One day in the Latin Quarter Paris
The history, the museums, the art galleries, churches and pure majesty of a city synonymous with elegance, sophistication and class.
Paris isn’t a sight to see. It’s a treasure to behold.
But despite all the attractions and the legacy and history at every corner, there is something that holds Paris, and its residents, aside from everyone and everywhere else.
The food.
It’s a city you need time to savour so rather an open-topped bus tour of all the tick-a-box sights, Lunch Magazine recently hunkered down on the left bank and immersed ourselves in the sights, sounds and (most importantly) flavours of the Latin Quarter for an all-too-brief 24-hours.
We’ve picked out a few beauties to make every whirlwind trip to Paris a memorable one.
Stay:
Hotel de Suez:
Address: 31 Bd Saint-Michel, 75005 Paris, France
5th Arr.
Tucked away just off the cosmopolitan thoroughfare that is Saint-Michel sits a family-owned beauty which has endeared both local and faraway tourists for more than three decades.
The hotel sits slightly hidden off the main road and is surrounded by shops and cafes but look above the street line and you will find a cute and quaint hotel ready to charm you for as long as you wish to stay in the city of love.
Once you step inside the narrow entrance, its true French origins and style shines through. A small but cozy reception, a welcoming family run operation who manage the entrance with the same competency and standards as they do for every step of your stay.
A tiny lift, enough for one person or two at a stretch, takes you up to well laid out, neatly furnished and super cozy rooms.
This hotel is the ideal place to escape the below minus degree temperatures in Paris during a chilly winter’s January day. Putting aside the hotel’s functionality, the true magic of Hotel de Suez is its location. Nestled right near the extraordinary recently rebuilt Notre Dame Cathedral, it is surrounded by restaurants, cafes, and is a mix of bohemian travellers rubbing shoulders with everyday locals who are simply going about their daily business.
A short walk to the Louvre, a little further to the Arc de Triomphe and onwards to the Eiffel Tower, this hotel is perfect for a short hit and run mission in Paris.
The family treat it like their home and visitors like extended members of the family. And it shows. Warm, welcoming and friendly – Hotel de Suez is your go to when ready to explore the city’s tourist delights.
Eat:
For breakfast or brunch
Cafe Loulou
90 BD SAINT-GERMAIN, 75005 PARIS
5th Arr.
Loulou is a friendly Australian restaurant in Paris, located in the heart of the Latin district, close to St Germain des Près and a few minutes away from Saint-Michel Boulevard & Notre-Dame.
A light and welcoming alfresco area links up with a comforting inside area which serves some of the finest brunch and/or lunches in Paris.
With a range of start the day favourites including good coffee (thank you Australian coffee culture), juices, fresh breads and pastries of the highest of quality, this place is a magic little find in the heart of Saint Michel.
Try the avocado toast – topped with a poached egg and surrounded by rocket and radish, with just a hint of chilli. Simple, but done to perfection! Revel in the chocolate croissants, sweet, crunchy and tasty treats fuelling you for a day ahead of walking the streets of this ever so magical a city.
Loulou is busy. Locals sit alongside tourists and regulars smile, laugh and chat together embracing a culture (with a touch of laidback Antipodean charm) that has stood the test of time and will continue to do so. A culture, of food, of sharing, of conversation and of fun.
For lunch or dinner
Restaurant Le Petit, Chatelay
Address 39 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris, France
5th Arr.
Classic rich French goodness. Cooking pure comfort food, in the old-fashioned French way.
Set down a busy street and surrounded by restaurants on all sides, many aimed at the tourist market rather than locals, sits Restaurant Le Petit, a French beauty delivering cuisine with the ultimate love and care.
The owner welcomes you at the door, and also bids you farewell on the way out suggesting he cares as much for his guests as he does the classical food his chefs lovingly roll out on a daily basis. Set over two levels, Restaurant Le Petit does not quite reflect its name but delivers a number of gallic classics.
Take your cue from the wonderful waiting staff on the entree specials of the day. We chose the Vegie soup – warm, tasty, comforting and ever so tasty. Crusty warm bread on the side anyone? Yes please.
If not, perhaps the escargot cooked in a delicious creamy rich sauce and underneath a delightfully crisp pastry.
Entrees were delicious. On to the mains.
If you ever wish to try the French classic recipe of Beef Bourgogne, this is one place to do it. Rich, succulent and unbelievably tasty it was a joy to eat. Right alongside was a creamy smooth and super tasty mash. Eat and repeat. Taste buds are delighted.
The confit of duck was as good. Cooked just right – delicate soft meat inside and a crunchy crispy skin on outside this meal came with potato gratin – layers of creamy potato deliciousness.
A must go if you’re in the 5th. For the food, for the service and for the classical French ambience.
Restaurant Chez Rene
14 Bd Saint-Germain, 75005 Paris, France
5th Arr.
On a busy corner of Saint Michel sits Chez Rene, another family owned classic just off the main strip.
Be welcomed by the most traditional French service and style mixed with a warmth and gratitude that is ever-so-hard to find. The service is a delight – but don’t expect English speaking, this place is as French as they come. The waiters have been here doing what they do since the 1950s and the locals warmly embrace a menu that changes with the seasons.
In winter it is armed with the classics. But before you warm into the mains, delight in a classic prawn and avocado cocktail. Fresh tasty prawns, ripe sweet avocado and a cocktail sauce right from the cookbooks of a bygone era, this dish is fresh, tasty and so wholesome. The only question is why do chefs around the world change it so much? No need for deconstruction here – revel in the simplicity.
For mains, the lamb cutlets served with French fries are tasty, perhaps a little too fatty, but the meat is tender and soft.
The beef stew is just right for a freezing cold and rainy winter evening and served with crusty bread with the garlic sauce accompaniment it’s crunchy, heart-warming goodness.
Desserts are just… fine. Crème caramel does all the justice it should to a French classic. Soft succulent and sweet, this is just right. Or perhaps something simple, vanilla ice cream? Ice cream of this quality, with the delicate subtlety of vanilla bean flowing through this tantalisingly silky-smooth delight suggests this is a dish that should never be underestimated or overlooked.
Find your way to Restaurant Chez Rene and cap off a majestic 24hrs in the Latin Quarter of Paris.
