Page 132 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

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4 Le Grand Monarque Hotel €€€
Paris 1 (%02 37 18 15 15; www.bw-grand-monarque.
com; 22 place des Épars; d €145-215, f €275;
5 Holybelly International € aiW) With its teal-blue shutters gracing
(www.holybel.ly; 19 rue Lucien Sampaix, 10e; its 1779 façade, lovely stained-glass ceiling,
breakfast €5-11.50, lunch mains €13.50-16.50; and treasure trove of period furnishings, old
h9am-6pm Thu, Fri, Mon, from 10am Sat & B&W photos and knick-knacks, the refurbished
Sun; mJacques Bonsergent) This outstanding Grand Monarque (with air-con in some rooms)
barista-run coffee shop and kitchen is always is a historical gem and very central. A host of
rammed with a buoyant crowd, who never tire of hydrotherapy treatments are available at its
Holybelly’s exceptional service, Belleville-roasted spa. Its elegant restaurant, Georges (%02 37
coffee and cuisine. Sarah’s breakfast pancakes 18 15 15; www.bw-grand-monarque.com; 22 place
FRANCE 8 ESSENTIAL FRANCE
served with egg, bacon, homemade bourbon des Épars; 4-course menu from €75, 8-course
butter and maple syrup are legendary, while her tasting menu €95, mains €38-41; hnoon-2pm
lunch menu features everything from traditional & 7.30-10pm Tue-Sat), has a Michelin star. Staff
braised veal shank to squid à la plancha. are charming.
4 Hôtel Amour Boutique Hotel €€
(%01 48 78 31 80; www.hotelamourparis.fr; 8 Mont St-Michel 5
rue Navarin, 9e; d €170-230; W; mSt-Georges,
Pigalle) Craving romance in Paris? The inimitable 4 Vent des Grèves B&B €
black-clad Amour (‘Love’) features original (%Estelle 02 33 48 28 89; www.ventdesgreves.
design and nude artwork in each of the rooms, com; 7-9 chemin des Dits, Ardevon; s/d/tr/q incl
some more explicit than others. The icing on the breakfast €42/52/62/72) This friendly, family-
cake is the hip ground-floor bistro with summer run B&B has five modern rooms, furnished
patio garden, a tasty spot for breakfast, lunch or simply, with magical views of the Mont.
dinner and everything in between. Rooms don’t Outstanding value. Situated an easily walkable
have a TV, but who cares when you’re in love? 1km east of the shuttle stop in La Caserne.

Chartres 3 Bordeaux 7
5 Le Tripot Bistro €€ 5 Le Petit Commerce Seafood €€
(%02 37 36 60 11; www.letripot.wixsite.com/ (05 56 79 76 58; 22 rue Parlement St-Pierre;
chartres; 11 place Jean Moulin; 2-/3-course 2-course lunch menu €14, mains €15-25;
lunch menus €15/18, 3-course dinner menus hnoon-midnight) This iconic bistro, with dining
€29.50-45, mains €13.50-22; hnoon-1.45pm rooms both sides of a narrow pedestrian street
& 7.30-9.15pm Tue & Thu-Sat, noon-1.45pm Sun) and former Michelin-starred chef Stéphane
Tucked off the tourist trail and easy to miss, even Carrade in the kitchen, is the star turn of the
if you do chance down its narrow street, this trendy St-Pierre quarter. It’s best known for
atmospheric space with low beamed ceilings is its excellent seafood menu that embraces
a treat for authentic and adventurous French everything from Arcachon sole and oysters to
fare like saddle of rabbit stuffed with snails, eels, lobsters and chipirons (baby squid) fresh
and grilled turbot in truffled hollandaise sauce. from St-Jean de Luz.
Locals are onto it, so booking ahead is advised.

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