International Programs
Jim's Tips on Paris
1. Fauchon ‑ behind the Madeleine Church ‑ several stores, most famous gourmet place - also in the "gourmet ghetto" behind the Madeleine is Hédiard and Petrossian caviar, etc. As you come out of the Fauchon pastry & chocolate shop go left and left (#21 rue Vignon) for the Ferme St. Hubert one of Paris' best known cheese shops. On the west side of the Madeleine is an office like TKTS in New York, where they sell half price tickets.
2. For fine china try rue du Paradis (e.g. Limoges ‑ Unic) interesting out of the way street in northern Paris. Take the Metro. Visit the Baccarat Museum there.
3. Arche de la Défense and its urban development ‑ fascinating and impressive. Take the Metro to get there.
4. Brûlerie de Café San Jose; 30 rue des Petits Champs to bring home whole bean coffee or sip wonderful hot coffee.
5. Poilâne most famous bread place ‑ 8 rue du Cherche‑Midi at rue de Rennes try apple danish -- bring home whole pain de campagne.
6. Berthillon 77 rue St. Louis en l'Ile‑ best ice cream in Paris cheaper at the window on the street, but fun to sit down inside and be spoiled. Avoid rip‑off joints that advertise glace Berthillon.
7. For the best olive oil go to A l'Olivier 77 rue St. Louis en l'Ile (but I prefer the one just west of the St. Paul le Marais metro stop on the rue de Rivoli.)
8. For marketplaces: near Métro Odeon, rue de Buci; try good very cheap Greek restaurant Oresteia right around the corner from flower stand ‑ rue Grégoire de Tours. Eat at historic Procope on rue de l'Ancienne Comédie. Also rue Mouffetard marketplace on the downhill end of the street ‑worth the visit, best on Sunday mornings.
9. Good picturesque cheap restaurants: Chartier: 7 rue du Faubourg Montmartre.
10. Marché St. Honoré. Try lunch place and wine bar, "Les Rubis" 10 rue du Marché St. Honoré and Chedeville 12 rue du Marche St. Honore for charcuterie.
11. Hermès: 24 rue du Faubourg St. Honoré; exquisite scarves, ties, leather goods ‑ very expensive. Nearby at rue Boissy d'Anglas, Au Bain Marie for kitchen equipment, china, silverware, etc., also the famous Dehillerin on NW corner of the vast Les Halles Shopping Ctr. for knives and copper pots. (18 rue coquillère) Buy books and records at FNAC Forum des Halles and rue de Rennes.
12. From St. Paul le Marais metro stop walk toward the Musée Picasso; you go through the Jewish neighborhood rue des Rosiers ‑try falafel stand, 34 rue des Rosiers, and pastry shop Finkelstein, 22 rue des Rosiers.
13. The wonderful restaurant neighborhood near the Fontaine St. Michel on rue de la Huchette, La Harpe, etc. Restaurants there can be rip offs, but a fun walk. Eat at Chez Hamadi, 12 rue Boutebrie, Paris V, just north of the Cluny Museum. Visit the medieval garden just north of the Cluny Museum.
14. Department stores: Au Printemps and Galeries Lafayette behind the Opera Garnier. Nice cafeteria on the top floor of the Galeries!
15. Change money at American Express behind the Opera Garnier or at Paris Vision, 1 rue Auber next to Opera Garnier or across the street from the east end of the Louvre, near the Seine.
16. Great views from Pont des Art; little park at the end of Ile de la Cité; roof of Pompidou Center; Left Bank bridge facing apse of Notre Dame. Roof of Samaritaine Department Store, the cafeteria there is a pleasant place to eat with splendid views.
17. One of my favorite places is the little park at the downstream tip of the Ile de la Cité. Right near the equestrian statue of Henri IV there is a stone stairway leading down to it. Across there is a wonderful wine bar - provincial restaurant the Taverne Henri IV. Walk around the lovely square behind this restaurant west of the Palais de Justice.