Upon checking into the Hotel des Grands Boulevards, I quickly had to pop on a phone call, so I pre-booked a lunch at the hotel restaurant and shared with them my time crunch. The waiter was more than friendly and accommodating, despite my single top and a bustling restaurant. The restaurant is a gorgeous greenhouse with a retractable glass roof. Absolute perfection and very lively, shall we say? The noise reverberates into the lobby, but it made for excellent people watching.

The lunch menu is a set 23 Euros for two courses or 27 for three. I opted for a starter and main at the steal of a price compared to Switzerland. First up was some sort of tuna atop some sort of tuna tartare. I wouldn’t say this was the most pleasant thing I’d ever eaten, but I just grinned and got through it. My waiter kept me full of wine that he never charged me for, so who was I to complain.

For the main, I had the ravioli of the day which was filled with a bright red pepper concoction. If you’re starving from a very early morning and train ride, this was an excellent option. Very filling, but still tasting like summer.

Lunch was good, but breakfast the subsequent three mornings was much better. Eggs made to order, absolutely incredible coffee, and a gorgeous spread of all the pastries, cheeses, meats, breads, and an odd salad in the middle. For someone not big on breakfast, I certainly enjoyed the cheese and carb fueled walks around Paris, that Hotel des Grands Boulevards provided.