Very short notice but am in Paris at the moment at a conference. Got a night to myself this evening and don't want to spend all night in my luxurious IBIS hotel

I don't really know Paris at all except that around Gard De Nord is a bit of a hole and around Eiffel Tower is tourist central - want to avoid both areas! Ideally would like to go someone which is relaxed, got a good selection of restaurants/bars and a 30something won't look out of place.

It eeds to be fairly casual as I'm in Jeans, shirt and jacket (crap, I look like Jeremy Clarkson!)

Any advice? (on Paris, not my dress sense!)

Thanks

Gutted.....was hoping this thread was all about Ms Hilton up to her dirty tricks again

I would love one night in Paris

I would probably head to Notre Dame and have a wander up and down the Seine soaking up a bit of "atmos"- perhaps head for the Latin quarter - a wander up and down blvd St-Michel will see you a few decent bars here and there.

If you need somewhere to eat

http://www.bouillon-racine.com/

Is good

I really like la boucherie rouliere too (but has no website) and is no good if you are vegetarian. No good at all.

Was also going to suggest strolling along the Seine near Ile de la Cite (assuming the weather's OK). I'd probably just grab a Panini at a cafe rather than go to a restaurant.

Been a while since I was there so can't really recommend any specific bars or eating places though.

the one night in paris dvd was a bit shit IMO, bit soft porn like, now the imogen thomas clip was ace, now thats what you call going for it

Any sign of Stuboy today? Maybe he got lost.

I know Paris is a bit of a slapper but that would still be unlikely wouldn't it.......

Thanks for the help guys - I did survive and didn't get stuck in any horrible holes in Paris

Ended up going around the St Germain area. Got off at Odeon, and wondered around for quite a while. Took Knulpuk's advice of walking along Boulevard St Michel. As uncultural as this sounds, after a day long conference I just wanted to take in the atmosphere, do a bit of people watching, get a bite to eat and then have a drink or two.

This area did not disappoint. Although I did, controversially, decide to eat in a Teppanyaki restaurant - it was easily one of the best Teppanyaki meals I've eaten - food extremely fresh and I was really blown away by the attentive service (that's as much to do with me accepting the appalling Dutch service you'll find in Amsterdam!)

After dinner I wondered around looking for a good place for a drink or two. Again, this makes me a sound a little unsophisticated but there was a big Guiness sign sticking out. Now usually I would skip a pub and find a nice little winery but I was just interested in finding out how the Parisians "did" an Irish bar. The truth is I'm not too sure because when I walked in there were 2 guitarists playing ecoustic with an open mic for anyone to come up and sing. Fortunately, the people brave enough were fantastic and it made me thought that this is the kind of place that X Factor should really be filmed at!

So although I ordered a couple of Guinesses and ended up having a couple of "Dr Pepper" deathchargers with a couple of friendly French students I didn't really end up taking in the ambience of the actual pub. It was more like a student hangout but with kids who had the most amazing voices. Was also impressed that the house guitarists seemed to know every song being requested of them.

So you went to a Japanese Restaurant and an Irish bar

Knul, are you a local (in Paris)?
I'm after a bit of advice.

Depends what the advice is - I have been many times but I have a colleague who is French (and for example recommended the 2 restuarants which I listed above) - ask away.

So if London just sold English food it would be, well, plain. The Parisians have been refusing to sell it for centuries

They sell Creme Anglais

Much french food is dreadful, the 'cream' in their cakes is vile, they don't know how to make a cup of tea and would use horrible UHT milk in it anyway (always takes me ages to find the few bottles of fresh milk hidden in every supermarket).

Yeah, the wine is nice but is usually no better than a decent new world number half the price.

Give me pie and chips smothered in gravy any day

Thanks for the offer.... i managed to talk myself out of it before needing advice though