The ParisSharing Blog

Posts Tagged ‘restaurants’

The Cinnamon Tree–it even sounds appealing in English. We recommend this restaurant for a wet and cold day in Paris, combined with an exploration of all the covered passages that make the 2nd arrondissement seem like architectural Swiss cheese. Perhaps after your outing to one of the numerous theaters in the district or after paying a visit to your favorite waxed celebrities at the nearby Musée Grévin.

Our recommendation isn’t based on the entire menu, but specifically on the quiches and deserts. The red fruit crumble is fabulous, as is the “café gourmand”. Above all, the decor is worth the detour–an authentic relic from the nineteenth century. It used to be a chocolatier.

Reaonably priced : quiches for 8,50€, deserts for 5,20€.

Address: passage des Panoramas, 2nd arrondissement

See video:  L’arbre à Cannelle

and more ParisSharing restaurant choices here.

On one of the three most beautiful days the year 2010 had to offer, it began as a quest for the best terrace café within 2 minutes of the Luxembourg gardens. There are millions of people looking for exactly that, so part of what we do at Paris-Sharing is…to share such priceless advice. By luck, we got in on this opportunity early on. The Charivari only opened this year, replacing a rather tired and disappointing café called O Poivrier.

Let’s not be mistaken, this is not a Michelin three star, it’s just a brasserie that doesn’t count on its prime location and sunny terrace to satisfy customers. The cuisine is tasty and carefully prepared. Particular mention in the photo below goes to the homemade bed of whipped potatoes.

The servers are friendly (remember this is worth a premium in Paris),  and we immensely appreciated the offer to taste the wine before ordering (we were hesitating between two). More about the brasserie Chivari on the Paris-Sharing restaurant guide.

A good hour tanning on the terrace allows one to reflect  on what “charivari” is all about. First discovery : charivari is orgininally a French word meaning (in English) ”A mock serenade of dissonant noise done with kettles and tin horns meant to annoy. Generally when an older person married a very young person.”  That’s from Webster’s 1913 Dictionary. In French, the word continues to designate an uproar or hullabaloo. After almost 20 years of learning French, I hadn’t come across that one yet.

Second discovery : “le charivari” was also a satirical journal founded by Charles Philipon in 1832, famous for its subversive treatment of life in the July Monarchy and the Second Empire.

With those tidbits of culture added to your collection, go enjoy a lunch at the Charivari before it becomes over-popular!

If you would like to stay nearby, consider some of our current and exclusive offerings on Paris-Sharing:

- Chez Anne on the boulevard Saint Germain

- Vast Hauseman-style home next to the Bon Marché

- A loft come true

It was an idea waiting to happen: a place to eat in Paris where  kids could be kids without being frowned upon. A place also where both kids and parents would approve of each other’s  menu. Finally, a place that would be nothing like MaDonald’s!

More than a restaurant, “les 400 coups” is a place for families with kids to hang out. There is a play room, a reading room, and a workshop room where kids can participate (upon reservation) in activities organized by special guests. A cooking workshop just for kids, for example. There are also weekly jazz or classical music concerts and storytelling sessions.

There’s something both Scandinavian and Bohemian about the place, founded (as you might expect) by two Parisian moms. To discover it, you will have to leave behind the plush quarters of Paris and venture into one of those east-side districts where the future is being invented. The restaurant is located 12 bis, rue de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement,  not far from the Buttes-Chaumont (a must-see park for your kids). Easy access by the metro stop “Jordain”. See more on www.les400coups.eu.

Another recommended place to eat with kids in Paris is the Marché des Enfants Rouge, that we blogged about several months ago. If you are in the 2nd arrondissement, you should take advantage of the authentic Japanese noodle (called “Lamen”) eateries, such as Hokkaïdo located 14 rue Chabannais. For other ideas on places to go with kids in Paris, check out a blog called Bayccino.

Are you left wondering what in the world is meant by “les 400 coups”? The answer is here.

Don’t forget the Paris-Sharing way : save on your accommodations and enjoy more of Paris ! See our many apartments available on the east side of Paris.