I have always heard the Raphael Hotel is a great place to go for cocktails, so I decided to check it out. The Raphael is on avenue Kléber, just steps away from the Arc de Triomphe. The Bar Anglais on the ground floor offers a warm, cozy atmosphere. But, when…

Because it’s so easy to find a delicious meal in France, I tend to choose restaurants based on décor, ambiance and occasion. One of my favorite dining spots is Le Grand Colbert in the second arrondissement. Readers may recognize the name, Le Grand Colbert was featured in the film Somethings Gotta Give, starring…

This afternoon, I lunched with my good friend Cécile. Blog readers may recall her daughter’s charming display of chestnuts posted last September. Cécile and I met many years ago. She worked for a French production company at the International Film Festival, which was hosted in Chicago. She is a true Parisian in…

When summer arrives in Paris, one of my favorite things to do is settle into a terrace table at Le Flore en l’Île, the charming brasserie at the western tip of Île Saint-Louis. With its unbeatable location along the Seine, Le Flore en l’Île offers one of the nicest spots…

For my last night in Paris, I wanted to do something special. My friend, Dawn, suggested that I go to Baccarat’s Crystal Room for dinner. I had never heard of it. She was quite surprised as it opened a few years ago and it’s located on the Place des Etats-Unis, not too far from…

Last night, I was invited to have dinner at the Cercle de l’Union Interalliée. I accepted with great pleasure. I knew this would be a wonderful experience and I love seeing the inside of private clubs. I arrived early to take a few photos in total privacy. We had a glass…