Paris Dream

Missing The Paris Dream

2012-01-08T08:16:00.003-05:00

This article is inspired by an article written by Bonjour Paris, "What The French Miss When Away From France".

Here are the top five things I miss the most being away from Paris specifically:
1. Culture - mainly museums but culture in general

2. Wonderful, affordable wine and especially Champagne

3. Architecture - who doesn't absolutely love Haussmann

4. Accessible, affordable and efficient public transit - who needs a car?

5. Beauty in everything from flower shops on most corners (as noted in the article) to pretty cakes in windows. It seems in Paris every little thing deserves to be beautified.

Of course I also agree with the article on the following points:
1. Bread/Pastries, real baguettes and pain au chocolat, no where else compares!

2. Cheese - choice is unlimited but I miss being able to pick up a Comte at any store without breaking the piggie bank. Here is Canada, it's hard to find and when you do, be prepared to pull out the credit card.

3. Conversations, it is so tiring talking to people about business and what you do for a living. You'd think that North Americans can't think of any other topic to talk about. In Paris it is quite possible to never know what someone does for a living, there are lots of other topics to discuss, and they do.

Read the article from Bonjour Paris.

What do you miss most?

New AutoLib Car Service In Paris

2011-10-04T11:58:00.000-04:00

Blogs and Facebook Pages are buzzing with this month's launch of the new Autolib car sharing service in Paris. The car service is based on the popular Velib (bicycle service).

You can use the Autolib service if you are resident by signing up for a annual or short term membership. Annual membership costs 12 Euros/month, plus usage fees. Overall, the costs are very affordable especially if you consider the cost of car ownership (outrageous and unnecessary). The idea, like Velib is for short term rental, in half hour increments within the city.

Currently in a two month test phase, there are according to some sources, 66 electric cars available for rent by the half hour. The goal of the program is reportedly to reduce car ownership. Ultimately, the plan is to expand the service to 1200 stations by the end of next year.

Intuitively, I like the idea of having a quick, convenient, affordable and eco friendly car rental service. However when I really gave it some thought, I wonder for what I would actually use this service? I am a big supporter of public transit and public transit in Paris is fantastic. You do not need a car in Paris. Yes, for some reason there are still a lot of cars, why I really have no idea.

I lived in Paris for two years and never, never once missed having a car within the city. The only time I needed a car was if I was picking up something that I could not get on the metro or walk home in my shopping cart. On most occasions this was as a result of a visit to Ikea. A short rental service to pick up a shelf or some sort of furniture kit from Ikea, I can get on board with that. The problem, these electric cars seem not much bigger than a Smart car. I cannot see myself getting my build your own Ikea furniture home in one of these electric cars.

So what I ask is the need for these cars?

Take transit, walk or cycle.

Love to hear you chime in on the value of Autolib.

Renting A Furnished Apartment In Paris

2011-09-28T10:49:00.000-04:00

As you may know from other articles written on the Paris Dream, renting to the tourist market in Paris is not legal without a permit. According to an article in Le Figaro, the city of Paris is moving to enforce these laws. The city is cracking down specifically on those renting through a real estate company (SCI). The penalties for not complying to the law are hefty.

According to the article it is still possible to rent a furnished apartment to the holiday market if you have a permit and the rewards are three fold:

Increased rent (up to 10% higher rent than an unfinished Paris apartment)
Reduced taxes (compared to unfurnished)
Easier removal of tenants again compared to unfurnished, however the law still favours the tenant if it is a primary residence (ie student)

Of course there are downsides as well:

Possibility (even likelyhood) of having periods of vacancy
Increase wear and tear on the apartment and furnishings
Must be sure that the building coop allows for rental

Primary target for furnished flats are:

Tourists (shortest term)
Students (usually 9 months)
Executives on a mission

If you decide to go the furnished short-term rental route be sure to know the regulations and comply with them. You do not want to be subject to heavy fines or worse be stuck with a flat that is draining your finances because you hadn't planned properly.

Read the original article from Le Figaro.

How To Find A Good Real Estate Agent In France - Expatica

2011-09-28T10:13:00.001-04:00

Recently I have been reading a number of articles on Expatica, France. I have found this website to be a wealth of information and you may too.

I came across an article about how to find a good real estate agent in France. There are a number of valuable tips included. You can read the full article on How To Find A Good Property Agent.

In addition to the points listed in the article, if you are looking for a flat in Paris you also have to consider that there are many different arrondissements and each will have their own agents. If you have been reading much about Paris real estate (or French real estate) you will well know that there is no MLS type service in France. This makes finding your Paris Dream flat, a lot more challenging. Agents do not share listing information and each will serve only their specific neighbourhood. As a result, you will need to find a good agent in each neighbourhood you are considering.

It is one thing to find a good agent, it is another thing altogether to get the agent to want to work with you. You need to build a relationship with each agent with whom you would like to work. You want them to call you first when a perfect flat comes on the market.

Good luck in finding a good agent to help you in your quest for the Paris Dream.

Companies Come To Employees Aid In France Housing

2011-08-23T12:18:00.000-04:00

Given the over heating of the France Real Estate Market many companies are taking note of this impact on their employees. As a result companies are offering various incentive to employees from loans to subsidized rent. While Ile-de-France (Paris) is the hottest market, many other regions in France are suffering from unaffordable housing as well. Companies in these regions are also offering housing support to their employees.

Read the full article from Les Echos.

Jack, The Dog of Paris

2011-07-27T08:30:00.000-04:00

Move over Yorkie, your place as the pooch of Parisians have been taken by the Jack. What happened to the feisty Yorkie as the dog of choice for Parisians? In this recent visit to Paris, I was struck by the prominence of Jack Russell Terriers, they were everywhere. Any one have any insight into the Yorkie losing favour to the Jack?

I snapped this shot from behind not wanting the owners to think I was a little crazy.

Hôtel de Ville Exhibits

2011-07-25T09:39:00.000-04:00

One of my favourite places to visit for exhibits during my time in Paris is always the Hôtel de Ville. If you love Paris, and really is there anyone who does not, you will love the city of Paris exhibits. I always make a point of visiting.

The exhibits generally focus on a specific topic about Paris. Artists in Paris, la tour Eiffel, etc. I have been to many exhibits here and never once have I been disappointed.

On this past visit to Paris, we visited two exhibits at the Hôtel de Ville, Paris at the Time of The Impressionists and Paris Sur Seine. Both were absolutely outstanding.

There are potentially two small challenges with visiting the exhibits at city hall. The first is that the information is in French. Sometimes they have an audio guide (available in English) but not always. The second is that you are likely going to be queueing to get in. But trust me both current exhibits are worth the line up.

If you love the Impressionists, seeing this exhibit is really wonderful. It explores Paris during the time of the Impressionists which also happens to coincide with the development of Haussmannian architecture in Paris.

Additionally, since part of the Musée d'Orsay is undergoing renovation, you can see some of the beautiful Impressionist paintings at this exhibit that would normally be at the Orsay, some of which have not previously been on public display.

If you are in Paris, visit soon as the exhibit will close at the end of the month.

Do not let the posters around the city promoting Paris On The Seine mislead you about this exhibit. The posters feature an impromptu concert with young people in 1963. This poster could lead you to believe that the exhibition focuses on leisure time on the Seine during the 1960s. However the exhibit is much more than this. The exhibit traces the Seine back to its very early days. It is a fascinating look at the changes and life on the Seine over time. The exhibition runs until September 17th.

Hôtel de Ville exhibits are open daily except Sunday.

Learning To Shop & Cook Like A Parisian

2011-07-22T07:10:00.000-04:00

During our two and a half week stay at a friend's flat in Paris, we visited the grocery store, butcher, fromagerie and boulangerie almost daily. In North America most people tend to do a once a week shopping trip, loading up the car with everything their families need for the coming week. In Paris (and most of Europe actually) people shop on pretty much a daily basis.

In North America we have big cars, big fridges and big pantries to fill up. In Paris most people walk to the market (it is possible to have delivery) and buy what they need for the day (or two). Bread is bought daily as who would want to eat day old bread anyway? Fridges are smaller and storage space is at a premium in most Paris apartments.

For someone who is new to Europe getting in the habit of shopping in this fashion may take some getting used to. I lived in Paris for a couple of years and have more or less maintained this way of shopping even back home in Canada. I like the idea of picking up what I feel like eating that day and generally have fresher food and less waste as a result.

One of the challenges for me though is learning to cook French style using French ingredients. In general, we cook world cuisine at home, everything from Mexican to Asian. Coming from Toronto, the most multicultural city in the world, we have an abundance of ethnic ingredients. I can hear the critics now indicating that there are Asian and Mexican ingredients available but I'm not talking about Old El Paso. Honestly, I could not even find a can of black beans in the Monoprix.

I'm not rejecting French food, that's not the point I am making, rather it is a new way of cooking for me. Learning to make dishes with puff pastry and crème fraîche is new for me.

This is the wonderful shopping street, Rue Montorgeuil.

How to do it? My suggestion visit French restaurants and look at the menus, visit websites for recipes and watch cooking shows, walk down market streets and get inspired by the fresh ingredients. If you can read French well there is no shortage of cooking magazines at the check out counter, get inspired. Look for whatever is in season and experiment.

If you are looking for some ideas to experiment with here at home in Canada/US I can suggest a cooking program called "French Food At Home". The Canadian hostess spent a few years in France learning to cook. She adapts the traditional French recipes to available ingredients here at home.

If in Paris there is a wonderful website called "Paris By Mouth" which rates restaurants in Paris. They have a wonderful search feature which allows you to search by arrondissement, price, type of cuisine etc.

Bon Appetit!

I Blog Different

2011-07-20T10:03:00.001-04:00

I've just returned back to Toronto after a little over two weeks in Paris. In a previous post I mentioned that I was using a Mac with a French keyboard while staying at a friends flat. Initially I tried to write some posts while in Paris however I found the challenge of using the French keyboard not worth the pain. As a result I did not write posts each day as is typical with blogging. In general, I blog differently than perhaps most bloggers. There is a trend to write shorter, more spontaneous blog especially as the smart phone increases market penetration.

I'm a little traditional in my approach to travel and exploring new things. I would rather see the sites with my eyes directly rather than through a lens. As a result I tend not to write short spontaneous posts. While I did take quite a few photos while in Paris, generally speaking I find the process of taking photos distracting from appreciating the experience in front of you.

Now that I am back in Toronto, I will try to go through some of the sites and activities we participated in and update the blog with the information and any suggestions of things not to be missed.

I have one more challenge, after two weeks of using a French keyboard I now have to get used to using an English keyboard again. So if you happen to see "q" instead of an "a" or a ">" instead of a "." it's because I'm readjusting to "la vie anglaise".

Another French/Paris Real Estate Site

2011-07-06T04:19:00.000-04:00

I have just discovered another real estate site for France. Check it out leboncoin.fr. I will provide a review at some point on the Paris real estate section of the site. In the meantime check it out and let me know your thoughts.

I Thought I Knew Paris

2011-07-04T15:18:00.000-04:00

First I would like to write a disclaimer, I am writing this blog from my friend's French keyboard in her flat in Paris. While I lived and worked in Paris for two years I never did really adjust to the French keyboard. My first computer had one before the English keyboard arrived but I always found it strange that you have to shift to get a period, every sentence has one. My French teacher at the time tried to explain the rationale that you need to shift for a cap at the beginning of each sentence so you can shift for the period and just hold for the next letter. I always forget and have to shift twice. Net, net there may be some strange typos in this blog.

Back to the point. As mentioned I lived in Paris for a couple of years and thought that I knew her pretty well. As I was planning this trip, I realised that you can truly spend a lifetime getting to know her. I can equate this to a long time relationship. Each year you learn more about the person but still there are surprises that you didn’t' know about.

As I was planning the trip, I was specifically looking for new things I hadn't had the opportunity to discover. New neighbourhoods, museums that I had never visited etc. Of course I will visit my favourites too but I'm always curious to discover an unknown layer of Paris (at least unknown to me).

I actually think that I spend more time reading blogs, facebook pages etc on Paris than the time we will spend here this visit. To me this is a testament of how great of a city Paris really is. How amazing is it to still have something new to discover on each visit? And even if you have visited every museum and every neighbourhood, something new is always happening. Paris has so many museums and they are constantly changing exhibitions that it is like visiting the first time all over again.

Today was our first full day in Paris and it happened to be free museum Sunday we visited the Pompidou (which happens to be one of my favourite museums) but we did not visit the special exhibits today, we visited the contemporary and modern art exhibits which were part of the free first Sunday visits. I have been to the Pompidou more times than I can remember but I have never visited the permanent collections. We will be going back later in the week to see the temporary exhibits.

Les soldes d'été (Paris Summer Sales)

2011-06-23T08:29:00.001-04:00

This is the first time in a long time that I will be in Paris during the annual summer sales known as les soldes d'été. The soldes run from June 22nd to July 26, 2011. Unlike in North America where sales can be at anytime the retailer wishes, in Paris the are twice a year with a specific time period and all retailers participate. The sales are pretty amazing but often very crowded at the beginning as everyone tries to get the best buys.

The Galeries Lafayette is offering a contest to win a scooter during les soldes. Try your chances.

Is the Euro Finally Going To Fall?

2011-06-17T07:53:00.000-04:00

In a post quiet a while back, I mentioned that I converted a significant amount of Euro currency into USD in the hope/believe that the Euro would come down. This ultimately would make purchasing a flat in Paris more affordable. Since converting the Euro to USD, this has not been the case.

One has to wonder how the Euro can stay so strong during all of the European countries debt crisis (Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain). Of course the US isn't signing along with the economy either which has not helped the currency differences in our favour.

This morning I read the following article on Expatica about the situation in Europe and the potential for the Euro to fall significantly.

La Duree Announcement in NYC

2011-05-24T19:38:00.000-04:00

The other day I posted that LaDuree was opening in London (actually according to their website, they have a couple of locations) but I've just discovered a new location to be opened a little closer to home in New York City.

The new location is said to be opening at 864 Madison. Next time I am in NYC you can be sure that I will be paying a visit for my favourite macaroon experience.

Here is the original article.
http://ny.eater.com/archives/2011/05/fancy_macaron_shop_maison_laduree_opening_nyc_location.php

France Real Estate Bubble

2011-05-23T13:30:00.006-04:00

The Strategic Analysis Centre (CAS) of the Prime Minister's office in France stated in a study that a speculative bubble is at the heart of the sourcing real estate market prices. The study notes that in the last 30 years incomes grew by 30% while real estate prices increased over 50%.

Economists note that the large cities are primarily driving prices as a result of limited supply. The increase was also partly as a result of incentives such as tax incentives. The economists attribute the incentives contributed 50-60% of the increases.

Experts are not in agreement on the possibility of a reversal of this trend. France compared to other OECD members has a lower debt rate which has added to the importance of the resale market. However, experts suggest that residential prices will have to slowly decrease around 30-35% in the next 5-8 years in order to come back in line with household income.

Source: http://www.defiscalisationderobien.com/les-causes-de-la-bulle-speculative-immobiliere-20052011.php

La Duree Announcements in Paris and London

2011-05-20T08:52:00.000-04:00

La Duree is an icon in Paris a must visit and savour the best macaroons. I subscribe to their newsletter and received an update in my inbox this morning with some exciting news.

La Duree offers season specialities and part of the email was to announce new Strawberry offerings but that was not the most exciting news. They also announced a new address on 18 Royale beside the existing 16 Royale in Place Madeleine. 16 Royale is classic elegance. The challenge with the existing address is that the take out counter did not function at all. The space was way too crowded and the mobs of people in the take out area disturbed the guests in the tea room. La Duree has therefore decided to open a location next door to offer the take out items. The new space is very modern looking.

The second announcement is great news for those in London. La Duree is opening a new location in London! What a great idea.

Cost of Housing Now Almost 30% of Income

2011-05-19T11:18:00.000-04:00

In a report released by INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies) on May 17th show concerning data about the cost of housing in France. In the free market, the amount spent on housing (rent, loan repayments, charges and utilities) has risen steadily over the past ten years. The percent of spending on housing increased 3% in the last 10 year to 28.5% of income.

Housing prices rose 141% between 1998 and 2010. Rent earned on average 2.4%/yr for a total of 33% during the same time period. This growth exceeded consumer prices which rose 21% during the same period. During the years since 2000, rent in the private and public sectors combined grew by 29%.

Best Paris Baguettes

2011-05-19T10:54:00.000-04:00

Continuing with my food theme and Where Magazine highlights, today's blog post is about the infamous Baguette. Surprisingly, the article written in Where September 2005 highlights an expert on Baguette who is not, gasp, French but rather an American.

The American, Steven Kaplan who is originally from New York, at the time of the original article was in his 60s, became a historian on French bread. He had written a dozen works on every aspect of baking in France from the 18th century. He is also the author of two books directed at the French public: Le Retour du Bon Pain (return of the good bread) and Cherchez le Pain (find the bread) which is a guide to the best bakeries.

Kaplan's story began in 1962 when he was a student interning at a winery. On a visit to Paris he came across the Poilane bakery on rue du Cherche-Midi and purchased a baguette. Along with some wine and cheese he sat in the Luxembourg Gardens for lunch. Apparently he never got farther than the bread, personally while I love bread, I find it hard to believe that someone could resist the equally fantastic French cheese and wine, but that's how the story is told. This first fascination of the baguette led him to other bakeries and he began documenting the various baguettes and other styles of bread he tasted.

As a graduate student, Kaplan returned to Paris and decided to write his thesis on France's most iconic food - bread.

In his book, Le Retour du Bon Pain, Kaplan writes about the changes that took place in the methods of baking in France during the 20th century. From the 1950s on, bakers began making mass produced, industrialised bread. In the 1990s, traditional baking methods began to return. The traditional methods eliminated all additives and include a slower kneading and longer fermentation process. These methods produce a tasty, caramelised, crispy crust baguettes.

According to Kaplan, about 80% of Parisian bakeries are now making "Traditional" baguettes however in his opinion only about 20% of them are any good and only 5% are extraordinary.

For someone who has never been to France and tasted a really good baguette, it is hard to understand all this attention given to bread, but if you are French or have tasted a really good baguette, it's all very understandable indeed.

From Kaplan's book, Cherchez le Pain, below are his top picks for Baguettes in Paris. I am going to make a point of visiting these bakeries and will write a post about them in July.

Le Boullanger de Monge
123 rue Monge in the 5th
Kaplan's rating: 18.5/20

Maison Kayser
8 rue Monge in the 5th
Also has other locations in the 6th, 8th and 15th
Kaplan's rating: 18.35/20

Jean-Noel Julien
75 rue Saint-Honore in the 1st
Kaplan's Rating: 17.05/20

Le Quartier du Pain
74 rue Saint-Charles in the 15th
Kaplan's rating: 17/20

Philippe Gosselin
125 rue Saint Honore in the 1st
Kaplan's rating: 16.85/20

Know these bakeries? Have an opinion? Let us know.

Where Magazine Paris 50 Favourite Restaurants

2011-05-18T09:41:00.000-04:00

While The Paris Dream Blog is primarily about the search for the perfect flat, while the prices in Paris are absolutely crazy, there isn't much point in continuing to look at the moment. While I continue to monitor the market, I will also write some posts about Paris highlights.

I mentioned in a previous post that I was looking through my old Where Magazines in preparation for a trip to Paris this summer. I am rediscovering some interesting points to discover. The first post was about Paris Terraces - a iconic pleasure in Paris. I seem to be on food thing, today's post will be from the June 2006 issue listing Where Magazine's Fifty Favorite Restaurants.

The list includes restaurants to suit different moods and budgets (no two and three stars were included in the list). I will maintain the groupings according to the original article. Again as a reminder, the list is old so check first before heading out to one but generally good things last in Paris.

As a note, when I have made a personal comment (not in the original article obviously) I have used a dash to preceed my comment.

Always Great
Au Petit Marguery
Classic Parisian restaurant with hearty food

Au Bon St-Pourcain
Tiny, good old fashioned, home cooking.

Stella Maris
Fabulous cuisine with elegant decor.

Current Hits (remember this is in 2006)
Le Cinq Mars
Reliable wine Bistro

La Mediterranee
1950s favourite back on the list.

La Ferrandaise
Charming Bistro with good value and interesting menu.

Dominique Bouchet
Classic French cuisine by a top chef.

Le Vieux Chene
Old fashion appearance with new tastes.

Asian
Le Coin des Gourmet
Reliable Asian cuisine - I did eat here a couple of times.

Baan Boran
Regional Thai food.

Thiou/Petit Thiou
Chic Thai restaurant but also has a less expensive section.

Business Meals
L'Angle du Faubourg
Sophisticated decor and food.

Chiberta
Uptown chic.

Senso
Classic French cuisine.

Cheep and Cheerful - my favourite category!
Lescure
Simple food with rustic decor.

Chez Germaine
Good food at old fashion prices.

Chez Casimir
Next door to Chez Michel offering bargain prices.

Italian
Barlotti
Good pizzas and pasta.

Paolo Petrini
Top Tuscan cuisine.

Il Cortile
Lombardy cuisine, fashion spot.

Emporio Armani Cafe
Located above the store with cool decor and fine Italian cuisine.

Light Lunch
Le Cafe (Artcurial)
Light lunches served in a large art gallery.

Musee Jacquemart Andre
Salads and sandwiches served under a Tiepolo ceiling

Open Sunday
Le Reminet
Tiny restaurant, great chef (article says tender prices - I assume this means expensive).

La Truffiere
Romantic 17th century restaurant, south western fare.

La Table du Lancaster
Small restaurant with interesting cuisine. - Has a great interior garden perfect for 5-7.

Mon Vieil Ami
Small spot on Ille St-Louis with good food.

La Maison
Outdoor terrace serving simple French cuisine.

Le Comptoir
Simple weekend food.

Market
Expensive, innovative food by Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

La Chaumiere
Elegant seafood restaurant.

Butte Chaillot
Guy Savoy Bistro.

La Gare
Former train station in Passy.

Trendy (again this is from 2006)
Cafe Marly
At the Louvre facing the pyramid. - In my opinion, over-rated.

Hotel Costes
Chic see, be seen with attitude.

Alcazar
Modern fusion food, loud.

Kong
Haute design with a glass roof. - Way over-rated in my opinion, personally found the decor tacky and the food was terrible - could have just been my experience.

Georges
Roof of the Pompidou - Can't go wrong with the location. Order wine and save the meal for a less expensive and better quality restaurant.

Music Hall
Kaleidoscopic color changing decor with surprisingly good food.

Murano
Fashion address with excellent contemporary food.

Stresa
Pricey Italian.

Late Night
Au Pied de Cochon
Large seafood platters

l'Alsace
Brasserie on the Champs-Elysees - okay for drinks if you must be on the Champs. Eat meals off the Champs.

La Tour Montlhery
Les Halles Bistro, crowded and noisy.

Auberge Dab
Busy brasserie with large seafood platters.

Wine Bars
Le Rubis
Bistro Melac
Les Enfant Rouges
Le Sancerre
Au Sauvignon

Paris Top Terraces

2011-05-16T13:37:00.000-04:00

As mentioned in the previous post, I was recently reviewing some of my old Where Magazine, Paris editions and thought I would share some of the articles which I found valuable. This first post is about some of Paris' Top Terraces.

The original article is from July 2005 however my experience is that while some new places do open, overall the best things in Paris tend to stay the same. As a result you can generally use any old guide book for Paris, unless you are really a trend hunter in which case I think you are missing out on the best of Paris anyway.

According to Where Magazine, the top Paris Terraces are:

Beauvilliers
A small terrace entangled in wisteria, ivy and roses at the top of the Montmartre staircase.
52 Rue Lamarck
75018 Paris, France
01 42 55 05 42

Le Bistrot de Breteuil
A large terrace on a quite corner offering reasonably priced classic French cuisine.
3 Place Breteuil
75007 Paris, France
01 45 67 07 27

Le Bristol
A large manicured, interior garden serving haute cuisine.
112 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
75008 Paris, France
01 53 43 43 00

Cafe Lenotre
A quiet enclosed terrace on the Champs-Elysees serving small portions of quality food.
10 Avenue des Champs-Elysées
75008 Paris, France
01 42 65 85 10

Cafe Marly
Located in the Louvre arcades. Take your credit card as this is an expensive venture.
93 Rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris, France
01 49 26 06 60

Le Chalet des Iles
In the Bois de Boulogne accessed by boat.
Chemin Ceinture du Lac Inférieur
Porte de la muette, 75016 Paris, France
01 42 88 04 69

Cour Jardin
In the interior courtyard of the Hotel Plaza Athenee. The courtyard is covered with vines, geraniums and umbrellas.
ar des Plaza Athénée, 25 Avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris, France01 53 67 65 00 ‎

Flora Danica
In the Maison du Danemark on the Champs-Elysees.
142 Avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris, France01 44 13 86 26 ‎

La Fontaine de Mars
A small terrace facing a monumental fountain.
Rue de l'Exposition, 75007 Paris, France01 47 05 46 44 ‎

Georges
On the roof of the Museum Pomidou providing a stunning view of Paris rooftops.
19 Rue Beaubourg, 75003 Paris, France01 44 78 47 99 ‎

La Grande Cascade
Also in the Bois de Boulogne. Serving quality cuisine with a second Empire elegance.
75016 Paris, France

Hotel Ritz
Two sides providing different cuisine options. The one side serves haute cuisine from the one-star Espadon restaurant and the other side serves light meals from the Bar Vendome.
15 Place Vendôme, 75001 Paris, France01 43 16 30 30 ‎

Jardin Plein Ciel
On the roof of the Hotel Raphael, this roof top garden serves drinks and dinner offering a stunning view of the Arc de Triomphe and the Tour effiel.
17 Avenue Kléber, 75116 Paris, France01 53 64 32 00 ‎

Laurent
In the historic pavillion in the gardens of the Champs-Elysees.
41 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, France01 42 25 00 39 ‎

La Maison de I'Amerique Latine
A garden of an 18th century mansion serving French cuisine.
217 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75007 Paris, France01 49 54 75 00 ‎

Le Petite Cour
Accessed by a charming bridge and staircase this lower level terrace features a small flowered fountain.
10 Rue Mabillon, 75006 Paris, France01 43 26 52 26 ‎

La Terrasse Fleurie
In the hotel Intercontinental this courtyard garden features two restaurants.
1 Rue Marolles, 94370 Sucy-en-Brie, France01 45 90 40 07 ‎

Pre Catelan
This former opulent private residence is an elegant garden retreat with quality cuisine.
Résidence de la Lisière du Bois, 75016 Paris, France01 44 14 41 14 ‎

Le Quai
A barge on the Seine near the Musee d'Orsay.
1 Port de Solférino, 75007 Paris, France01 44 18 04 39 ‎

Le Restaurant du Palais Royal
In the enclosed gardens of Louis XIV childhood palace, now the Ministry of Culture.
43 Rue de Valois, 75001 Paris, France01 40 20 00 27

River Cafe
Outside the core of Paris in Issy-les-Moulineaux, this outdoor dining spot is on a large barge on the Seine.
146 Quai de Stalingrad, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France01 40 93 50 20

Ziryab
On stunning view of the city from the rooftop of the Arab World Institute with Middle Eastern and North African cuisine.
1 Rue des Fossés-Saint-Bernard, 75005 Paris, France01 40 51 39 27

Paris was made for enjoying a verre (glass of wine) on a terrace so if you are in Paris in the spring, summer or even fall check out some of these wonderful terraces. Check before going to ensure that they are open. As mentioned the original article is from 2005. I removed one of the locations due to closure but generally, classic things remain in Paris.

Enjoy!

Where Magazine Paris

2011-05-16T13:15:00.001-04:00

If you read The Paris Dream blog ongoing, you know I lived in Paris for two years and absolutely fell in love with the city. My flat / apartment was in the 17th. I lived near the Galerie Lafayette Hotel (not the grand magasin). I often walked through the hotel on my way to the metro.

The hotel always had the latest copy of Where Magazine Paris for tourists. While I was not a tourist, I did find the English magazine very useful. Each month I would pick up my copy and see what was on as well as feature articles on a specific topic such as Top Terraces, where to get the Best Baguette etc.

When I returned home from Paris, I kept all of my favourite editions of the magazine. As I am planning a trip to Paris this July I thought I would pull out these magazines and revisit some of the articles.

As a result, I have decided to write a series of posts on some of the articles, starting with Top Terraces in Paris.

Property Management Help In France

2011-03-04T09:06:00.000-05:00

I have just discovered a new resource for Property Management among other services in France. The one challenge is that they do not list Paris as a region in which they provide services. However if you are looking for a company to assist you in the south, Les Bon Voisins may be a good option. Their pricing looks pretty reasonable. You can find them and more information at Les Bons Voisins.

Update On Paris Real Estate Prices

2011-03-02T18:23:00.000-05:00

Back in July I posted an article about Paris Real Estate prices. According to Seloger as of July 31, 2010 the average price per square meter in the 11th was 7620 €/m².

Since I have been watching the market and seeing prices rise like crazy, I thought it would be a good idea to check in and see where prices are actually at now.

So back to Seloger I went to take a look. A flat in the 11th as of Jan 2011 is now 8375 €/m². This is an increase of 755 €/m² compared to July last year. According to Seloger the 11th has increased 16.6% vya, some arrondissements have increased over 20% vya.

Here is the real estate price break out according to Seloger by arrondissement as of Jan 2011.

VENTES
Jan-2011 Prix au m²

Paris 1: 11 200,30 €/m²
Paris 2: 9 840,07 €/m²
Paris 3: 11 187,94 €/m²
Paris 4: 11 936,79 €/m²
Paris 5: 11 013,92 €/m²
Paris 6 :13 331,69 €/m²
Paris 7: 13 757,65 €/m²
Paris 8: 12 330,81 €/m²
Paris 9: 8 823,24 €/m²
Paris 10: 7 745,41 €/m²
Paris 11: 8 374,60 €/m²
Paris 12: 8 420,89 €/m²
Paris 13: 7 819,29 €/m²
Paris 14: 9 039,30 €/m²
Paris 15: 9 047,36 €/m²
Paris 16: 10 294,35 €/m²
Paris 17: 8 820,68 €/m²
Paris 18: 7 676,54 €/m²
Paris 19: 6 745,05 €/m²
Paris 20: 7 619,80 €/m²
Paris average: 9 101,92 €/m²

Buying Real Estate in Paris and France Investment Guide

Guess I'm going to have to save my euros, because it is going to take quite a few!

The Failed Macaroon Attempt

2010-10-21T09:09:00.001-04:00

One of the things I love about Paris are the Macaroons, specifically, Ladurée macaroons.

For some people going to the Effiel Tower, walking on the Champs, visiting the Louvre or any number of other typical Paris activities is what they look forward to on a visit to the city of lights. When I visit Paris at the top of my list of things I must do on a visit, it a trip to Ladurée for a vanilla macaroon and a coupe, tout suite SVP. Now I'm not normally a vanilla girl but until you have tried the vanilla macaroon at Ladurée talk to the hand.

It has been a while since I've had one of those melt in my mouth, oh my god I can't believe something can taste this good, macaroon pastry chef can I marry you, moment. As a result I was inspired to try my hand at making a batch of these very pricey little French cookies. How hard can it be, right? Well I learned why these little French cookies are so pricey. It's apparently not so easy!

The image above is what a macaroon should look like. Take a look at what mine look like.

This is the batter, I think I did not whip the egg whites enough as this seems like it is a little to runny.

This is the resulting very flat, macaroon cookies. They fell flat, flat, flat.

Since I don't give up easily, I'm going to give it a go again, stay tuned to see if attempt two is a success.

Another Paris Dream Flat Contender

2010-09-02T08:50:00.000-04:00

I found another flat which I would seriously consider purchasing. If I were in Paris now I would be arranging a RdV to see this flat asap.

Details:
155000 Euros, 20 m2, 11th arrondissement

Why I like this flat:
- It is in the 11th near a very convenient location for transportation, good metro stop
- It is on the ground floor which means it is less expensive than flats on a higher level but since it is on the court side it will be quieter. And RdC still represents good rental opportunity
- The 11th is a popular arrondissement for young people which would provide a good rental opportunity for students
- It is equipped
- Although it is small (only 20 m2) it has high ceilings, large windows so it doesn't have the feeling of being in a shoe box
- The decor is acceptable, not perfect but clean and reasonable style.
- The building looks nice, well maintained

Take a look: