Voila…
The Best Tours And Restaurants In Paris France!
STORY AND PHOTOS BY: ROBIN ROTH
TOURS
The “Dark Rome Tours,” have transformed the average tour operation playing field into ultra intriguing and unique types of tours.
Their big ideas, small beginnings and modest roots echo that simple fact. Their initial concept was to take a small group of visitors around the historic center of Rome and tell the stories that tourists would never hear otherwise. Such as the “dark” mysteries and legends that ironically bring the city to life.
That pioneering tour, “The Dark Heart of Rome,” was so successful that it became the stepping-stone to multiple others. Now their tours have expanded from one city to the next, from one country to another, and have grown into the global brand that they are today… City Wonders.
In my professional opinion, they truly have the very best tour guides and they are proficient in English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese as well. Everything this company does (Dark Rome Tours and City Wonders Tours) is top of the line from the tours themselves to the guides to the headphones and bus companies they use. Most of the time when you are on one of these tours, guests get to skip the lines and gain VIP access to practically every major museum and monument that matters the most.
The company now has tours in ROME, PARIS, LONDON, BARCELONA, MADRID, NEW YORK, and WASHINGTON.
I say BRAVO, TO THE BEST OF THE BEST TOUR OPERATIONS AROUND. To find out more about the company and their tour selections log on to:
www.citywonders.com or DarkRome.com
Special Access Eiffel Tower Evening Tour with Seine River Cruise…
There is no question, in my judgment, that the City Wonders Tours are the unsurpassed best tours to take in Paris.
To begin with, their expert tour guides are nothing short of phenomenal, amazingly informative, fun to be around, and full of excitement. It is clear to their guests how much they love what they are doing as they celebrate their tours with joy and enthusiasm daily.
Violette Andre, my tour guide for the: Special Access Eiffel Tower Evening Tour with Seine River Cruise, was no exception regarding the topic of great fun, skill, and enthusiastic guidance.
Being on a City Wonders Tour makes one feel very VIP and special. On the way up to the Eiffel Tower, I was whisked past the legendarily long lines and mobs of waiting tourists to the second floor, which was a miracle in-and-of-itself! I felt as though I were cheating on a test in grade school.
This tour that I was honored to experience was magical. To be perfectly honest, nothing screams romance more than the renowned tower.
The tour stared at dusk with the towers one-of-a-kind picture perfect moments on the ground. This led to the beyond incredible, awe-inspiring vistas of the city on the top at the summit. While witnessing the day turning into night, with the incredibly glittering lights of Paris from above, I found it all extraordinary and one of the most gorgeous sunset visions I had ever seen. Being at the top of the tower is nothing short of exquisite Eye-candy.
From Violet, I learned the true history of France’s most iconic monument and landmark. Gustave Eiffel`s monument to mark the centenary of the French Revolution was originally built in 1889. It was first received with much criticism and objection. The Eiffel Tower is the most visited paid monument in the world, and is widely considered as one of mankind’s most distinguished engineering wonders.
As I stood at the top of the towers summit that is 1,063 feet up, the sun gently set and left an indelible imprint in my mind and my shamefully romantic heart.
When it gets dark around 10:00 in the summer, the tower glows red, which began for the Chinese New Year in 2004. When France hosted the World Rugby Cup in 2007, it adopted a lighting scheme that mimicked the aesthetics of a rugby pitch and the tower flickers for 5 minutes at 11:00 and 12:00 in the summer. It was ‘fairy-tale-esque.’ Starring at this dazzling flickering vision, I found myself giddy and jumping up and down like a 10-year-old girl. I think (OK, I know!), that I completely embarrassed myself and I didn’t care one bit.
The tour concluded with an enchanting moonlit cruise down the Seine River, enabling all on board to enjoy firsthand the monuments and bridges illuminated by the City of Light. This tour was truly awesome and most unforgettable.
The City Wonders Tours are all affordable and the most fairly priced tours around. In addition, they are completely packed with sights from start to finish.
I was thrilled with this tour, which included visiting two of Paris’ most picturesque sights in one splendid night.
This was simply just one experience in the beautiful city of Paris that City Wonders can bring to you. I also went on the…
VIP Louvre Museum VIP Night Tour and Wine Tasting
MY TOUR GUIDES, HERVE and VIOLET were not only informative, but also overflowing with excitement and fun.
The City Wonders Tours strive to keep the amount of people on each tour to no more than 15 or so. With my small group, Herve took us on a VIP tour of the world famous Louvre at night. We all experienced its stunning masterworks with less clamor and commotion then one could ever experience on their own. Because of the time and the clout of this tour company, we all had the rare fortune to get up close and spend time marveling at the brilliant Mona Lisa. Our guide knew exactly how to navigate this tremendous landmark with an easy pace and the time to appreciate (as we all very well did), the brilliance and grandeur of the most famous collections of art in the world today.
The Louvre’s collection of artwork is miraculous. We saw, Delacroix’s ‘Liberty Leading the People,’ Venus di Milo, and so many other masters thrilling works of art. Furthermore, we heard from our guide about the kings and queens that once occupied the Louvre when it was a palace.
One could easily spend a month at the Louvre and not even begin to see and study all the works of art properly. Because City Wonders Tours avoids the chaotic days and visits the Louvre at night, we were able to admire its masterpieces in relative peace. Not to mention the luxury of skipping the lines…
Afterwards, our group visited an award-winning 18th century mansion. It is now a proud bar and a Parisian wine cellar that is one of Paris’s top-rated wine tastings. It was accompanied by delectable local French delicacies of meats and cheeses Can I just say, YUM!
The Very Grand Bistro,
LE Grand Colbert …
Because…
“Somethings Gotta Give!”
www.legrandcolbert.fr
2 Rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris, France
+33 1 42 86 87 88
With all due respect to the actress Diane Keaton who stated in the film, “Something’s Gotta Give,” that Le Grand Colbert is her Favorite Bistro in Paris; I simply had to see for myself and not take her word for it!
Well, as it turns out, Ms. Keaton was more than accurate. Not only is the food and presentations out of this world, but also the stellar service was extraordinary. The atmosphere at Le Grand Colbert is authentically French and lovely. It shines with an overall aura of fun and a lay back atmosphere. I didn’t feel uncomfortable, talking, laughing and enjoying the magnificent ambiance that Le Grand Colbert sports.
I found everything a bout this bistro charming, festive, enjoyable yet chic and exclusive. I loved every second of my experience at Le Grand Colbert. I could only imagine how much fun the cast of “Something’s Gotta Give,” Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Keanu Reeves had shooting and eating here.
This is one of my 2 dining recommendations to run to on your next visit to the city of lights and romance.
Everything on the menu is out of this world, so you simply can’t go wrong with any selection you desire. However, here is a bit of ‘food selection advice’ that was dead on delicious and given to me by my charming, ultra experienced server, Salle Climatisee… Do make sure you pick a wonderful bottle of wine to pair with your dining celebration. I suggest a cold bottle of Pouilly Fuisse, as I did for it was summertime!
To start:
Do try the, “Oh so authentic,” Onion Soup au gratin, loaded with delectable cheese. Sample the Large, tasty, and fresh escargots and the sinfully delicious frogs legs (even if don’t fancy them, try it). Spoil yourself with the huge assortment of the shellfish Sea Platter… YUM! All of it!
For the main:
OK, I admit it! Diane was right about the Roasted Free Range Half Chicken with Herbs, OMG crazy delicious. The Beef Filet Béarnaise melted in my mouth. The main was so hard to decide on, as I also wanted to further indulge myself with the Calf’s Liver with Onions, the preserved Duck, and the Veal Stew too. Well, hopefully there is always next time! It was all such a food feast and visually exquisite.
To conclude:
The photos say it all and it was worth every sensational calorie.
Le grand Colbert is a masterpiece in incredible, delectable fine dining, ambiance and service! The atmosphere is a mix between elegance and ‘lets have great fun too.’ It would be a shame to go all the way to Paris and miss out on this remarkable restaurant experience, so don’t!
I would like to extend a very warm Merci Beaucoup to the elegant director of the Grand Colbert Francois Brossard for making this story possible, and to my server Salle Climatisee for his stellar service, and recommendations.
Les Ombres Restaurant and Du Musée Du Quai Branly...
In my experienced opinion… The Most Romantic Restaurant In Paris… WWW.lesonbresrestaurant.com 27 qui Branly 75007 Paris 07, (t) 0147536800
There is no question in my mind, that the award winning, Les Ombres Restaurant, totally Eiffel Towers all the rest in the entire city, if not the world. If there is only one restaurant you have the time to experience in Paris and you are searching for the absolute MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT IN ALL OF PARIS…
THEN YOU ARE LOOKING FOR LES OMBRÉS.
The food, service, and décor, are beyond all expectations. Finally of course, the establishment has the prize of the best view of the greatest symbol of love, The Eiffel Tower that is undoubtedly… the main course!
The Les Ombres restaurant Located on the roof of the Du Quai Branly Museum has everything essential to promote restaurant perfection! The view of the Eiffel Tower is the most remarkable in the entire city. You are so close to the tower that you can almost touch it from the restaurants grandiose terrace. I was, as you will be, swept up into the pages of a romance novel dining here. It is beyond dreamy. What is more storybook than holding your loves hand, whilst enjoying brilliant food, and starring into your loves eyes that are reflecting the symbol of love, the Eiffel Tower.
Oh my word, I don’t mean to be so frightfully corny, but this is as romantic as restaurants can get. The panoramic vista, the service, the food, the wine, the ambiance is breathtaking and past awesome.
I strongly suggest that you start your restaurant experience at 9:00 with a glass of champagne on the patio. If it is summer, it will still be daylight. You will glow at the visions you will see on this patio of the tower etc. At 10:00, the tower lights up and do make sure you have your camera to capture the moment! Have your dinner at 10:00 inside the restaurant and enjoy the view while you taste the luscious foods on the menu.
At 11:00 watch the thrilling 5 minutes that the tower sparkles and glitters away. If you are a romantic you will be giddy as a schoolgirl.
Take a video, as it displays the flickering lights better. It’s really the only way to capture it forever. Then stay and enjoy more wine, coffee, and desert on the terrace until 12:00 when it flickers once again for the final time of the evening. If this evening doesn’t bring romance, passion and love into your world, than nothing will! It so quixotic that it is surreal.
Here are a few recommendations for your dining experience:
STARTER:
I suggest, as I did, that you go with the lovely Lobster Salad with mango and avocado. I also loved, the Foie Gras de Canard, which is almost a law to experience in France! Wonderful…
MAIN:
The entire menu is sinfully delicious but I went with the Snacked Prawns, the Beef Tenderloin and the Sole Tempura style. Yes, I was a pig and enjoyed every indulging moment of it all!
DESERT:
I didn’t stop there. I went on to devour 2 deserts. Yes, that happened. I ordered the Raspberrie Millefeuille and The Crispu Chocolate, Chocolate Mousse! That has now become, needless to say, a sweet memory…
I promise you that you don’t want to be shut out of this once in a lifetime, bewitching restaurant experience…so MAKE RESERVATIONS!
I would like to thank Claire Mugnier-Pollet and
Pascale Chevallier-Gallen for making this story possible. Appreciation also goes to Anne Dumad for her elegance in managing the posh restaurant.
Merci as well to the brilliant Chef exécutif du restaurant Les Ombres, Frédéric Claudel from Burgundy! With his passion and creativity, he has been a shining star chef in Paris Michelin restaurants such as Le Laurent and Les Princes at the Hôtel Georges V, Les Ambassadeurs at the Hôtel Crillon, the Elysée du Vernet with Alain Solivérès, the Hôtel Shangri and the restaurant La Bauhina. Furthermore, he has been awarded 2 Michelin Guide stars. At last, he landed at the spectacular Les Ombres and what a marriage that has become.
P.S. do try to go for a visit to the fascinating Quai Branly Museum before dinner!
I rate the Les Ombres Restaurant an A+ on every level.
One Last Note:
The Pont des Arts or Passerelle des Arts is a pedestrian bridge in Paris, which crosses the River Seine, and known as the locks of Love Bridge. They say they are removing all of the locks because it is collapsing the bridge, but the locks are still up and locks have also been placed on other bridges around the city. You simply write yours name and your loves name on a lock, lock it onto the bridge and throw the key into the river. The tale states, that this ritual promises that your love will stay forever. This tradition is so very sweet and impossibly romantic.
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