Finding a restaurant in Paris is never hard, but trying to find a good restaurant is perhaps a little more of a challenge. Being the most tourist-frequented spot in the world means that restaurant owners can afford to be slack, as there will never cease to be a supply of new and unaware clients. Thankfully, however, for every lazy restaurateur in Paris, there is a fabulous, innovative one. Going to a great restaurant absolutely compliments a day’s outing, but there are also establishments in Paris which can be the outing themselves. Here are a few of the more eccentric places which will offer you more than just a meal, guaranteed.

In the 4^th Arrondissement, just around the corner from the Pompidou Centre is a joint called Dans Le Noir. Dinner here is really just that. The dining room is pitch black, and guests are asked to surrender anything that could generate light- watches, cell phones and so on- at the door way. You can literally see nothing. While this might be disconcerting to begin with for you, it has absolutely no bearing on the staff, who are all blind. They will guide you to your table (and anywhere else you may need to go during your meal) bring you your food and help you experience their world for the duration of your meal. The idea of Dans Le Noir is both to help sighted people understand the day to day existence of a blind person, and to heighten (or at least alter) the diner’s perception of the food they are eating. Without sight, the food becomes more fragrant, more powerfully spiced; more present. The diners often believe the meals are made up of far more complex ingredients than they actually are, simply because they focus on the act of tasting so carefully. Dans Le Noir is open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and Sunday for Brunch; cheekily, Tuesday night is singles night- a true blind date!

If you are more interested in audible rather than visual (or lack thereof) stimulation, try 

Bel Canto, also in the 4^th Arrondissement. Here, dinner is as dramatic as an opera- complete with opera singing waiters. Dressed to the nines, the waiters will perform their standard duties, and suddenly burst into eccentric, elegant song. Not so much service with a smile as service with a serenade, Bel Canto is an absolute must, particularly if you are a fan of Italian food. Importantly, Bel Canto’s staff are all students from Parisian music schools, so you don’t need to worry about being forced to endure metro-quality performances! The restaurant is open every night from 8pm.

If you have children with you who are less than charmed with the idea of dinner ‘en famille,’ a good idea is to take them to La Maison Nicolas Flamel. Found in the 3^rd Arrondissement, the building is the oldest in Paris, and belonged to the famous alchemist. A real person, the kids will be interested because Nicolas features in none less than Harry Potter as the inventor of the Philosopher’s Stone. It is always fun to find the links between history and story, and there is no doubt that Nicolas did TRY to create such a product…..his success is perhaps less certain. The food is very traditional French food at a reasonable price, particularly at lunch time, when you can get a ‘formule du midi’ for 18.50euros.

So whether you are after heightened taste-sensation, dinner and a show or a little bit of magic, dining in Paris can adapt to your needs. But don’t stop here, the left bank has some real gems to offer also, which I will explore and divulge at a later date….

Dans Le Noir- 51 Rue Quincampoix, 75004.

                        Tel. 01 42 77 98 04

Bel Canto- 72 Quai de L’Hotel de Ville, 75004.

                        Tel. 01 42 78 30 18

Maison Nicolas Flamel- 51, rue de Montmorency 75003.

                        Tel. 01 42 71 77 78

About the author: Alexis Rider is a contributing writer for Welcome2France a Paris apartment rental service. © 2008 All rights reserved

The longer I have spent in Paris, the more the truth of this statement has struck me. Everyone knows that France is a very traditional country; only this year has opening on a Sunday become common (amidst much resentment). It is often this traditionalism that frustrates visitors unfamiliar with the rules and regulations (the congees annuelles in August perhaps the most obvious example of this) But at the same time, I believe that it is this rustic `country-ness’ which sets Paris apart from the other metropolitan centres of Europe, and adds a charm that cannot be found anywhere else.

Food, and the process of shopping for it perhaps illustrates this point best. Arriving in Paris, do not expect to find the huge supermarkets that satisfy every need as anglophones tend to be used to. Sure, there are Monoprix and Franprix supermarkets (amongst others), but these places are targeted more at the staples, it is just not normal to buy fresh produce here, and why would you, when there is so much else on offer?

As it has been for centuries in France, so it is today in Paris; speciality stores reign supreme. Yes, it is more time consuming, but the service, the produce, and interacting directly with the actual owner (or some relation of the owner) of the enterprise is a nice break from the halogen-lit isles of the hyper-markets we are used to.

The situation can be daunting, but I implore you, fear not! 99% of the time, ask for help and you will receive it; tell them what wine you are going to drink, what sort of cooking you are going to do, or who you are cooking for, and you will receive sound advice. It is wise to head to the shops at a quiet time (not just as the working day ends); this way you avoid a long queue of impatient Frenchmen listening to your every word.

A good place to shop for food is Rue Montorgueil, in the 2^nd Arrondissement. There is everything you could ask for here, and some. The street is pedestrian, and also non-French speaker friendly, although this comes with a price; it is certainly not the cheapest place in Paris to shop. Sensei, the coffee shop at the cut of Montorgueil and Tiquetonne is a wonderful place to stop for a caffeinated pick-me-up.

North-east of Montorgueil, on Rue Saint Denis, the prices are considerably cheaper, but the area considerably rougher. For something in between, head to Rue Rambuteau (east of Beaubourg). This spot has the added advantage of turning into Rue Francs Bourgeois, one of the best clothes shopping streets of Paris!

But for the best `rural Paris‘ experience, you have to go to an outdoor market. The biggest and best is on Sundays at Bastille, called `La Marche de la Creation’ (open until 2pm). Here you can find everything, from fish to fruit to flowers to fantastic buskers. The prices are absurdly cheap, and the food is all delicious. My top pick? The dried strawberries and the Halvah, sold at a store in the central row, about 100 meters from the Bastille end. At the market, you can find all the trademark French shops: fromageries, boucheries, and boulangeries as well as some less French items, such as a lovely Paella stand and wonderful homemade fresh Italian pasta. The best thing about the markets is that everyone is willing to give you a little try before you buy!

So instead of seeing it as a chore, take an afternoon to do your shopping- wander around slowly and really think about the processes behind the final product you are buying; it makes dinner that night all the more satisfying!

About the author: Alexis Rider is a contributing writer for Welcome2France a Paris apartment rental service. © 2008 All rights reserved