Paris/Amsterdam recommendations please?

[hz80408]

For Amsterdam, I really don't have any major recommendations; although we stayed near pub, De Beiaard and thought it was a cozy spot (they're cheese sticks app is amazing; cheese in Wontons)

My parents rec'd these places, but we ended up not going to any of them. Café Van Zuylen (pub food, but had an outdoor patio that they ate three meals at during their trip). They also recommended La Vita for Italian as well as Villa Zeezicht and Hotel Pulitzer for a nicer evening meal.

Paris:
We stayed in St Germaine in April. Our favorite meal was on St. Louis Island, Auberge de laReine Blanch (30, rue de St-Louis-en-l'Ile): here's a post about it: shineisntalwaysshimmer.blogspot.com/2012/05/paris-day-3.html

If you haven't gone up Tour Montparnesse (the skyscraper) at night for an Eiffel Tower view; I'd recommend it or Printemps cafe for lunch and roof top view.

We really enjoyed our Fat Tire Bike tour; but if you're going in the winter and have been before, it's probably not worth it

[hz80408]

Aug 13, 2012 11:01:22 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

For Paris - there's a cemetery there where Chopin is buried that's similar to Recoleta in Buenos Aires or the cemeteries in NOLA (i.e. above-ground, huge tombs, etc.), but the name escapes me but I know you can Google it.

Pere Lachaise Cemetary! Jim Morrison is also buried there. We went; it's a beautiful cemetary. Rick Steves has a walking tour if you're interested.

[Deleted]

For Paris - nothing fancy, but I love, love, love (like dream about love) the roast chicken from Brasserie Balzar in the 5th. It's right off of Blvd. St. Michel.

Another hole in the wall chock full of locals and very reasonable prices is Le Coupe de Torchon that's up the street from the Pantheon on Rue St. Jacques. It's nothing fancy and a traditional menu.

There's a little Belgian Bar on Rue St. Germain that MH and I had some pretty good Moules et Frites several years back. I can't remember the name but it's down by Brasserie Lipp.

Sandwiches at Paul's are always a solid quick and inexpensive lunch option.

Coffee and people watching at either Les Deux Magots or Cafe de Flore is perhaps a bit touristy, but something I never pass up the opportunity to do.

For a bit of a hidden gem, there's a restaurant in the Air France Bus Terminal, aerogare des invalides, called Chez Francoise that is fantastic. When you walk in, you would never think you're in the middle of a bus terminal, it's even a little swanky. We had Christmas Eve dinner there a few years back and it was very tasty. Their Prix Fixe menus are reasonably priced.

Gelato from Amorino or Berthillon is a must.

For some unknown reason, I like to walk through grocery stores in foreign countries, it's also a great place to pick up little things if you need to bring something back for a pet sitter, office, etc. For other foodie shopping any of the Grand Magasins and the Madeleine are must dos. I hoard jam from Hediard.

There's a small museum in Luxembourg Gardens that usually has an interesting exhibit.

If you haven't been to the Orangerie for the water lilies it's worth a visit. It was closed for many years for renovations, but reopened about 5 years ago.

I love walking around the Marais around Rue de Temple/Archives, lots of cute boutique shops.

[marytini]

::sitting in the corner listening in::

3 weeks from today we leave!

[allibally]

Bike Tour in Amsterdam! We had a great time a Mike's Bike Tour. We only had a day in Amsterdam so it was nice to see the city that way.

[anna7602]

Aug 13, 2012 14:43:33 GMT -5 v said:

Thanks so much guys!

bonsoir, I love love love foreign grocery stores too

Then check out the Grand Epicerie, it's the gourmet food market attached to the Bon Marche department store (left Bank). You might also like the outdoor markets, although they are a little sparse in August now. The one on Blvd. Raspail (easy walking distance from Saint Germain) is on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. And the one on Place Monge (5th arrondissement) is really picturesque.

If cemeteries are your thing, I actually prefer the Montparnasse Cemetery to Pere Lachaise. Unless you are looking for a specific famous person in Pere Lachaise. The ones I swoon over (Cortazar & other literary types) tend to be in Montparnasse.

[hz80408]

I love foreign groceries too. We wandered into a couple in St. Germain. And we ate several breakfasts at Paul since they're everywhere!

Marty-how exciting! Your trip is so similar to ours and I'd love to relive it!!

[mdgirl]

Aug 14, 2012 6:31:43 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

[Then check out the Grand Epicerie, it's the gourmet food market attached to the Bon Marche department store (left Bank).

Big second to this. I was so tired when I got there and I still managed to wander around for an hour. And there's a park across the street from the main store if you want to get things to have a little picnic.

[pumpkin]

I know it's already been mentioned, but definitely check out Saint Chapelle. It's one of my favorite places in Paris. And if you're looking for a day trip from Paris I also love going out to Giverny and going to Monet's Garden.

[chicago]

Ditto on checking out the Marais area in Paris.

Dinner - we really loved Les Cocottes. I can't remember it's exact location, but it was near the Rue Cler area. Their soups were so yummy and we loved the cocottes as well.

www.maisonconstant.com/eng_cocottes.htm

[anna7602]

Aug 14, 2012 18:35:44 GMT -5 chicago said:

Ditto on checking out the Marais area in Paris.

Dinner - we really loved Les Cocottes. I can't remember it's exact location, but it was near the Rue Cler area. Their soups were so yummy and we loved the cocottes as well.

www.maisonconstant.com/eng_cocottes.htm

I think it's on Rue Dominique??? We really like this place, too, although it's easier to get a seat at lunchtime than during dinner.

[MissusTexas]

Check out the iAmsterdam card and the Holland Pass to see if either will save you money. I compared them extensively and we chose the Holland Pass, but I think most people use the iAmsterdam card.

We LOVED the Heineken Experience, so do that if you can! We did a boat tour with Holland International, but the glass sides made it difficult to take pictures through since it was sprinkling a bit and the audio guide sucked. I wouldn't recommend them.

[jaybird]

I go to Amsterdam often for work, so I have some off the beaten track suggestions.

Just for general suggestions: watch out for the bikes. Everyone warned me to be careful but the first thing I did was hop out of my taxi right into a bike lane and almost got hit. Mopeds are allowed in the bike lanes too, just to add to the excitement.

Museum-wise, the Rijksmuseum is almost entirely closed for renovation. If you want to go to the Van Gogh museum, which I recommend, you can buy tickets across the street at the Diamond museum and skip the line. Between Museumplein and Vondelpark is Van Baerlestraat street which has cute shops.

For food: definitely go to a Rice Table. I like Blauw but it was recently written up in the Times so it was really crowded when I went in April. I also like Srikandi but it's very low key. If you want Indonesian but not a rice table, Blue Pepper is good but a bit expensive. They also do a tasting menu. For Dutch food, Pantry is my favorite. I also really liked a Dutch restaurant right near Hotel Pulitzer that the concierge recommended, I think it's Moeders but I'm only basing that on where I thought it was on the map. For breakfast and lunches I like B and B lunchroom, which is a Pret a Manger type place. Since you mentioned you like visiting markets, the Albert Cuyp market has delicious cheese and breads, beautiful flowers to ogle, and is fun to walk through.

For drinks: Both Ledseplein and Rembrantplein have fun outdoor areas if you want pubs. The Intercontinental Hotel has a nice bar overlooking the canals, but sometimes they close it off unless you're having dinner there. Near there is a houseboat restaurant where you can also have drinks on the canal. I think it's Amstelhaven but their website is down so I'm not sure. Also, if you're looking for a non-seedy coffeeshop there's a specific one that all the university professors prefer and I could find the name for you.

[5kcandlesinthewind]

In Paris, if you are a beef lover, we loved Robert et Louise, over in the Marais. It's steak cooked over an open hearth. It was delicious. It felt like a country farmhouse in there.

Also, check out L'Etoile d'Or, a really awesome candy shop over near the Moulin Rouge.

www.davidlebovitz.com/2009/12/a-letoile-dor/

Get the salted butter caramels by Henri le Roux, and some of the Bernachon chocolate. You'll thank me. And the proprietress is a cross between Chris Farley and the Swiss Miss, and she'll totally chatter on to you in French, even if you don't get what she's saying. She's delightful. When we asked about the caramels, she said, "Oh, David Leibovitz?" And then she pulled out a magazine with a picture of the two of them; it was adorable.

(The Lebovitz blog actually has a lot of really good recommendations, if you have some time.)

[librarygirl]

I also would recommend visiting the Marais, specifically the Jewish Quarter. The Holocaust Memorial is very interesting and there are some good Kosher/Yiddish cafes and restaurants in the area (we had a good meal at L'A's du Falafel.

Not sure if you're a museum fan but I like the Musee de l'Orangerie, the Rodin Museum and the Musee Marmottan.

[LoveTrains]

I studied abroad for six months in college in amsterdam. I love that city. So beautiful. Definitely rent bikes to get around! It was super fun living there.

Honestly, I think so many of my recommendations are going to be student-y/cheap eats type places so I don't know if you want them, but if you do come back to this thread and are interested, let me know. Of course it was 10+ years ago so I am sure some things have changed.

[marytini]

Aug 17, 2012 14:59:44 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

I studied abroad for six months in college in amsterdam. I love that city. So beautiful. Definitely rent bikes to get around! It was super fun living there.

Honestly, I think so many of my recommendations are going to be student-y/cheap eats type places so I don't know if you want them, but if you do come back to this thread and are interested, let me know. Of course it was 10+ years ago so I am sure some things have changed.

I wouldn't mind hearing/reading them.