FAQ: Where do I eat near my hotel in the ?th arrondissement?
Now, a lot of Americans, especially those coming from the West Coast, ask bloggers and food website habitues where to eat near where they’re staying or working or viewing and that makes sense when you don’t want to incur big taxi bills or walk enormous distances in hilly places.
But Paris is not La Jolla. It has one of the most efficient and comprehensive public transportation systems in the world. Maybe not the newest, but it’s being constantly renovated, expanded and improved. And, it has far more escalators than places like New York.
The combination of city and suburban buses, subways, trams and suburban rapid-trains (RER) enables you to go from the far reaches of the 18th say, where I live, to the far reaches of the 13th, 14th and 15th, where I frequently dine, in 30-50 minutes. And even through, even seasoned visitors balk at going outside the peripherique, Paris’s city limits, to places like Levellois-Perret or Le Perreux Sur Marne or Meudon, those too are where good eats can be found.
Plus - one weekly pass (the Navigo) that you just swipe or plotz is not only good on everything, it covers the whole Ile de France on weekends, if Versailles or Disneyworld tempt you.
So while I suspect my loyal readers know all this, if someone Googling my site for the first time wants to know where to eat in the ?th arrondissement, the answer is “Go West, young man,” or East, or North, or South.
I believe one needs a monthly Navigo in order to go beyond zones 1+2 le weekend.
Posted by: o.h.lee | October 23, 2012 at 05:35 PM
Well, then, I guess I might be liable to "theft of service" charges. It worked for me.
Posted by: John Talbott | October 23, 2012 at 06:01 PM
1. Many tourists who ask for recommendations near their hotel actually do not know where their hotel actually is. There are many hotels with names like Blablabla Etoile or Blablabla Champs Elysées, that are actually several metro stops away from Etoile or the dreadful Champs, in the 17th. Ditto hotels named Blablabla Tour Eiffel, Blablabla Montparnasse, Blablabla Opéra, Blablabla Republique. Often posters ask for a hotel within walking distance, then 30 replies later realized it was the wrong location and total waste of everyone's time.
2. I do defend visitors who like to walk home after a meal. Especially in Paris, walking home is a lovely extension of the enjoyment of the soirée. Plus, who wants to get into a smelly metro after having a good meal. Therefore, after dinner, walk or taxi.
Posted by: Parigi | October 23, 2012 at 07:13 PM
Navigo is great because it allows hopping on and off at whim so walk some and ride some. Also I highly recommend the bus. It is a great way to take public transport and still see the city. If you are coming to Paris, live and explore a little.
Posted by: CAM | October 24, 2012 at 12:54 AM
One can buy a Navigo for any denomination of zones from 1-2 through 1-5, or for travel between outer zones only.
Posted by: Margaret Pilgrim | October 25, 2012 at 04:11 PM
Sorry. I meant to write WEEKLY Navigo etc.etc.
Posted by: Margaret Pilgrim | October 25, 2012 at 04:13 PM
o.h.lee > I believe one needs a monthly Navigo in order to go beyond zones 1+2 le weekend.
Starting September 1st 2012, the whole of the Ile-de-France region is "dezoned" on week-ends, meaning you can use your Navigo pass to go to any destination within the 5 zones.
www.ratp.fr/fr/ratp/r_72748/dezonage-du-forfait-navigo-le-week-end-et-les-jours-feries/
It's a good opportunity to check restaurants in the suburbs.
Posted by: Vincent | November 10, 2012 at 10:25 PM