French cuisine is considered some of the finest in the world and whether you are in a small village or a large city, you will find wonderful food. Paris is no exception, with world renowned restaurants such as the Tour d'Argent with the view from the dining overlooking the Seine and Notre Dame, to small bistros located on cobblestone streets in some of the older parts of the city.
As soon as the sun shows its face, the French rush to set up tables and umbrellas on the terraces and sidewalks of Paris. Join the Parisians in one of their favorite pastimes - people watching. Whether it's at an espresso bar, a café or bistro you can sip on a latte and enjoy croissants as only the French can make them or even warm fresh baguettes.
Most travelers try to avoid the tourist area restaurants as they are often overpriced and underwhelming in quality. Instead, search out the little side streets, look where mostly residents are eating and you are sure to have a dining experience like none other.
Paris doesn't really have an individual style of cooking as such, but features the cuisine of France, which means you'll have a choice of great regional dishes, such as plenty of seafood dishes from the south of France, to the heartier dishes of the north of France. Of course, specialties such as escargots cooked in garlic, foie gras and truffles can be found at most of the finer restaurants. Paris is a multicultural city which means the cuisine is also multicultural. North African, Vietnamese, Italian and Indian cuisine are well represented in restaurants throughout the city. Dining in Paris is usually leisurely with conversation and wine flowing equally, so do as the Parisian do and relax and enjoy your meals.
All the shopping areas such as Printemps and Galleries Lafayette offer some pretty good food-on-the-go at reasonable prices, but if you want to experience something special for dinner, check out the Montmartre area. While it is a tourist area and there are many tourist restaurants, if you look a little harder you will come across some top restaurants and typical, charming bistros with terraces and views of the city.
Check out the Latin Quarter Area for Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine, as well as some local bistros serving up more traditional menus. The Montparnasee area is surrounded by lovely old buildings that have been recently restored, and a great place to find a quaint café and enjoy some coffee with croissants. And for lovers of hot spicy food, it would be hard to beat the Belleview area for the distinct flavor of North Africa - hot & spicy and quite inexpensive.
For something totally different, check out the market streets, which date back to the Middle Ages. A favorite is the rue Mouffetard near the Panthéon. The narrow street is lined with tall, old houses and many open air food stores. Parisians go there to buy food to cook with, but they also sell delicious French prepared dishes at very reasonable prices. The streets in the area are lined with cafes and restaurants, mostly patronized by local residents.
The City of Light has a great night life for every taste, from discos to nightclubs and bars of all types in all the districts of the city. Most of the clubs open about 11 pm and usually don't close until dawn - if you go at 11, the club will probably be empty, since the crowds never arrive until long after midnight. Popular areas include Montmartre, Bastille and Sacre-Coeur.
There is the opera, theatre and cafes featuring live music, especially in the Marais district. Then, of course there are the famous cabarets, such as the Moulin Rouge, Crazy Horse and Paradis Latin. The Grand Dame of French Cabaret would have to be Paradis Latin, built by Gustave Eiffel and opened in 1889. Home to the world famous French Cancan, incredible costumes and ballet, they present a different show each year, which generally garners rave reviews.
Crazy Horse is located down at the end of the Champs Elysees and is considered a must for Parisian nightlife. The club is small and they are known for elegant, sensual artistry and sophistication. Beautiful choreographies and wisps of costumes create a very stunning and definitely for open minded adults only, show.
The Moulin Rouge has been celebrated in song and film and the art of Toulouse-Lautrec. Opened originally in 1889, over the years the cabaret changed hands and was eventually renovated and brought back to its former glory. Their newest show is "Feerie" with a troupe of 100 artists including the famous 60 Doriss Girls, fantastic costumes and sets and music.