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We are planning to go by train from Edinburgh to Udine via Paris and will have three hours in Paris to kill (including travelling from Gare du Nord to Gare de Bercy) around 5pm. There’s two adults, one six-year-old and one three-year-old. Can anyone recommend where best to eat? Or are we best stopping off at a boulangerie or supermarket (bearing in mind it’s rush hour), as there appears to be little around Gare de Bercy?
John Wall


Regarding a place to eat en route to Bercy, a good idea might be to jump on the Metro line 4 at the Gare du Nord and head south. Get off at Les Halles and take the exit 'Rue de Turbigo'. Once out of the station turn right and head for the fabulous and pedestrianised Rue Montorgueil. This charming Parisian street has tons of places to eat and you can choose whether to sit down at one of the many sprawling terraces or grab a crepe or sandwich and wander.
There's a nice café at the end of the street called La Grappe d'Orgueil which serves oysters, good wine and has a cosy French atmosphere.
If you prefer to picnic this street also boasts an array of boulangeries and take-aways (and a super ice-cream parlour!) and a lovely spot to eat is in the Jardin des Halles under the rather impressive Eglise Sainte-Eustache de Paris.
When you're all fed and watered you just need to get back on the line 4 to Chatelet where you change for the speedy line 14 to Bercy.
Hope this helps. Have a great holiday.
Jack and Ann-Marie

On the way from Gare du Nord to Gare de Bercy, you should take Rer B
until Châtelet then change for ligne 14 and stop at Cour Saint-
Emilion: Cour St-Emilion is just one stop from Gare De Bercy, it is
next to the big Parc de Bercy where kids can play and run if they
need to (which they often do) and the place itself is quite lovely
and it full of cafés and shops very nice to visit with kids (Créalia,
Eveil et Jeux, a cinema.)
Hope this will help!
Helen


I live in Paris with two children, and, as one of my children is
Italian, I frequently take the night trains to Italy that leave Paris
from La Gare de Bercy.

There is no doubt about this: with three hours including transfer to
La Gare de Bercy, my advice would be to have a good, early dinner in
the Terminus Nord brasserie just across the street from La Gare du
Nord (on rue Dunkerque). The setting is beautiful (inside the
brasserie, not outside the station!) and the menu allows you to order
plenty of child-friendly things along wtih a more grown-up dinner.
The average French child will eat a 'steak hache frites' - that is, a
beefburger and chips - but an excellent burger and good chips. So,
even if it's not on the menu (which is usually is) it is just fine to
ask for this for your children. There is always good roast chicken
as well.

It is a good idea to take some extra bottled water and some things to
eat on the train to Italy. Inside the Gare du Nord, there is a
Patisserie Paul which sells good baguette, pastries, sandwiches,
salads. You can find it at the far end of the station from where the
Eurostar arrives - ie, when you come off the Eurostar platform, turn
left and head towards the very far end of the station. Just as you
get to the stairs and escalators descending to the metro and RER at
that point, you will see to your left, tucked-away, the Paul
patisserie. If you can't find it, there is are information counters
in the station 'Accueil' and you can always ask there. Pick up some
goodies and some bottled drinks, cross the road to the Terminus Nord,
enjoy a good dinner and then take a taxi - if you can manage it
(about ten to twelve euros) to La Gare Bercy. That way, you will see
a bit of Paris as you go. Allow some time to get to the station as
the traffic can get busy at the end of the day. Also, do remember
that you should take the taxi from a taxi rank (there is one outside
the Gare du Nord at the Eurostar platform end - the queue moves
quickly and with young children and bags you have priority so skip
the line, gesture towards small child, and take the next taxi - it is
how it works here). Taxis in Paris will charge for suitcases in the boot, but not for pushchairs - so a little will be added on to your taxi bill when you arrive, depending on the number of your bags. I wouldn't do the metro with pushchair and bags - there are a lot of stairs. Treat yourselves to a taxi and some sightseeing from the comfort of the back seat.
Have a good journey, and bon appetit.
Joanna Robertson, Paris, France