Image by Pierre BISMUTH

Zen is a Japanese restaurant located rue de l’Echelle in the first district of Paris, practically at the exit of Pyramides Metro, on line 14. Let’s start with the environment : you are just close to Place Colette, where you can assist to a Comedie Française play if you speak French, at 2 steps from le Louvre Museum and and also from Rue St Honoré, one of the most expensive and fashionable street of the capital ! And if you need to breathe, there is the magnificent garden of Tuileries just nearby.

But let’s talk about Zen : this Japanese restaurant is run by Japanese people, and you can find some Japanese girls eating there, which is a good sign for food! Indeed, a lot of Parisian Japanese restaurants are in fact held by Chinese people.

The decor is cheerful, with touches of yellow on the wall, and really is the atmosphere zen, except for the service, very professional and very rapid.

Of course, in this restaurant, you’ll be able to drink miso soup and to eat gyozas, sushis, sashimis and rolls, like Californian, but you’ll be surprised by the freshness of the fish or meat and by the delicateness of your plate. And the desserts are, for once, quite surprising for European people, as you can go for a cheese cake with black sesame.

A good address, very affordable and good to know if you want to eat good food rather quickly.

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Zen | Restaurants (Japanese) | Main meal € 15
8, rue de l’echelle | Louvre/Les Halles | +33142619399
12:00 – 15:00 & 19:00 – 22:30 daily

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Image by Frédéric Moussaïan

The 6th floor of Centre Pompidou is a great place 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, art enthusiasts (for the centre’s exhibitions)

3) regular tourists who, after visiting the collections, climb to the 6th in the famous escalator to enjoy a look from what’s one of the best Parisian views;

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 (which access is not controlled except when there’s a long queue). In sunny days of winter, the glass structure produces a « greenhouse effect », and it’s a real pleasure to doze off in this atmosphere (like at BNF Mitterand).

To reach the 6th floor, you’re supposed to have a ticket for the Centre (it’ll be asked at the exhibitions entrances), but here’s a tip: go to the elevator on the left of the big square (see the map) and say you’re going to the Georges. They’ll let you in, and you’ll take 2 elevators. Once at the 6th floor, feel free to 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 Centre Pompidou | Art & culture, Bars, Relaxing, Restaurants | Free
Place Georges Pompidou | Louvre/Les Halles
Wed – Mon 12:00 – 20:50

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Image by Frédéric Moussaïan

Whether to have a rest on one of the reclining chairs or wandering along the old-fashioned stores of its arcades, the gardens of the Palais-Royal (see the Palais-Royal gardens article) is one of the best chilling place in Paris.

But the immediate neighbourhood of the garden should not be neglected: the rectangle formed by Rues Montpensier, Beaujolais, Valois, and Place du Palais-Royal and Place Colette contains notable curiosities.

Starting at Place Colette, with the famous theatre La Comédie Française, enjoy the Kiosque des Noctambules, the most original métro station entrance, made in 2000 by Jean-Michel Othoniel to celebrate the centenary of Paris’s underground.

In low-trafficked Rue de Montpensier, you’ll find elegant and trendy restaurants or bars, most of which are located in cellars below streetlevel. Several short but elegant covered arcades, like Potier or Beaujolais connect this island of quietness to the busier Rue de Richelieu. But the most interesting spot, just at the angle of Montpensier and Beaujolais streets, is without a doubt the beautiful Théâtre du Palais-Royal, with its outdoor stairs.

Rue de Beaujolais, named after a French wine region near Lyon, is full of small wine restaurants, and Le Grand Véfour (already inside the ceint of Palais-Royal buildings) is one of the smartest and most famous.

Rue de Valois has less interesting things, except the original and bourgeoise Place de Valois, and the interesting view on the office of the Minister of Culture.

Back to Place du Palais-Royal, the busiest square around, with its skaters and rollers’ addicts…

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Around Palais-Royal | Art & culture, Relaxing, Theaters, Restaurants
Place Colette | Louvre/Les Halles
24 hours daily

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Image by xtof

The main thrill of the Tambour is undoubtedly its curious opening hours. Fancy a steak or an onion soup at 4 am? 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 wines. The place fills up with well-heeled post-show/theater goers, hungry post-bar students and all manner of miscellaneous others.

In my experience its always busy and whilst there is no definite obligation to eat, ordering a plate of cheese will probably land you a table a bit quicker.

Characteristic of old bistrot culture, you’ll be packed onto tiny tables next to strangers so be prepared for a bit of cross-table banter. They also maintain that dangerous tactic of leaving a huge bottle of wine on your table for you to drink (and pay for) as much as you consume…

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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

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