Roland Garros 2019 — Top Places to Visit

From May 26-June 9, The French Open will showcase the world’s best tennis players, with the Women’s Championship Match held on June 8 and the Men’s Championship Match held on June 9. What is not so well known is that nearby is the haute Village d’Auteuil, in the 16^th arrondissement, which offers an array of great restaurants, bistros, brasseries and fashion shops for those in need of new clothes or shoes. Ticket and other information may be found here.

Village d’Auteuil truly is a special Parisian playground, which is located next to the Hippodrome d’Auteuil horse race track, and rows of grand embassy homes near the Bois de Boulogne. Few tourists make their way to this haute venue that remains a little hidden quartier, even among Parisians. It is also historical, as famous Parisians lived in this area, including poet Marcel Proust and architect Hector Guimard, whose distinctive buildings dot the 16^th, especially on or near rue Jean de La Fontaine.

Top places to visit include:

1. Murat

This brasserie cannot be missed, as it has a voiturier outside with Maseratis, Jaguars, Porsches and Land Rovers parked at its doorstep. Owned by the famous Costes brothers, this place is more about being seen, than to just come for a pleasant meal. For women, high heels, short skirts and blouses are a must. For men, jeans are acceptable so long you wear a dress shirt and a sport coat. Trendiness comes with a price, as a café alone is more than 4 €. Items on the menu include caviar (150 €), steak with béarnaise sauce, and macarons with fresh raspberries. For lunch or dinner, expect to pay 80 € or more per person, including wine.

Information:
Address:1 boulevard Murat, 75016
Métro: Porte d’Auteuil, line M10
Téléphone : 01 46 51 33 17
Hours: Open for lunch and dinner Monday – Sunday

2. Beaujolais d’Auteuil

This cute bistro is rated as one of the top bistros in the city by the famous LeBey Parisian Bistro guide and is a true value for what it offers. Its menu offers classic dishes, including deviled eggs (a French favorite, called Oeuf mayonnaise), steak with frites (one of the best steaks I have had anywhere in France, and the frites are top notch out of this world), and an excellent starter platter of sliced meats with cornichons. The mousse au chocolat is also a fantastic. Lunch or dinner is a bargain, for about 40 € per person with a glass of wine.

Information:
Address: 99 boulevard de Montmorency, 75016
Métro: Porte d’Auteuil, line M10
Téléphone: 01 47 43 03 56
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 12:00 – 15:00 and 18:30 – 23:00. The bar is open until midnight.
Website: http://www.beaujolaisdauteuil16.com/

3. Pizzeria d’Auteuil

This is one of my favorite places to eat, and always busy with locals craving good Italian food and pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven. No reservations are accepted, so show up early or just plan to wait like everyone else. Complete details are listed here.

Information:
Address: 81 rue de la Fontaine, 75016
Métro: Michel-Ange Auteuil, lines M10 & M9
Téléphone: 01 42 88 00 86
Hours: Lunch and Dinner — Seven days per week

4. Le Village d’Auteuil Café

Perfect for a morning café or café crème with a croissant, this classic Café also serves lunch and delightful snacks, including Bertillon’s famous ice cream. Locals are also known to sit outside and have a beer or a glass of wine at any time of the day, even in the morning.

Information:
Address: rue d’Auteuil 48, 75016
Métro: Michel-Ange Auteuil, lines M10 & M9
Téléphone: 01 42 88 00 18
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 7:00 – 22:30. Sunday: 8:00 – 22:30

5. Nicolas

If you want to buy some bubbly, or just a good bottle of wine to bring with you on your way to have a pique-nique before you make your way to Roland Garros, Nicolas is the perfect place to go. Wines and champagne are competitively priced, and the store, while small, stocks wines from all regions of France, including top Bordeaux and Bourgogne wines.

Information:
Address: 46 Rue d’Auteuil, 75016
Métro: Michel-Ange Auteuil, lines M10 & M9
Téléphone : 01 42 88 07 22
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00-20:00; Sunday 9:00-1:00

6. Monoprix

For shopping at a grocery store or, alternatively, even for some chic clothes, you will be surprised about the quality of Monoprix. It has great prices, a really good selection, and Parisians find great value and quality, throughout. The grocery store is also quite good, and has just about everything you need, including a good snack shop where you can buy sandwiches and pastries.

Information:
Address: 49 rue d’auteuil (grocery); 60-68 rue d’auteuil (clothing), 75016
Métro: Michel-Ange Auteuil, lines M10 & M9
Hours: Seven days per week (Sunday mornings only)

7. Servant

This is my favorite chocolate shop in Paris. You will pay a pretty penny, but it is worth it, and the store is sure to delight little ones and adults alike. The store, though compact, has top chocolates and sweet candies, including a selection of lollipops (sucettes) that will delight little tykes. A complete write-up of Servant may be found here.

Information:
Address: 30, rue d’Auteuil, 75016
Métro: Michel-Ange Auteuil, lines M10 & M9 ; Eglise d’Auteuil line 10
Téléphone: 01 42 88 49 82.

8. Jardin du Ranelagh

This park is one of the great hidden gems of Paris, with an open space and marionnette shows for children. The jardin is not too far from La Muette and the beautiful Musée Marmottan, which houses a wonderful collection of Monet paintings. Review here for more complete information.

 9. Birthplace of Marcel Proust

On 96 rue la Fontaine is a simple plaque which marks the birthplace of Marcel Proust. The building itself is circa 19th century, and is within a neighborhood of buildings designed by famous French architect Hector Guimard, including his distinctive home at 62 rue la Fontaine. This is within walking distance of Pizzeria d’Auteuil, Monoprix and Nicolas.

10. Le Congrès

In Village d’Auteuil close to Roland Garros, Le Congrès is a friendly neighborhood brasserie with a stable clientele of repeat customers who faire la bise with the staff, (greet with two kisses on the cheek). Such is life in Paris, where going to a restaurant can be like going to a friend’s home for dinner.

This lovely restaurant, with white tablecloth seating and a traditional menu, has excellent dishes including steak, lamb, frites and oysters. Although there is no children’s menu (most restaurants don’t have them in Paris), this is a kid -friendly place, as our two boys played their Nintendo DS’ and we watched a mother with her two-year old sitting across from her munching on steak and frites as she drunk water from her wine glass (which, frequently doubles as a water glass at these Parisian brasseries).

The food all around is surprisingly good, and the service is friendly and swift. I would not hesitate to go back and recommend this to anyone visiting this quiet area of the 16^th Arrondissement of Paris. The restaurant has some other top quality siblings, including Le Congrès Maillot and Le Sébillon.