Nectarine - Salon de The: "Nectarine Glow from a Cafe Terrasse" Top 5 Page for this destination Paris Restaurant Tip by BeatChick

Nectarine, a cafe/salon de the on the Place des Vosges, serves sweet & savory crepes/galettes, omelettes, quiches, & salades. I sat out on the terrasse while I mused & wrote in my journal, the server glanced in my direction every now & again to see if I needed anything but never interrupted. Cafe servers in Paris seem to respect the art of writing even if one is just writing in a journal. Since I was there until sunset I watched the buildings of the Place come afire in that famed apricot (or nectarine!) glow.

My new favorite dessert in Paris comes from here: Pom' Cannelle. Go look at the photo to be converted!

I stayed on the terrasse 2 or 3 hours people-watching on the Place des Vosges, catching glimpses of people in the parc, peering at people passing by, observing the patrons around me. A small slice of Paris. As I paid my bill the waiter said something to me that my American ears could not quite make out, so he wrote it down for me on the back of a card: "Vous etre la Bienvenue". And indeed, I felt very welcome. I still have the card. ;)

Piece of advice: if you need to make a pit stop while in the Marais, Nectarine is a good place to use. Theirs are pay toilettes yet free for the patrons. Also note that anytime you have an opportunity to use a free restroom in Paris, use it, as you never know when that opportunity will present itself again.

Photos: Feb 2006 & April 2003

Favorite Dish: Jambon et gruyere (ham & cheese) savory crepes - accompanied by a small salad, un verre de vin & un cafe (all for 10€). Savory crepes/galettes are made with buckwheat flour rather than the traditional bleached flour one expects from sweet crepes.

UPDATE 2/06:
Gruyere/pomme des terres/tomate galette
(Cheese, potatoes & tomato savory crepe)
accompanied by salad & bread - 8.50€
Pom' Cannelle, which I think is a cinnamon-laden tarte tatin (upside down apple pie) served hot with ice cream, Chantilly cream, all drizzled with sauce caramel - 8€
¼ pichet of vin rouge - 6€
pastis - 5€
double espresso - 4€

GRAND TOTAL = 37.50€

Wow, those drinks really add up!
Without the alcohol & coffee and with just un carafe d'eau (tap water) the total would've been 16.50€, tip included.

I read about this restaurant in:
Rick Steves' Paris 2003

Address: 16, Place des Vosges, Paris 75004
Comparison: less expensive than average
Directions: 5 mins W of Place Bastille on rue St-Antoine. Right on r. Birague for magical entrance thru a Renaissance-era archway~middle of E side near Musée Victor Hugo

Métro: Bastille, Chemin Vert or St-Paul
Phone: 01 42 77 23 78
Price: less than US$10
Rating: 4
Theme: French

• Updated Oct 14, 2007
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