Rue Du Four 3-bedroom, St. Germain – 15% off in August

What’s more, Haven in Paris is offering some pretty amazing special offers in some of our most in-demand flats this year, just in time for a last-minute break in Paris — when the city is at its most relaxed.

Elzevir Marais 1-bedroom – 15% off in August

Keen to wander down car-free cobble stone streets? The Marais has some of Paris best shopping, food and cafés — the best of which Amy Thomas recently blogged about here.

View from Place des Vosges 1-bedroom – 10% off in August

How about living right on the Place des Vosges — one of Paris’ oldest places and a fabulous place for strolling, napping in the sun and, of course, people-watching. Just a 10-minute walk to the Ile St Louis, Notre Dame and some delicious Berthillon gelato on the banks of the Seine.

Rosiers Marais 2-bedroom – 20% off in August

If the wide(r) boulevards of St. Germain are more your thing, how about a penthouse flat with terrace on the rue du Bac, the epitome of Left Bank chic?

Bac Penthouse (with terrace) St. Germain – Available August 21 – 26

If boho-chic is more your thing, then live the dream in our Left Bank Rooftop Duplex. Perched on the top floor of a side street 10-feet from Sorbonne University, the flat is a haven of rustic Latin Quarter charm.

Left Bank Rooftop Duplex – 15% off in August

Unfortunately, I have to wait a couple more months before I can start whiling the day away again on café terraces. By the time September rolls around, I’ll be fighting for my spot in the sun again! When is your favorite time to visit Paris?

Related links:

• Haven in Paris – Vacation Rental Apartments in Paris, Provence and Tuscany
• Click here for some fantastic summer special offers
• Spotlight on Elzevir, Marais 1-bedroom
• Rose Jackson stays in Houdon, Montmartre 1-bedroom

Written by Geneviève Sandifer for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

]]> http://hipparis.com/2010/07/14/last-minute-getaway-to-paris-august-specials/feed/ 4 http://hipparis.com/2010/04/27/top-six-non-french-food-obsessions-in-paris/ http://hipparis.com/2010/04/27/top-six-non-french-food-obsessions-in-paris/#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:28:15 +0000 Tory Hoen http://hipparis.com/?p=9257 Maggie Battista – Falafel

France is the land where food dreams come true—all HiP readers know that by now. But for those of us lucky enough to spend extended periods in Paris, there comes a moment (astonishing as it may sound) when both the body and the palette reach butter overload, and the arteries cry out to be spared the cheese course… please, just this once.

On these occasions, Paris provides a wealth of non-French food options that—if you’re not careful—can easily become addictions in and of themselves. Last time I left New York for Paris, a friend sent me off with explicit instructions to eat a fallafel for him. And when I got sick during the same trip, I secretly loved turning my attention to spicy Asian soups for the better part of a week.

So next time your taste buds start craving variety (or your children balk at the sight of escargots), consider venturing into new culinary territory. Don’t worry; it’s not gastronomic sacrilege—unless you go to McDonald’s.

Here are our top six non-French food obsessions in Paris:

1. Falafel. The Marais’ Rue des Rosiers is famous for its warring falafel purveyors. L’As du Falafel (34, rue des Rosiers, 3eme. Métro: St. Paul) has long reigned supreme, perhaps due to the attention it has gotten from the New York Times, but the place directly across from it is not too shabby, and there a number of nearby spots worth sampling as well. The jury’s still out on this one.

2. Asian cuisine in Belleville. As one of Paris’ most bustling immigrant neighborhoods, Belleville is a wonderful place to seek out ethnic food. Your first stop should be Dong Huong (14 rue Louis Bonnet, 11eme. Métro: Belleville) for huge bowls of awesomely inexpensive Vietnamese pho. From there, make your way up Rue de Belleville and stop into Chinese traiteurs. Thai lovers will be very happy at Lao Siam (49 rue de Belleville, 19eme. Métro: Belleville).

Meg Zimbeck

3. Burgers. Sometimes, even the most die-hard francophile needs a burger. And in fact, French people like them too. There are are a variety of upscale versions to be sampled, but for a basic burger done right, we recommend Canadian bar The Moose (16 rue des Quatre-Vents, 6eme. Métro: Odéon) and hipster hangout Delaville Cafe (34, Boulevard de Bonne Nouvelle, 10eme. Métro: Bonne Nouvelle).

4. Ramen. When Paris’ gray drizzle begins to get you down, seek comfort in a steaming bowl of ramen. The neighborhood that provides the most options is that around rue Sainte-Anne in the 2nd arrondissement (Métro: Pyramides). Sapporo Ramen 2 (37, rue Sainte-Anne) is a reliable spot, and udon-lovers swear by Kunitoraya (39, rue Sainte-Anne), or you can stake out your own undiscovered spot.

Tory Hoen – Algerian Pastries

5. Algerian pastries. On the sweeter side of things, look no further than the North African influence that pervades many Parisian neighborhoods—and menus. Desserts from this region tend to be infused with honey, pistachios and almonds and are decadent while still providing a break from creamy-buttery Parisian dessert varieties. La Bague de Kenza is Paris’ most prominent bakery of this nature, with its flagship in the 11th (106,  Rue Saint-Maur, 11eme. Métro: Parmentier) and a sleek new outpost in the Marais (70, Rue de Turbigo, 3eme. Métro: Temple).

6. Au P’tit Grec. I can’t believe I’m giving this one away, but my secrets are your secrets. Plus, it’s not really a secret to the hundreds of students and Latin Quarter dwellers who count on this place to provide cheap, huge Greek-style galettes late into the night. They’re like crepes, but are made with buckwheat batter and overflow with eggplant, feta, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers and any number of other fresh ingredients. An essential stop on your Latin Quarter tour (66, rue Mouffetard, 5eme. Métro: Place Monge).

Bon appetit! Hear what these other bloggers had to say about non-French food in Paris:

• Always Hungry NY on La Bague de Kenza
• David Lebovitz on Falafel
• What’s for Lunch? explores Belleville

Written by Tory Hoen,  for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

Tory Hoen – Algerian Pastries

I don’t remember life before Sacha Finkelsztajn. Ok, that’s not entirely true, but I’m certainly enjoying it more now that I’m a convert. For members of this club, the mere utterance of the word “Sacha” can induce profound hunger fits, and the sight of the boutique’s bright yellow facade literally has a Pavlovian effect on me (drool and all).

I’m referring, of course, to Sacha Finkelsztajn, Paris’ most famous Jewish bakery, located on the rue des Rosiers in the Marais. The bakery has been family owned and operated since 1946 and Sacha, the current owner, still whips up recipes passed down from his grandparents (the original founders of the bakery).

Skeptics claim that Sacha is overrated (and overpriced), and to be quite honest, I can do without most of their offerings. But once you’ve had a Finkelsztajn sandwich, there’s no going back. Even when I’m in New York—the land of a million delis—I have regular flavor flashbacks and find my taste buds yearning for Sacha’s classic sandwich. And when I’m in Paris, it provides a welcome break from traditional, buttery French fare.

The sandwich is a heavenly combination of lean spiced beef (or turkey), a layer of smoky (but not too smoky) eggplant spread, another layer of spicy (but not crazy spicy) red chili paste, thinly sliced pickles, cucumbers, and tomatoes, all layered on a soft onion roll.

They don’t come cheap—they’re 7.80€ a pop—but it’s probably for the best. Were they not such a significant investment, I would undoubtedly end up eating five a day. Not advisable. In addition, the bakery has a bunch of traditional Jewish desserts—like a particularly fluffy looking cheesecake—but I’m always too fulfilled after my sandwich to bother.

What do you think, readers? Does Sacha merit its rep as the hottest bakery on the rue des Rosiers? Check out what those at The Puff List, We Blog the World, and This Little Piglet had to say.

Sacha Finkelsztajn. 27 rue des Rosiers, 4th arrondissement. Tel: 01 42 72 78 91. Open Wed-Mon 10am-7pm. Closed Tuesday.

Written by Tory Hoen for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

The Marais is one of Paris’ oldest and most famous neighborhoods. Home to scores of galleries, shops, cafés and restaurants and riddled with narrow cobble-stoned streets, it is one of the best Parisian neighborhoods to explore for the leisurely stroller.

The Marais (literally meaning “marshland”) originally designated the geography of this small area astride the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. Arguably the center of Paris in terms of fashion, art, nightlife and people-watching, chic pedestrians – tourists and locals alike – can be found wandering the small, cobble-stoned streets lined with old hotels particuliers, slanting stone facades and museums hidden behind lush interior courtyards. The Marais is also one of Paris’ oldest Jewish neighborhoods, and on Sundays the picturesque rue des Rosiers fills with Parisians fiending for Paris’ best chalah and fallafel.

Peaceful Square du Temple garden by rue de Bretagne – courtesy of Lalupa

The Picasso museum, located on the rue de Thorigny, is a great option for serious fans as the permanent collection features a wide variety of works from different periods of his life. The Musée Carnavalet, official museum of the history of Paris, is also a great educational choice if you’re looking for a little more in-depth background on the various shapes and sizes Paris, its monuments, its monarchy and its population have taken on throughout the ages. The Maison Européenne de la Photographie, a museum devoted entirely to contemporary photography, is also definitely worth a see for fans of this genre.

If all the intellectualizing has whet your appetite, make your way to the Marché des Enfants Rouges, Paris’ oldest covered market. Unlike most markets intended exclusively for take-home grocery shopping, you can order some of the delicious concoctions on offer in the many restaurant stands in the market and eat them sur place at one of the picnic tables. The nearby rue de Bretagne is also jam-packed with wonderful food shops, cafés and restaurants to explore.

Marché des enfants rouges – Vingt Paris

You may, however, just want to stock up on snacks to take home for later and make the most of the Marais’ best known culinary item right away: the fallafel. Wander down the rue des Rosiers on a Sunday and you will soon realize that 90% of the crowds are there to wait in line for as long as it takes to taste the famous “As du Fallafel”.

If you can control your hunger pangs, the long line is well worth it: warm pita positively overloaded with crispy falafel, cabbage, eggplant, lettuce, tomato, hummus and a variety of other condiments and toppings. Grab a fruit juice to wash it down and park yourself in the nearby Place des Vosges to feast.

Once you have recovered, your mind may turn to more materialistic urges such as shopping. With a delightfully high concentration of worthy boutiques, you can’t go wrong wandering down the rue Vieille du Temple, the rue des Francs-Bourgeois, rue Charlot and the rue Saintonge.

For dinner some HiP favorites are Glou (great for people-watching) or Le Petit Thai (delicious and authentic Thai food) — both wonderful addresses that fill up quickly! So call ahead or show up early. Other great places to eat in the Marais are Breakfast in America (if you are craving a classic American brunch in a typical American diner setting), La Perla, Chez Janou, and Enoteca.

For an after-dinner coffee or sweet fix, Pozzetto has delicious Italian-style coffee and gelato on the rue du Roi de Sicile.

Garden of a hôtel particulier, rue Payenne. Photo Erica Berman.

HiP Apartments in the Marais:

• A Roi Doré, 3 bedroom.
• Michel le Comte, 3 bedroom.
• Rosiers, 2 bedroom.
• Elzevir, 1 bedroom.
• Place des Vosges, 1 bedroom.

Useful addresses:

• Metro access: Bastille, St. Paul, Hotel de Ville, Rambuteau, Chemin Vert.
• Musée Picasso, 5, Rue de Thorigny, 75003 Paris, +33 1 42 71 25 21
• Musée Carnavalet, 23, rue de Sévigné,, 75003, +33 1 44 59 58 58
• Marché des Enfants Rouges, 39 rue de Bretagne,  75003
• Glou Restaurant, 101 rue vieille du Temple, 75003 +331 42 74 44 32
• Maison Européenne de la Photographie, 5 rue de Fourcy, 75004
• Au Petit Thai, 4 rue du Roi de sicile, 75004 +33 1 42 72 75 75
• Chez Janou, 2 rue Roger Verlomme, 75003, +33 1 42 72 28 41
• Breakfast in America, 4 rue Malehr, 75004, +33 1 42 72 40 21
• La Perla, 26 rue François Miron 75004, +33 1 42 77 59 40
• Enoteca, 25, rue Charles V, 75004, +33 1 42 78 91 44
• Pozzetto,  39, rue du Roi de Sicile, 75004

Typical Marais architecture. Photo Erica Berman.

Fabulous Vacation Rentals in Paris, Provence and Tuscany: Haven in Paris, www.haveninparis.com