My 5 Favorite ... Paris Eateries ... (other than Balagan & the other obvious places we all love:)

So, here I am in SF with our travels done for the summer (well, mostly), enjoying the peace and quiet that seems to envelop the streets of San Francisco during the summer months and am in EXCRUCIATING pain! No, not from the peace and quiet around me but from these not-so-fun wisdom teeth extractions!!! Hell, this is painful and as much as I love watching tv in bed and eating dessert, I CANNOT wait to be up and about. So, while I’ve been in bed enjoying ice-cream, yoghurt and Joe & The Juice, all I can think of is food. Yummy, solid food! Yummy, solid, french bistro food!!!! Yummy, solid, french bistro food '“avec un verre de vin” (yep, learning french finally:)))

And, since I’m unable to eat any of the food I’m currently dreaming of AND in the spirit of sticking to my promises as I always do (remember my IG post about starting a new segment on my blog about my 5 favorite…?), here are my 5 favorite places to eat in Paris. Well, other than Balagan, which I LOVE and you must eat at next time you’re in Paris and at Girafe, where you must request a table outside so you can see good old Eiffel with each bite! My 5 recommendations are in no particular order and I am in no way endorsing these places. These are MY favorites, which I enjoy frequenting for a host of reasons. That’s all! Here you go:

Le Babylone, 12 rue de Babylone, 75007 Paris, France +33 1 45 48 72 13 (no website, I’m sorry) - Instead of heading to Les deux Magots, which is definitely worth a stop but can get suuper busy, go to Le Babylone. It’s one of my go-to places for observing Parisian street style and is right next to my faaaaaaavorite shopping destination, Bon Marche:) Shop, eat, shop, drink, shop some more and take notes on how to be effortlessly chic;) P.S.: The service can be hit or miss but I would take a chance.

Semilla - Easy to miss as you walk along this street in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Deeeeelicious, exceptional service, and not at all pretentious! And has an industrial looking vibe with cement walls along with exposed pipes on the ceiling. Modern, french cuisine. You must go!!

Chez Julien - A charming, romantic, cozy bistro. Nadir and I went on a very cute date here a while back and I am definitely going to return on my next trip. On a sunny day it’s lovely to sit on their outdoor terrace and watch Parisians walk by as you nurse a glass (or two) of rosé! Ahhh - I can’t wait to go back.

Ferdi - Close to Place Vendôme, this is a hidden treasure!!! Best burger in town. Generally speaking, I’m not a huge burger fan other than the one Nadir makes at home. But this one is DIVINE!!! As is their Mac and Cheese. And don’t even talk to me about their fries!!!!!!!!! Ferdi is like a chic, quaint dive bar decorated with toy cars, stuffed toys and various figurines with red paper place mats at each table! Quirky vibe and eclectic menu, is a good way to describe it. I LOVE this place. And, in my defense, I discovered it through a friend of mine in Paris, waaaay before the Kardashians made it popular;)

And, last but not least, the best place to get a quick bite - L'As du Fallafel - I would suggest that you make a trip to the Marais just to eat falafel and shawarma here. The lines are long but move rather quickly. It’s a great lunch takeaway idea especially if you’re walking around exploring the streets of Marais, although there’s an option to eat in too. We took our food and walked over to a nearby park and ate it at a park bench. Bonus: it’s an 8 minute walk to Musée Picasso but remember that it’s closed on Mondays, like most museums in Paris.

Hey, I gave you 8 suggestions instead of 5! I know, I’m kind of generous especially when it comes to sharing bits about my lovely Paris!! Hope you enjoy going to some of these spots on your next trip to Paris. A bientôt!!