be too difficult, since there are hundreds of hotels in Rome and Milan hotels available from budget to luxury class, in any suburb of the cities.