Legrand Filles et Fils - Beaujolais Nouveau

One of the oldest spice shops in Paris, Legrand is now considered one of the best wine cellars.  Their cellar and adjoining bar is an institution of the Galerie Vivienne, one of Paris' most beautiful covered shopping galeries that maintains its 19th century neo-classical decor in an ambiance that is elegant yet comfortable. 

The same can be said of the Legrand wine cellar.  The wine is stocked in wood panneled casements that line the walls of the boutique and the bar area and date back to the Belle Epoque.  The lighting is warm and golden.  The personnel is charming, but not overbearing. 

It goes without saying that the selection of wines is excellent.  The bottles can be a bit pricey, but they are well worth the expense.  It is possible to find a nice vintage for around 10 Euros, but count on spending more for something spectacular.  Don't hesitate to ask the personnel for suggestions, they are all fully capable of helping you find what you like, whether or not you can explain what you want using the typical wine connaisseur's jargon.

The bar is open to the public until 7:30 pm at which time it is made available to private parties.  During regular opening hours you can choose a wine in the cellar and have it served (for no extra fee apparently) in the bar area. 

This is also a great place to go to celebrate the Beaujolais Nouveau.  Legrand proposes its own beaujolais taken from a selection of vintners - in the hopes of getting the best out of a vintage that is frankly no-one's favorite.  On the evening of the Beaujolais Nouveau opening hours are until 8pm and the wine service is accompanied by music and a typical regional dish.

In respect of their spice shop heritage, the selection of candies and spices is scrumptious. You can find all the classic French sweets from the Calissons d'Aix to the Betises de Cambrai stocked in big glass candy jars in the cellar area. 

-CSL

Legrand Filles et Fils
1 rue de la Banque
75002 Paris
tel: +33 (0)1 42 60 07 12
info@caves-legrand.com

Opening hours:
Monday 11am-7pm
Tuesday-Friday 10am-7:30pm
Saturday 10am-7pm

Cafe du Commerce

With excellent Parisian food, and a (surprisingly) warm Parisian atmosphere, the Cafe du Commerce is nicely situated just far enough away from the Eiffel Tower to be slightly off the beaten track.

 Good food at an accessible price

Mouth watering meats, fresh sea food and french fries made with freshly cut potatoes are just a few of the many delicious options on the menu. 

This is a great place for escargot if you are a fan or simply just curious to give it a try. 

On Tuesday October 25, the daily seafood special was scallops with wild mushroom risotto and grilled vegetables.  Delicious! 

The price range is also quite affordable.  Count on spending 20-50 Euros per person for a two course meal with a glass of wine.

Return to the Annees Folles

The Cafe du Commerce was founded in 1921, and the 1920s atmosphere still reigns without being kitsch or drowning in nostalgia.  The lighting is warm and golden, the floors are tiled and the servers wear long aprons like the garcons of the past.   During the daytime all three floors of the restaurant receive natural light through a beautiful glass roof. 

I recommend this address to Parisians looking for a good French meal, or anyone curious about traditional French cuisine.  But come hungry!  The meals here are copious and doggy-bags are not a tradition in France!

-CSL

Le Cafe du Commerce
51 rue du Commerce
75015 Paris
+33 (0)1.45.75.03.27
Metro: La Motte-Piquet, Emile Zola, Commerce
Reserve your table in advance!