Willi's Wine Bar

          This is our absolutely favorite place.  Part of the reason is Willi’s poster art – many of which we have framed in our apartment.  The staff has always been nice to us too.  Cost of a meal, including a bottle of wine, for 2 is roughly 90 euros at lunchtime and maybe 110 euros for dinner.

          But stop there for a glass of wine in the afternoon.  Sit at the bar and the staff will help you select a white or red wine.  You might want to spring for a plate of cheese to pass the time.

          To get to Willi’s:  find the Palais Royale-Musee du Louvre Metro station opposite the Le Comeide Francaise on Rue Saint-Honore (one block north of Rue Rivoli); it is a very art deco sign which reads “Metro.”  Find the narrow passage way between Le Comedie Francaise and an outdoor café.  The passageway will lead you to some black-and-white modern art, then to a lovely tree-lined garden with a reflecting pool in the middle.  Walk through the park and exit at the opposite end.  You will exit onto a small street; continue walking in the same direction and you’ll see another small street that goes up a small hill.  In the distance you’ll see a sign for Le Grand Colbert – the restaurant featured in the movie Something’s Gotta Give with Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson.  But don’t go that far.  The cross street is Rue des Petits Champs.  Turn left and the blue door is #13 Rue des Petits Champs, that’s Willi’s Wine Bar.

          Sit at the bar.  Ask the staff to suggest a wine.  Maybe get some cheese.  Relax a bit. 

An Abundance of Choices of Places to Eat

           Not far from the Louvre is a great little square with an abundance of mealtime choices.  Place due Marche Saint-Honore has a bunch of really nice restaurants to choose from. 

          If you’ve been to the Louvre, you’ve taken the #1 train from George VI station.  Place de la Concorde is a stop before you get to the Louvre.  The next stop is Tuileries; then Palais Royale-Musee du Lourve. 

          Opposite the Tuileries Metro Station is a street the ends on Rue Rivioli – Rue du 29 Juillet.  Follow Rue du 29 Juillet one long block, cross Rue Saint-Honore (which is a great street to walk down; lots of interesting shops).  At the corner of Rue du 29 Juillet is a restaurant – Le Coupe d’ Or (the gold cup) which is okay and Baby Tuileries (fight to urge to buy baby clothes there).  Continue walking toward the glass building at the end of the street.  This is Place due March Saint-Honore.  Walk counter clockwise around the square:

·         Le Pain Quoliden has great open face sandwiches.

·         Charly Bun’s is a hamburger place – remember to eat with knife & fork

·         Rozowsiki’s is another hamburger place.

·         Cuisine et Confidences has great salads.

Nice Walk to a French Neighborhood -- Rue Cler

         Rue Cler is a special place for Jeanne and me.  We usually have a late lunch/early dinner on our first day at Rue Cler.  It is maybe a 15 minute walk from our apartment.

        From our apartment (facing out), turn left and walk down to Avenue Marceau.  Walk down the hill toward the Seine.  (At the bottom of the hill, note the location of the Alma-Marceau Metro station.)  As you cross the street to walk across the bridge (Pont Alma), note the gold flame.  This is a Word War I monument, but it has become a place to leave flowers and notes in memory of Princess Diana.  Her limo crashed at this location – see the traffic underpass below the street.

        Cross Pont Alma keeping to the right-hand side.  (Note the beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower.)  After crossing the bridge, cross the street and then make an immediate left to cross the street again; then a right on Ave Bosquet.  You’ll walk 3 long blocks along Ave Bosquet and reach Ave Sainte-Dominic – there’s a café on the corner and a drug store across the street.  Take a left on Ave Sainte-Dominic; one block later you are at the base of Rue Cler.  Turn right and walk along the street.  A block later you’ll see lots of shops, markets and restaurants.  Further along, note Café Central – one of our favorite places.  Good wine.  Good food.  Spaghetti if that’s your taste.  Jeanne has always enjoyed the fish.  They have Eggs Benedict which is the best Eggs Benedict I’ve ever tasted!  Be sure to order Pom Frites (don’t call them French fries) on the side.

Nice Walk to an English Pub/Eiffel Tower and Back

         One of the biggest challenges to newbie’s visiting Paris is finding a place to eat where you don’t have to stress out about the menu.  A nice 10 minute walk from our apartment will take you to Frog XVI at 110 Avenue Kleber.  It’s an English pub with traditional English pub food. 

        From our apartment (facing out), make a right and walk down to where avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie intersects with a big traffic circle with a statute of George Washington on a horse.  This is Place de Iena; note the location of the Metro station for future reference. 

        Walk around the traffic circle counter-clockwise.  The second street is Rue de Longchamp.  Walk up the hill until you reach Avenue Kleber.  (Far to the right you might be able to see the Arc de Triumph.)  Cross Avenue Kleber to the far side; turn left and proceed to No. 110.  Enjoy the pub.

        You can retrace your steps back to our apartment, or, if you are feeling ambitious, continue walking down Ave Kleber (away from Rue de Longchamp) and you will arrive at The Torcadero.  From there you can (1) proceed to the Eiffel Tower or (2) locate Ave President Wilson and walk (left) back to the George Washington statute and Ave Pierre 1er de Serbie or (3) take the Metro from the Toracdero station to the Iena station (by the George Washington statute).

        Have fun!