Tips for Dining, Eating, and Food Shopping in France (including Paris, Nice, Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Marseilles)
Start New ThreadWe are starting to plan our vacation to Paris this August. We will be there from the 14th to the 25th and are concerned that not too many places will be open. Do all the restaurants that close, stay closed for the entire month, or do some open after a week or two of vacation. We are usually there much earlier in the summer, but this year we can only fit in our trip in August. Thanks for all of your help in advance.
By dlgc
on May 1, 2011 11:18 AM
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We were in Paris in mid-August two years ago.
Not everything is closed. In general the closer you are to Notre Dame/Seine the more likely the restaurant/boulangerie/patisserie will be open as Paris is packed with tourists in August and I'm sure quite a few places are happy to remain open to profit off them. It was only when you started venturing a few km away from the Seine that you realised how much of non-touristy Paris does shut down in August.
But in doing our research I'd say around 2/3s of the listed restaurants in the Michelin guide were closed for parts if not all of August. The good news is that 1/3 were still open!
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We are staying in the 1st. I guess I'll have to wait and hope that paris by mouth reportrs on open resturants in August. Thanks again for all your help.
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You may want to check this article, "Best Paris Restaurants Open in August" http://travelsort.com/blog/the-best-p... for some ideas if you haven't already made all your reservations.
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See this list that is being compiled and is growing all the time:
http://parisbymouth.com/forum/#/20110...
(page 1 and page 2)
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Thank you for this list, it certainly will help. It appears that not too many places are open in August.
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That's right. It is like that in August in Paris.
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Are the Christian Constant restaurants open?
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Yes, as well as many in the first, due to the international businessmen who frequent that part of the city. All of the brasseries will be open as well, not to worry.
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Thank you, we are staying in the 1st. Any more open restaurant suggestions would be appreciated.
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The best is to watch the constantly updated list of restaurants-open-in-August on the "Paris by Mouth" forum.
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HuffPo has a slideshow on this--L'Ardoise is a good pick, have made reservations there for 2nd half of August. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/travels...
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Chez Flottes and Le Castiglione, and maybe Le Souffle. Plus a ton of Japanese and Asian bistros. All of the luxe hotel cafe/bars etc (Meurice a personal favorite).
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I must say that the Paris By mouth listing is not as useful as I was led to believe. There are still tons of restaurants that I cannot figure out when they are open- not even on their own websites.
To make matters worse, some describe themselves as open because they don't close for the whole month but they are not really open for lunch and dinner during all four weeks. Some don't seem to know yet if they are going to be open. And it is already the 21st Julliet!
There should be some universal spreadsheet with the top 50 or so restaurants and the dates and meals that are available.
But for anyone going in the second half of the month that seems to be better than the first two weeks.
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You are quite right and it will never happen. The confusion and ambiguity is an annual event.
You are also correct as to the latter part of the month. The August closure has been creeping earlier and earlier into July. The good news is that the fall season begins in late August.
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I forgot to mention this website http://www.indagare.com/passions/4/de...
Not sure how old it is though. ? 2010 vs. 2011.
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This website won't open, thanks anyway
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Does anyone know if Chez Casimir is open in August.
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Yes it is, except for the two weekends in the middle of the month. This info is in the Paris-by-mouth thread given up-thread, about 12 posts ago.
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Parigi, I can't seem to find the post you are referring to. Thanks for all your help
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http://parisbymouth.com/forum/#/20110...
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http://parisbymouth.com/open-in-august/
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1. Click the link
http://parisbymouth.com/forum/#/20110...
2. Search "casimir".
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I have been calling around. Many August closures.
La Muse Vin (11th) and La Cotte Roti (12th) are open all of August.
Jacques Genin will be closed from the 8th through the 21st or 22nd.
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Reviving last year's thread-does anyone know if Chez l'Ami Jean plans to close the whole month of August again this year? I'm planning far enough in advance to avoid disappointment. Unfortunately, can't avoid being there in August, so please spare me the "please avoid Paris in August" spiel. Merci.
I'll be closely following Paris by Mouth in the upcoming months-anyone know when the closures are generally announced?
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As I understand it, places don't make a year by year decision. They take their "vacances" pretty much at the same time every year, and for most restaurants, that's all or most of August.
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That is my experience, they tend to follow a routine, however the actual dates do vary from year to year, and announcements (if they are made) tend to be closer to the holiday. My guess is if they closed last year they will close this year.
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Thank you ChefJune and PhilD. I assumed that as well. Will be keeping up with your posts as I hash out the details of my trip to Paris, Sisteron, Sète, and Arles this August.
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