Hello guys. I’m @thisisokinawa, a blogger from Okinawa, Japan, who runs a blog focused on travel and lifestyle.
I recently traveled solo to France, the host country of the 2024 Olympics. I’m currently sharing my experiences from Paris!
I took a sidecar tour to visit the main sightseeing spots in Paris, and afterwards, I’m heading for lunch.
I’m really excited about my first lunch in Paris.
This time, I’ll introduce two stylish restaurants where I had lunch in Paris. If you’re interested, consider them as references for your own travels.
・Lunch on Rue Cler
I asked my sidecar tour guide for recommended lunch spots, and he suggested heading to Rue Cler, which has many different restaurants and shops. He dropped me off there, so I could explore and find a place I liked.
It must be good if the locals recommend it!
Rue Cler is a pedestrian-only street, so no vehicles are allowed. The cobblestone street is lined with charming cafes and restaurants, making it lively and fun in the afternoon.
It’s a street filled with stylish. Which one should I choose?
One of the restaurants that caught my eye had a beautiful exterior.
L’Éclair 32 Rue Cler, 75007 Paris
The restaurant is located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, not far from the Eiffel Tower. Rue Cler is more than just a spot for dining; it’s a lively street with delicious-looking deli items displayed in shop windows, as well as specialty food stores selling seafood, cheese, chocolate, and more. It’s like a shopping street, making it a delightful place to stroll and explore. I highly recommend it.
If you’re taking the metro, the closest stations are École Militaire and La Tour-Maubourg, which I also used on my way there.
Here is a café located right near the École Militaire station.
In the 7th arrondissement, you can find notable spots such as the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée Rodin, and the Le Bon Marché department store.
Wow, how adorable!
I was instantly drawn to the exterior of L’Éclair, beautifully decorated with my favorite flowers. The yellow blooms caught my eye, and I decided to enter. I originally wanted to sit on the terrace, but after the sidecar tour, I was chilled to the bone, so I opted for an indoor table instead.
Fortunately, I was able to get a seat despite being alone.
In the photo, it might look like risotto, but it’s actually short pasta.
I also had a glass of red wine, Pinot Noir.
On either side of me were groups of local women chatting away in French. I couldn’t understand, but whenever our eyes met, they smiled warmly at me.
The food and wine helped warm me up, and I ended up ordering another glass of wine.
I had such a wonderful lunch that I definitely want to visit Rue Cler again next time I’m in Paris.
・A French restaurant located in the Marais district of the 3rd arrondissement in Paris.
I will also introduce another restaurant where I had lunch during my stay.
I forgot to take pictures of the exterior, but the terrace and semi-terrace provide good protection against the cold.
Brasserie Royal Turenne Paris 24 Rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris
The location is just a short walk north of the Picasso Museum in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris, near Place des Vosges.
I found this restaurant while I was walking back from the museum, feeling hungry. It was conveniently located on a street corner and had a nice atmosphere.
There is a menu board in front of the restaurant, but since I couldn’t read the French menu, it was quite challenging to choose a dish inside. Even if the menu had been written in English, it would still be hard to imagine what the dish was like if I’d never had it before.
In the future, I hope to learn more about French cuisine as I try different dishes.
I sat at a semi-terrace seat and started with my usual glass of wine.
Watching people walking by and enjoying the good weather made it a perfect experience.
It was just past noon, but the restaurant was bustling with activity.
The 3rd arrondissement of Paris was originally where I wanted to stay, so I was particularly interested in the area. It felt like a more refined and stylish neighborhood compared to the 10th arrondissement.
Notable spots in the 3rd arrondissement include the Picasso Museum, Place des Vosges, Rue des Francs Bourgeois.
I will be featuring the Picasso Museum in an upcoming blog post.
Now, for the lunch I had at Brasserie Royal Turenne in Paris:
While sipping on wine and taking my time to decide, I chose a dish from the menu board: Escalope de veau milanaise Linguines.
As I mentioned earlier, it can be difficult to order if you lack the experience to visualize the dishes. In such cases, asking the staff for recommendations is the quickest solution.
Did anyone manage to read the menu on the board? If you did, you either know French or are familiar with French cuisine.
It would be much easier if menus included pictures of the dishes.
Most restaurants typically bring a bottle of mineral water to each table.
In France, “Dames” or “Femmes” means the women’s restroom, and “Hommes” or “Messieurs” means the men’s restroom.
Knowing these can save you from any confusion. I saw an English-speaking woman who seemed a bit lost trying to figure out which door to use while I was washing my hands.
So, how did you like this lunch edition of my Paris trip? I highly recommend the terrace seating for a relaxed vibe and to soak up the Parisian atmosphere.
The menu might be tricky to read at first, but that’s part of the fun of learning and exploring.
See you in the next blog post!
