Baggage at Paris Cafes and Restaurants i

The most reliable spot for bag storage is the paid lockers at Gare du Nord train station, and you may be coming through there if taking the RER from Charles de Gaulle airport, of if arriving by train from London or points north.

A real restaurant I have particularly enjoyed for lunch in that neighborhood is this small place: http://www.lardoise-paris.com/index.php/fr/. At most Paris restaurants and cafes, tables tend to be pretty tightly placed together, with little room for even coats, hats, and purses.

We were there in mid-July and had a few hours in Paris before taking the train to Bruges, so we had lunch and relaxed at a cafe. Our luggage (2 rolling carry ons and a backpack) was with us and wasn't a problem at all. We just sat outside near the sidewalk so our bags weren't between our table and someone else's.

As for cafes by the Louvre, there are some near the Metro at Palais Royale Musee du Louvre. There's a little square there, with cafes on the side streets on the side opposite the Louvre.

FYI, if you want a good budget cafe with delicious food in a cozy setting, I highly recommend Cafe Med on Isle St. Louis. It's a short walk from Notre Dame. Just walk to the back of N. D., cross the bridge, and pass the two expensive cafes on opposite corners. Take Rue St. Louis, go a little way down, and the cafe will be on your right, across from an ice cream stand. Lunch menus are around 11-15 Euros for appetizers, main course, and dessert. Their hot cheese tart is AMAZING!

In a city full of tourists, you will hardly be the only ones sitting at a cafe with luggage. Just be considerate and observant.

We try to find a place with a table by the back wall so we can put the baggage behind us agains the wall where it is not easy to walk off with. While baggage is not a marriage target of thieves, you don't want to tempt someone by making it easy.

I don't know when you are going to be there but the baggage check at Gare du Nord can have very long lines, as we experienced late one September. We arrived early am and our train was not till 5 so we endured it. Had to wait almost an hour as there were over a dozen ahead of us. With just a couple hours wait, take it with you to a cafe and follow the advice above.

Sitting at a cafe or restaurant even inside, depending on the space, with luggage is done all the time, even more so if the place is located close to a train station. It's part of the European travel experience.