Paris English Forums

dino · Paris Forum Guest

Thanks to all of your for your recommendations. We have selcted the Hotel D'Albe in the Latin Quarter for the last week in October. Can anyone out there give us suggestions on what the area is like, restaurants, stores, where to buy our wine and glasses, or other must-sees in that area?
We are so very excited about this trip and Merci to each of you for your expertise and assistance!

maia · Paris Forum Guest

Your hotel is in rue de la Harpe in the pedestrianised tourist centre bounded by the Seine, Boulevard St Michel, rue St Jacques and Boulevard St Germain. You are only a few minutes from a number of must sees such as Notre Dame, Ste Chapelle in the Palais de Justice, Ile St Louis and across to the right bank to the Marais in the 4th - Place des Vosges, Musee Picasso etc. The Louvre is very close by metro or just walk along the rue de Rivoli. Everything is easily accessible from your hotel on foot and by metro.
If you walk along Bd St Germain past rue St Jacques you will come to Place Maubert (about 45 Bd St Germain) and there are a number of very good small food shops specialising in cheese, charcuterie and also a nice wine shop. There is good food shopping in rue du Buci too. There may be a Nicolas wine shop in the area but if not, there is one on rue St Antoine (follow rue de Rivoli and it becomes rue St Antoine) near St Paul Metro in the Marais. It only stays open until 7 or 8 pm.
A supermarket will be your best bet for wine glasses. I am not sure which is the closest to you but you could walk across the Ile de la Citie to the right bank to BHV at 52 rue de Rivoli and I think there is a Monoprix on rue de Rennes near Metro St Germain. Bring a waiter's friend or other favourite corkscrew from home (in your hold luggage) as it might be hard to find a suitable one quickly when you get to Paris.