Where We Ate: France
Our Europe specialist Graci just returned from a 10-day trip through France. She visited Paris, Aix en Provence, and Saint Tropez. Read on for a list of where she ate, and whether or not she recommends you try it on your next trip to France!
Paris
1. Rosa Bonheur Sur Seine
Port des Invalides, Quai d’Orsay, 75007
Located near the Alexandre III Bridge and the Grand Palais, this new floating barge on the Seine cannot be missed! You may notice tourists and locals alike ordering drinks at the bar, then sitting outside on the ledge of the river, chatting and watching the boats go by. Graci and her husband did, and quickly followed suit.
2. Le 52
Graci describes this eatery as a low key, hipster spot that is great for lunch or dinner. One thing to keep in mind is that there are no English menus available here, so be prepared to test out your french phrases and try something new.
3. Du Pain et Des Idées
This is like the patisserie of your dreams, and is known as one of the best in all of France. Everything you can imagine is available here, from chocolate croissants to pistachio rolls. Don’t forget to look up to admire the beautifully hand painted ceilings!
4. Holybelly
Graci and her husband loved this spot so much, they ate here two days in a row! This is very similar to a trendy breakfast spot you’d find in any big city in America, offering a simple and straightforward menu plus rotating specials to choose from. Stop in here to enjoy the natural light with your meal, which can be ordered off of English menus.
5. Cafe Constant
139 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007
This small and romantic dinner spot is conveniently located within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower. The line is almost always out the door, and reservations are not accepted; however, Graci and her husband did not have to wait too long as the line goes by rather quickly. Here, they tried escargot for the first time!
Aix En Provence
La Cerise sur le Gâteau
The name of this eatery in Aix en Provence, France translates to “the icing on the cake”, and Graci and her husband agree that the name held true! This was their favorite meal of the whole trip. Here, the owner is also the chef and sole waiter. Once he takes your order, he cooks your meal, serves it, and only then does he move on to the next table. With only about 10 seats in the entire place, the process is not as lengthy as you may think. English menus are not available here, but we suggest you do as Graci did and let the owner choose everything for you. In addition, this famous eatery is extremely affordable!
Saint Tropez
Club 55
Processed with VSCO with c6 preset43 Boulevard Patch, 83350 Ramatuelle
Club 55 has been open since 1955, with awesome atmosphere and the freshest food in France. Though very expensive, it is worth every penny! For one thing, it sits on the beautiful white-sand Pampelonne Beach. After your meal here, rent a couple of sun loungers and spend your day watching all of the mega yachts cruise by. You may even catch a glimpse of a celebrity!
Book your own getaway to France! Call us at 402-281-3022 and ask to speak to Graci or any of our Europe specialists.
One of our favorite U.S. destinations to send travelers is Scottsdale, Arizona. Here you’ll find amazing restaurants including some of the best Mexican joints in the Southwest, plus fun little shops to explore in their Old Town area, and more. Read on for our recommendations of the best places to eat and play in Scottsdale and the surrounding areas, based off of our most recent trip there last week.
Old Town Scottsdale Restaurants
Old Town Scottsdale is a large section of the city with streets full of bars, restaurants, shopping, and more. We spent a majority of our time exploring and eating in this area. It is a great place for families, couples, and very popular with bachelor and bachelorette party groups. Whether you want to dine at a trendy brunch spot or an authentic Mexican eatery, we’ve got you covered. Check out some of the restaurants we sampled in Old Town last week, below.
Olive & Ivy
Olive & Ivy may have been my favorite restaurant that we dined at during our recent visit to Scottsdale. It is set right on the picturesque river, with a gorgeous patio complete with twinkling lights above you and a relaxed elegant vibe. This Mediterranean restaurant promises to transport you to the relaxing French Riviera, and we think it really delivered! We ate here for lunch and everything we ordered was delicious and fresh.
For lunch, we started with the Seasonal Chef’s Board, which includes prosciutto, spicy salami, artisan cheese, roasted veggies, preserves, marinated olives, pistachios, and toasted bread. We also sampled the Tuna Salad sandwich was divine and only $11! I highly recommend pairing this with their fresh potato salad.
We also sampled the Pastrami Reuben and of course we can’t forget about the drinks! I tried the White Sangria, which was refreshing and not too sweet. We also tasted the White Cranberry Cosmo which came highly recommended and rightfully so.
The Montauk
The Montauk is a casual, chic eatery in Old Town that will transport you to to a summer on the East Coast. We started with the deviled eggs that were delightful with bacon and truffle oil, plus some Watermelon Mule to wash them down. These were some of the tastiest and most refreshing drinks we had on the trip, with real muddled watermelon mixed with Tito’s vodka, lime, and ginger beer.
For our main meal, we sampled the Warm Lobster Roll (also available cold but our server suggested the warm option and we were glad she did!), as well as the kale salad, house burger, and Honey Jalapeno Chicken Sandwich.
Old Town Tortilla Factory
Located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale in the charming art district, Old Town Tortilla Factory is built from an historic 75-year old Scottsdale adobe home. It exemplifies the charm and laid-back vibe of the Southwest. The best part is the 1400 square foot flagstone patio surrounded by lit-up palm trees and gardens, plus 100 year old pecan trees.
The Tortilla Factory offers over 120 premium tequilas and a great selection of margaritas.
We had the Chorizo Fundido, a pepperjack cheese dip made with Chorizo and Rajaz to start. Then, we sampled the Green Enchiladas and the Old Town Tacos. We washed it down with the Platinum Margarita made with Casa Amigos Silver Tequila, Cointreau and fresh citrus.
Cave Creek
Cave Creek is about a 40 minute drive North from the Old Town Scottsdale area, but it is worth the trip. Here you’ll find the spirit of the Old West. The small desert town offers great shopping, dining, and gorgeous desert scenery.
Buffalo Chip Saloon
We just spent one evening in Cave Creek and we headed to Buffalo Chip Saloon. We went on a Wednesday night so we could catch the bull riding. They also hold this on Friday nights. We opted for the VIP tickets for some of the best seats in the house, plus an unlimited barbecue buffet.
We took a break from the bulls to check out some of the live country music. This was probably my favorite part of the trip. Picnic tables and twinkling lights surround the stage and create the perfect relaxing vibe. It’s also right by the mechanical bull, so you can enjoy live music while watching people ride.
Call us today at 402-390-9291 to book your next Scottsdale getaway and explore it like a local.