Connect to share and comment
Home » Culture & Lifestyle » Travel/Tourism
September 20, 2010 17:24Updated September 20, 2010 17:24
Add Ben Barnier to your circles

Video: Paris like a local

GlobalPost's Ben Barnier, a native Parisian, shares his favorite destinations for a drink, a date, a view of the skyline, and for glimpsing residents of a previous century.

What do you think?

SEE 
 
Le Georges (bar restaurant with a view) 
 
- 19 rue de Beaubourg, 75004 Paris, metro Rambuteau or Chatelet, at the top floor of the Pompidou Museum. 
- Phone: +33 (0)1 4478 4799 
- Reservations required? For dinner yes, for a drink no. 
- Website: http://restaurantgeorges-costes.com/ 
- Price for a meal for two, without alcohol: $90-110. I do not recommend having dinner there, it is better for a drink. 
- Noise level: medium 
- Is it indoor or outdoor? Both 
- Dress: neat.    
 
 
EXPLORE  
 
The Catacombs (underground ossuary) 
 
- Address: 1 Place Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris, right in front of the Denfert-Rochereau metro station.  
- Phone number: +33 (0)1 4322 4763 
- Website: www.catacombes-de-paris.fr/english.htm 
- Opening days and hours: it is open everyday except Monday from 10am to 5pm, careful the last admission is at 4pm. It is probably best to go there in the morning. 
- Advance bookings required? yes for groups. 
- Price: $10 
- How and where to make bookings: call the following number: +33 (0)1 4322 4763 
- How much time to allow: 1h30 
- Special equipment, experience or dress: you should not visit the catacombs if you are claustrophobic. 
 
 
DRINK 
 
Chez Prune (bohemian bourgeois bar) 
- Address: 36 rue Beaurepaire, 75010 Paris, next to the quaint Canal St Martin, near the Republique metro station. 
- Phone number: +33 (0)1 4241 3047 
- Reservations required? No. 
- Website: www.cityvox.co.uk/bar_paris/chez-prune_7889/profile-place 
- Price for a meal for two, without alcohol: $80. I recommend the Kir there (a mix of white wine and syrup for around $5). It is also very sweet for breakfast, with a very decent cafe au lait ($5). 
- Noise level: quiet in the morning, afternoon, busy and loud in the evening. 
- Is it indoor or outdoor? Both 
- Dress: casual. Long (and dirty) hair is a plus. Facial hair is a plus (for men).     
 
 
PLAY  
 
The Guinguette de l’Ile du Martin Pecheur (old fashion dancing) 
 
- Address: 41 Quai Victor Hugo, Champigny sur Marne. This is fairly close to the “Champigny sur Marne” RER station, on the “A” line. It is more convenient to go there by car, it is a 20 to 30 minute ride from downtown Paris.  
- Phone number: +33 (0)1 4983 0302‎ 
- Opening days and hours: it is open on weekends only. You must check the schedule, because it varies according to the seasons. The Guinguette is more fun when it is sunny, because you can walk by the Marne river. It is an afternoon activity. 
- Advance bookings required? no. 
- Price: Lunch costs around $70 without alcohol. You can also go there and just get a drink for around $4. 
- How much time to allow: two hours 
- Special equipment, experience or dress: you do not need to be a skilled dancer to go there. It is very low key, not nightclub-like.   
 
 
EAT 
 
Les Quilles (home-style French food in the Menilmontant neighborhood) 
- Address: 23 Boulevard de Menilmontant, 75011 Paris. Near the Menilmontant metro station.  
- Phone number: +33 (0)1 4700 0366 
- Reservations required? No. 
- Website: www.restoaparis.com/fiche-restaurant-paris/les-quilles.html 
- Price for a meal for two, without alcohol: $80. Ask the waiter for wine recommendations, they have a very peculiar selection of wines (mostly red).
- Noise level: medium.  
- Dress: casual.    
 
 
BUY 
 
Merci Concept Store (trendy retail store) 
- Address: 11 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003 Paris. Right next to the Saint-Sebastien Froissart metro station.  
- Phone number: +33 (0)1 4277 0033 
- Website: http://www.merci-merci.com/ 
- Opening days and hours: Monday to Saturday - 10am to 7pm.  
- How much time to allow: one hour
 

http://www.globalpost.com/passport/travel/100920/video-paris-local