MARCH 2019 globaltravelerusa.com 67
If you’d rather discuss
business over a meal later in
the day, opt for lunch over
dinner, considered more of a
social occasion. Still, it’s best
to wait until the end of the
meal to discuss nuts and bolts.
Instead, chat about culture,
food and wine; skip discussions
about politics and anything of
a personal nature.
Whether you choose lunch
or dinner, reservations are vital
at most restaurants in Paris.
Alain Ducasse’s Versailles-
inspired, 2-Michelin-starred
restaurant within Le Meurice
hotel remains one of the city’s
top dining rooms; for a meal
that includes the glittering
lights of Paris as your back-
drop, head to The Peninsula
Hotel’s L’Oiseau Blanc rooftop
dining room. Helmed by one
of the first female chefs ever
awarded three Michelin stars,
Anne-Sophie Pic’s La Dame
de Pic serves updated French
classics in a polished, comfortable setting. Book a
round corner table for privacy with a view of the
scene.
Dinner in France generally consists of a
three-hour affair with multiple courses and several
wines. After the host wishes his guests bon appétit,
Parisian diners eat slowly but with gusto, enjoying
each bite. Bread is generally served as an accom-
paniment rather than something to nibble before
dinner; it’s customary to place your bread on the
table next to your dinner plate. French manners
also dictate both hands should remain on the table
at all times; take care you don’t allow your elbows
to join the party.
Although most Parisian executives speak
English, learning a few simple French words and
phrases — starting with hello, please, thank you,
nice to meet you and have a good evening — will
earn respect from your hosts. Introduce yourself
using your first and last names as well as your title; call your as-
sociates Monsieur or Madame until they make it clear you’re on a
first-name basis.
Beyond stellar dining, one of the best things about a busi-
ness trip to Paris is the chance to explore the city during your
downtime and enjoy its iconic vistas. The Eiffel Tower, erected in
1889 as a temporary structure, mesmerizes from any distance but
presents a distinct panorama from each of its three levels. From
the top-floor balcony of the Musée d’Orsay, occupying a former
train station, the graceful Seine curves and sparkles. Visitors who
climb the stairs to the viewing platform atop the Arc de Triom-
phe, honoring Napoleon’s Grande Armée, are rewarded with a
view down the length of the tree-lined Champs-Élysées. If you’d
like to take in a museum but need to slip in a quick visit between
meetings, pop into the Rodin Museum, a stunning 18th-century
manse filled with thousands of the artist’s sculptures and drawings
as well as works from Monet and Van Gogh, located amid the
boutiques and atmospheric cafés of Saint-Germain-des-Prés on
the Left Bank.CLASSIC PARIS:
View of Paris from
the Arc de Triomphe
(top), and Hôtel
Lutetia’s L’Orangerie
(bottom)
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