Trendy?

[Matthew Grant]

OK, I've got reservations at Ambassadeurs, Gaya and Mon Viel Ami. All thats left is to find a Cool/trendy restaurant packed to the rafters with good looking people (so that I don't stand out too much ) where copious amounts of drinking are encouraged and the food is acceptable. Alternatively a good restaurant close to a similar spec bar will fit the bill.

Any ideas?

Edit to add: Should be open on a Saturday

Edited May 25, 2006 by Matthew Grant (log)

[Felice]

OK, I've got reservations at Ambassadeurs, Gaya and Mon Viel Ami. All thats left is to find a Cool/trendy restaurant packed to the rafters with good looking people (so that I don't stand out too much ) where copious amounts of drinking are encouraged and the food is acceptable. Alternatively a good restaurant close to a similar spec bar will fit the bill.

Any ideas?

Edit to add: Should be open on a Saturday

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I would think that Mandalaray would fit the bill.

34 rue Marbeuf, 8th. 01 56 88 36 36.

[Matthew Grant]

Just to add that I was at Buddha Lounge a few years ago and it was bloody awful, Isn't Mandalaray just Man Ray rebadged?

Maybe I should adjust my criteria a little, it doesn't have to be too trendy just have a good buzz to it, sort of like Nobu Berkeley in London (I don't want to go to Nobu Paris). What about a decent restaurant with a decent bar attached?

[fresh_a]

Forget Mandalaray, it's terribly passé. And Nobu Paris has been out of business for years now.

[Felice]

Forget Mandalaray, it's terribly passé. And Nobu Paris has been out of business for years now.

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So where would you go then?

These kind of places are not my thing. I have two girl friends both dating 30 something year old French "investment banker" types and they always seem to go to ManRay on Saturday nights.

I recently went to Delaville cafe which I liked very much, but I don't think this is what Mathew Grant is looking for.

[John Talbott]

Forget Mandalaray, it's terribly passé. And Nobu Paris has been out of business for years now.

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These kind of places are not my thing.

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Me either. Thus I hesitate to suggest anything but I am told by much younger folk that The Kildare, 6 bis, rue du Quatre Septembre in the 2nd, an Irish bar with a mixed Anglo-Franco clientele, really hops at night. (I have only been inside during the daytime so this is not a personal endorsement but secondhand info).

I have, however, been inside the pub just north of the Opera Bastille on the place de la Bastille between acts and while I cannot find its name, it is packed and hopping too.

The place I've been that had the unholiest, if there is such a construction, of dins of music and voices was the Totem in the Palais de Chaillot that I thought had closed and been rebranded but see still listed on the web.

But I agree with Felice that others with vastly more experience with boites should join in here.

[Matthew Grant]

Would Senderens fit the bill?

[John Talbott]

Would Senderens fit the bill?

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Packed to the rafters with cool folk? Not when I've been there. But I'm not the right guy to ask.

[cigalechanta]

I've been to Gaya, a good resto but a conservative crowd. Try Kong, It was filled with trendy types.

[Matthew Grant]

I'm already going to Gaya, don't care about the crowd there or the other places I've booked, just want a livelier Saturday night.

John whats the bar like at Senderens, any less conservative?

Edited May 25, 2006 by Matthew Grant (log)

[John Talbott]

I'm already going to Gaya, don't care about the crowd there or the other places I've booked, just want a livelier Saturday night.

John whats the bar like at Senderens, any less conservative?

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Yes it's less formal; more tapas type stuff and easier chairs but I have not been at night. I do believe Le Zouave and Felice and I'll bet Ptitpois have though.

[fresh_a]

Forget the Passage Senderens bar, it's disgusting. For a real bar experience try the Hemingway (expensive), or Le Forvum, or the Rosebud in Montparnasse.

[gastrominator]

Most of the 'Trendy' restaurants in Paris are terrible for food. Avoid: Buddha bar, Kong, Mandalaray( I heard an appaling report two days ago), La Cantine du Faubourg(It does have its followers - I haven't been for quite some time) and most of the others.

Try:

Market - Jean-Georges' first restaurant in Paris and although not as big as the other 'lounge bar restaurants' still has a vibe and pretty good food (french/japanese)

Costes - Still the trendiest hot-spot hotel with a great bar. The food is reasonable fusion/contemporary french, but it is a place which is still the reference in style - everybody who is anybody goes there. Decor is napoleon III, in a Dracula-style residence with large expressionless portrait oil- paintings. Piped club music - A real 'trip'. For saturday you can only reserve two days before, so make sure that you call early on thusday morning to get a table. For dinner they take reservations at 8:30 or 10:30(or later)

Barlotti - Italian Buddha bar spin-off with much better food, such as the white truffle risotto(when in season) which is rather good.

[BigboyDan]

John Talbott stated:

"... I have, however, been inside the pub just north of the Opera Bastille on the place de la Bastille between acts and while I cannot find its name, it is packed and hopping too..."

Bwhaha! John, the life that you lead - between acts; says so much...

Edited May 26, 2006 by BigboyDan (log)

[Fai Jackson]

I loved the Moose Bar in the 6th. Lively and fun with Canadian Beer and great poutine. The Stanley Cup will be on TV for another couple of weeks. The food is good bar food . Knock back a Labatts IndiaPale Ale (chilled of course)

Edited May 28, 2006 by Fai Jackson (log)