A Bed and Breakfast with a Heart

Mariette welcomed me with a Kir

No, I haven't opened a bed and breakfast in Paris, but I did meet Mariette, the owner of a small B&B in the 19th arrondissement, while touring the herbalist's shop. Mariette was the Frenchwoman who kindly offered to translate for the four English speaking people when the translator from Meeting the French failed to appear.  Being a former teacher of both French and English, she did an excellent job.

As I wanted to learn more about Mariette and her B&B, I was pleased that she agreed to accompany me to Starbucks* after the tour.  When I mentioned during the course of our lively discussion that I didn't know how to make Baba au rhum, Mariette invited me over for a private cooking lesson and assured me that it wouldn't be an imposition because she is used to showing her guests how to prepare simple French dishes that they can make when they return home.

Mariette's apartment, which is located on the tenth floor of a modern high rise building near the Buttes-Chaumont park, is quiet, filled with light, and has a lovely view of the city. The two guest rooms have an independent bathroom that Mariette has thoughtfully equipped with toiletries and a tea station. As I only spent the afternoon with Mariette, I can't tell you if the beds are comfortable, but I can tell you that she is one of the most charming hosts that you could ever hope to meet. If you've been to Paris before and would like to see a different, less-touristy side of the city, Mariette's B&B is a good option.  After one of her first Japanese guests wrote a favorable review in a Japanese guidebook, it has become one of the most requested B&Bs listed with Meeting the French.

One of the Japanese reviews of Mariette's B&B

If you would like more information, please look at Meeting the French listing (A27) .

I'm sorry that there aren't more pictures with this post. I had to use the camera on my iPhone because I left the battery for my camera at home.

*Why did we go to Starbucks when there are so many great French cafés? We went there because it was the only cafe in the area. As an ex-coffee drinker, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Starbuck's small tea is less expensive than the price charged in most French cafés. I couldn't believe it when a café on the rue de Rivoli charged me Euros 4.50 for a Lipton tea bag and a pot of hot water!