Louvre/Les Halles – Local tips (restaurants)

The 6th floor of Pompidou Centre is a great place for those who want to have an overview of Paris’s sociology. Indeed, 4 different categories of what constitute Paris’s crowd can be examined:

1) snobbish Parisians and rich tourists meet at Georges (like Georges Pompidou) restaurant, a trendy place to be seen, with a terrace offering a view on surrounding areas, including Palais de Justice and Notre-Dame;

2) art students or simply art enthusiasts (6th floor hosts the most popular exhibitions of the Centre);

3) regular tourists who, after visiting the collections on the 4th floor, climb to the 6th in the famous escalator to have a look and take pictures from what’s one of the best views of Paris;

4) finally, a 4th category, which I belong to, of people who get there only to have a break or even a nap on the comfortable coloured sofas in the hall. In sunny days of winter, the glass structure produces a « greenhouse effect », and it’s a real pleasure to doze off in the middle of this chaotic atmosphere.

To reach the 6th floor, you’re supposed to have a ticket for the Centre (it’ll be asked if you want to visit the exhibitions), but here’s a tip: go to the elevator on the left of the big square and say you’re going to the Georges. They’ll let you in, and you’ll take 2 elevators. Once on the 6th floor, feel free to actually go to the Georges, or just admire the view, or of course, enjoy a decent nap on the sofas!!!

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6th floor of Pompidou Centre | Art & culture, Bars, Relaxing, Restaurants | Free
Place Georges Pompidou | Louvre/Les Halles
Wed – Mon 12:00 – 20:50

Gardens of Palais Royal are like the minds of French people: at first glance they are symmetrical, rational, organized… Cartesian. The palace itself is very homogeneous, like in Place des Vosges (see this article). Everything looks in order. But after a while, you’ll notice a hint of anarchy, disorder, a laid back atmosphere, and sometimes even a big confusion!

More Parisian than neighbouring Jardin des Tuileries, which is gorgeous too but very busy and touristic, Palais Royal is an excellent place to observe Paris’s bourgeoisie: on weekdays, young executives enjoying their lunch break mix with young nannies and their pushchairs, retired people cross-wording or simply observing life, and young boys playing football and dirtying their school uniform in the sandy ground… In hot seasons and sunny weekends, you’ll see a more various and relaxed crowd, including lost or well-informed tourists.

My preference goes to the central pond, mostly for its great chairs inviting for a delicious nap rocked by the continuous murmur of the fountain. But the flowered areas with benches are also nice and quieter. Sometimes, exhibitions of contemporary sculptures are displayed in the gardens, adding a touch of anachronism in this once royal residency.

In summer evenings it’s an excellent place to sip a bottle of wine, throw a picnic or try to play pétanque: garden remains open until its restaurants close.

Have a look at the arcades too: its mixture of very fashionable and very kitschy stores (search the pipe shop and the military decorations and medals ones) perfectly illustrates the contrast between old-fashioned declining grandeur and modern vitality of Palais Royal and its surroundings.

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Jardins du Palais Royal | Art & culture, Bars, Relaxing, Restaurants (French) | Free
2 place Colette | Louvre/Les Halles
07:30 – 20:30 daily (later in summer)

The main thrill of the Tambour is undoubtedly its curious opening hours. Fancy a steak or an onion soup at 4am? Well then the Tambour is probably the place for you.

The food is traditional French: various cuts of meat, cheese boards and a good selection of wine etc. The place fills up with well-heeled post-show/theater goers, hungry post-bar students and all manner of miscellaneous others.

The atmosphere is always busy and convivial and there is no real necessity to eat, though ordering a plate of cheese will probably land you a table quicker at busy times.

Characteristic of the old bistrot culture, you will be packed onto tiny tables next to strangers where inter-table banter is naturally struck-up and new acquaintances made.

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Le Tambour | Bars, Restaurants (French) | Steak € 15
41 rue Montmartre | Louvre/Les Halles | +33142330690
Tue – Sat 12:00 – 06:00, Sun – Mon 18:00 – 06:00

Looking to grab a quick drink and some snacks? Do you like feisty, fun waiters and a festive environment? Then Les Piétons is for you!

Nestled in the midst of the otherwise touristy Chatelet area and easily accessible by a host of metro and bus lines, Les Piétons is a good place to go for tapas and has a host of good deals.

Stop by for lunch for the very well-priced lunch menu every day but Sunday, which will give you the choice of three tapas plates, dessert and a glass of sangria or soda for only €13.50. The warm tapas are the best and the small portions make this an ideal place to go with friends and share different types of dishes. The menu also includes a plat du jour and paella for those wanting a heavier meal.

The place gets quite busy at night, for those who like a livelier ambiance. Lunchtime is best for those who wish to have quieter conversation.

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Les Piétons | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Spanish) | Tapas dish € 4.50
8 rue des Lombards | Louvre/Les Halles | +3348878287
12:00 – 02:00 daily

Located in the posh Opéra neighborhood, the rue Sainte Anne is perhaps the best place to go in Paris for the widest variety of Japanese food. As it’s not far from the Grands Boulevards and its posh shopping spots, and just a few blocks from the Louvre, rue Sainte Anne is a great place to walk after shopping or sightseeing for a quick and delicious meal.

A veritable “Little Tokyo,” you can find everything from ramen restaurants, sushi takeout spots and tiny Japanese grocery stores where Japanese snacks and products can be found.

I love taking a stroll down the street and trying new restaurants. A good way to spot a good restaurant is by the lines of people waiting outside – as most of these restaurants are tiny and don’t take reservations, be prepared to either wait for a little while, or move on to sample some of the other choices.

My favorite restaurant is Sapporo 2 (see the Sappora 2 article) but there are many other choices that are sure to satisfy.

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Rue Sainte Anne | Art & culture, Relaxing, Snacks, Restaurants (Japanese)
Rue Sainte Anne | Louvre/Les Halles
24 hours daily

Sapporo Restaurant (2) is the sister restaurant to the Sapporo Ramen restaurant that is close to the Louvre on rue Saint Honoré. Sapporo on rue Sainte Anne is my go-to place for friendly, lightning-fast service and delicious Japanese meals.

Don’t miss ordering their famous dumplings (gyoza) as a starter to your meal. They are delicious, perfectly seasoned and great when dipped in soy sauce. For lunch or dinner, the big steaming bowls of ramen or the noodle dishes are the best. The portions are huge and you definitely won’t leave hungry!

With lunch menus starting at only €10 (from 11:30-15:00) and dinner menus from €11.50 (from 18:00 – 22:00) for copious amounts of ramen or noodles with dumplings, rice and soup, Sapporo offers a delicious meal for a budget-friendly price.

Please note that credit cards are not accepted and neither are reservations – but this restaurant is definitely worth a wait!

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Sapporo Restaurant | Restaurants (Japanese) | Lunch menu € 10.00
37 rue Sainte Anne | Louvre/Les Halles | +33142606098
11:30 – 22:30 daily

One of my favorite treats in the States was boba, or “bubble tea” – flavored tea beverages with tiny gelatinous tapioca balls or “pearls” that are sucked through a wide straw. Though the beverage originated in Taiwan, it has spread throughout Asia, and more recently to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S.

Boba tea was one of the treats that I accepted leaving behind when I moved to Paris, as I didn’t expect to find it here. Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered ZenZoo – a restaurant and boba teahouse near the rue Sainte Anne and the Louvre.

The restaurant is tiny and seems to always be very busy but also offers a takeaway window to take tea to go. There are several different tea flavors on the menu that can be enjoyed as boba drinks, and there are also more traditional tea drinks. I recommend the green tea with m

ilk – boba style of course!

ZenZoo is the perfect place for people who want to try boba for the first time and boba veterans who are looking for their fix.

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ZenZoo | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Asian) | Large bubble tea € 5.50
13 rue Chabanais | Louvre/Les Halles | +330142962728
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 23:00