ISO: A Quiet Café near Rue Cler

What about walking a little ways up towards Invalids, or the other direction to rue St. Dominique?

BG, that's probably what we'll do. In fact, I think the restaurant at which we ate that evening was actually on St. Dominique.

We were just stunned that several of the places wouldn't even seat us. An we're not really into a noisy scene; we just want to enjoy each other's company and Paris.

Any place which is truly quiet on a Saturday evening is likely to be deservedly unpopular, anywhere in central Paris.

Jane, I was just wondering approximately what time it was that you were looking for a café for a digestif? That could have been the problem because they would have preferred to seat those who wanted a full meal.
Also, FYI I was in the rue Cler area in September, May and December and only saw one or two Rick books each time! French was definitely the predominate language.

I would suggest looking for a place that is considered more of a Bar, and not serving a full menu. A bar will still have Coffee, maybe dessert, definitely liquor, potentially outdoor seating.

You may have better luck on a week night after 9:15 or so at the cafés. But on Saturday, perhaps select a restaurant that has a quieter atmosphere for dinner, where you would enjoy lingering over dessert-coffee-digestif for that quiet chat. Most restaurants will not rush you to leave.

We stayed in the Rue Cler last June and thought it a lot less tourist traffic then many other areas of Paris. We would definitely stay in that neighborhood again. Quite charming

Yes, I think the main problem was it was a Saturday evening. Probably about 8:30 or 9:00. I'm not sure of the time, but our dinner reservation was for 7:30. The restaurant was filling up, but didn't rush us to leave; DH just thought it would be nice to try another place for our coffee.

Our next time in Paris, we will be arriving on a Saturday, so we'll plan ahead a little more wisely this time!

Thanks, everyone.

Well, not too romantic but I think you can get a coffee at Amorino on Rue Cler. They have a small outdoor seating area (which, laughing....Darcy and I know WELL!!) and the turnover is quick as people eat their ice cream and go. I doubt there would be a problem with lingering here. No table service though...go to the counter.

We like Rue Cler! Will be there in a week at the Relais Bosquet and looking forward to it! How about La Terrasse du 7e on the corner by the Metro? They have always been most accommodating for us. They do a fine moules frites.

Laurel, the Terrasse du 7e has the best escargot we've ever had. We've eaten there three times, on RS tours, and the food has ranged from good to great. It's definitely on our list for dinner this time.

Pam, I think we passed by the Amorino in our search, but it was packed. Of course, they pretty much all were that night.

How about Cafe de Mars over by the Hotel Londres Eiffel? (Rue Augereau) I cannot speak for that particular cafe, but the side streets are fairly quiet that direction.

Rachel, I think we have eaten there, about 5 or 6 years ago. If it's the place I'm remembering, we loved the food. I had duck confit and was immediately hooked for life. Last time we were in Paris we planned to eat there again, but for some reason didn't. I think perhaps it was closed when we went by, or else we didn't find anything on the menu that suited us.

Thanks for the tip.

I loved Cafe du Marche. 38 Rue Cler, 75007 Paris, France

Thanks, Dani. We'll check it out.

Jane,

My hotel is right across the street from Cafe du Mars in Rue Cler - perhaps I'll see you and Stan there! Debbie

Oops - I meant Cafe du Marche on Rue Cler!

Jane,

"I know that a lot of folks don't care for the Rue Cler area, because it is crowded and overrun with tourists."

I've seen many of the comments here on the forum from those who feel that "Rue Rick" is the least desirable place to stay in Paris. Despite those comments, I plan to continue staying in that area as it's close to some of the sights that I like to visit, has good transportation connections, has lots of nice restaurants and hotels and I like the area.

The easiest solution to being refused service at restaurants because you're only ordering a coffee and digestif, would be to order those items at the place where you have dinner. You should be able to enjoy a quiet chat there, and no one will get annoyed.

There used to be a small place around the corner from Rue Cler on Rue de Grennelle called Le Den. It used to be Italian but it's been a few years since I was there. As I recall the food was good. It's very small and they have only a few tables out on the sidewalk.

I've dined at La Terrasse Ecole Militaire a number of times and always found the food to be good. It can get busy though. Their website says "Our facility allows you to have a drink, lunch, dinner" so that kind of sounds like you might just be able to go there for a coffee and digestif?

Bon Voyage!

Ken, thanks for the tips. Yes, in hindsight we should have stayed at the restaurant at which we had had dinner, and if we had been seated outside we probably would have. But it was a gorgeous spring evening, and outdoors beckoned.

Debbie, we're getting to Paris a day before you are, and I bet we run into each other there. I think I emailed you our hotel info - it's a block or so off Rue Cler.