Paris: the Champs Elysées cola chronicles
Aug 16, 2009 15:26:04 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2009 15:26:04 GMT
Many websites justifiably mention in horror the price of imbibing in a cola beverage on the Champs Elysées. Various affirmations and contradictions abound, so I decided that it was finally time to get the exact information.
I checked every establishment on the commercial part of the Champs Elysées to see their price for cola. This actually only took me two lunch breaks at work, but I restricted myself exclusively to places directly connected to the pavement of the Champs Elysées at ground level – nothing in the shopping galleries or upstairs. There is a limit to my informational charity work.
I also took photographs of each place, but I must admit that some were taken at the beginning of the morning on my way to work, which is why there are no customers. Even my noontime photos don’t show much of a crowd. In the late afternoon and evening all of these places have overflow crowds, no matter what the price of cola (or anything else), but not only do I not want to go there at that time, it is also practically impossible to get a photo because of the passing hordes.
All of these prices are valid as of mid August 2009.
The report starts on the left side of the Arc de Triomphe (as you face it) going down the street. And then I went down the right side. Incredible logic at work!
L'Alsace is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and it always fascinates me going to work in the morning around 8:20am. This is the first place I pass coming out of the metro, and I am always intrigued by the night owls still finishing up a giant seafood platter or a delicious choucroute at that time of day.
L'Atelier Renault is more than a car showroom. Anyway, they don't really sell cars there, but they do sell cola.
Finishing up this side of the Champs Elysées is the extravagant La Païva. This ornate building used to be the currency exchange office of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi. Let's just say that for the clientele, the Middle Eastern theme has been retained, and this is one of the best places to see a tableful of women wearing burqas in the evening, sipping through long staws to get past all of the fabric.
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There was a major fire at the Café George V a few months ago. It was something to do with gas explosions in the basement. Several firemen were injured. I have never seen a place reopen so fast. There were workmen busy within 12 hours after the fire, and they worked round the clock to get it open again as fast as possible. I would say that it reopened within 3 days. It's amazing what money can do.
In the last century, the Deli's Café was a record store and then a video arcade. Some things change fast on the Champs Elysées.
The Montecristo Café touted itself as a cigar club back when smoking was allowed indoors. How sad.
Here are two views of the Pomme de Pain, another one of the main sandwich chains. The first photo was taken early in the morning and shows the quantity of beverages that needs to be delivered to these places at this time of year.
To wrap up the final prices, let's jump down into the metro station for a moment.
A final word of warning. Prices change all the time, and there are a lot of surcharges that I did not mention -- for example, the "night" surcharge that most of the cafés add starting from 9 or 10pm. This will usually add at least 2.00€ to each beverage.
And of course, some of the places have a terrace surcharge mentioned in miniscule print. The prices I listed are usually the basic prices for sitting inside during the day.
Also, don't think that all of the sodas are the same price. At about half of the places they are and at the other half they are not. I saw a 20cl orange soda priced higher than a 33cl cola, for example.
My own advice: Choose carefully before you get too thirsty.
I checked every establishment on the commercial part of the Champs Elysées to see their price for cola. This actually only took me two lunch breaks at work, but I restricted myself exclusively to places directly connected to the pavement of the Champs Elysées at ground level – nothing in the shopping galleries or upstairs. There is a limit to my informational charity work.
I also took photographs of each place, but I must admit that some were taken at the beginning of the morning on my way to work, which is why there are no customers. Even my noontime photos don’t show much of a crowd. In the late afternoon and evening all of these places have overflow crowds, no matter what the price of cola (or anything else), but not only do I not want to go there at that time, it is also practically impossible to get a photo because of the passing hordes.
All of these prices are valid as of mid August 2009.
The report starts on the left side of the Arc de Triomphe (as you face it) going down the street. And then I went down the right side. Incredible logic at work!
Here is the closest place to the Arc de Triomphe, the brasserie of the Drugstore Publicis. 4.40€ for a 30cl fountain cola 5.30€ for a 33cl can |
Next is the chain restaurant Chez Clément. 4.30€ for 33cl |
Ah, the inevitable Fouquet's, Parisian symbol of elegance with prices to match. 8.00€ for both the 20cl and 33cl sizes |
Charming neighbor of Fouquet's, the Deauville is ready to tantalize you its own version of refreshment.
5.20€ for a single (25cl)
10.40€ for the economical double (50cl)
10.40€ for the economical double (50cl)
Legendary Ladurée, another Paris institution. Up until the 1990's, this was the Japan Airlines agency with a very 1970's modern look. Returning the building to a more traditional style must have cost a bundle. Therefore: 6.10€ for 25cl This is touted on the menu as a new value price due to the reduced VAT. The previous price was 7.00€. |
Culture Bière is the Heineken megastore/bar/restaurant. This building is apparently owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran, but who's paying attention? 3.80€ for 33cl |
Léon de Bruxelles is a chain restaurant that anybody who loves mussels will go to anyway, even if they say they don't like chain restaurants. They really know how to do mussels well, and they are also one of the places that has lowered its prices the most due to the drop in VAT. 3.90€ for 33cl 5.50€ for 50cl Yes, those are new lower prices. |
L'Alsace is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and it always fascinates me going to work in the morning around 8:20am. This is the first place I pass coming out of the metro, and I am always intrigued by the night owls still finishing up a giant seafood platter or a delicious choucroute at that time of day.
5.30€ for 33cl
L'Atelier Renault is more than a car showroom. Anyway, they don't really sell cars there, but they do sell cola.
4.50€ for 25cl
The Champs Elysées used to the location of the agencies of all of the major airlines. This was the main agency of the domestic airline Air Inter (absorbed by Air France long ago). Häagen Dazs was quite happy to take over the space. 2.50€ for 33cl 3.50€ for 50cl Not bad! |
Pizza Roma tries hard to compete with its neighbor Pizza Pino, but it just lacks sufficient space. Oh well, just sell a smaller cola for the same price. 5.60€ for 25cl |
Pizza Pino is a major institution on the Champs Elysées, even for Parisians. Well, I should actually call them "Parisians from the suburbs." Parisians who live in Paris go to other places if they want a pizza. But, it is very large so you rarely have to wait for a table, and also it stays open until 5 a.m. This is important for suburban teenagers who missed the last train home and have to wait for the first train of the morning. 5.60€ for 33cl |
Finishing up this side of the Champs Elysées is the extravagant La Païva. This ornate building used to be the currency exchange office of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi. Let's just say that for the clientele, the Middle Eastern theme has been retained, and this is one of the best places to see a tableful of women wearing burqas in the evening, sipping through long staws to get past all of the fabric.
5.30€ for 33cl
Going back to the top and down the other side of the street!
Pizza Vesuvio begins the festivities, on this side of the street which is considered to be the busier and more desirable side. Why? Because this side receives the afternoon sun. Rent can be double on the even-numbered side of the Champs, compared to the odd-numbered side. 4.40€ for 33cl The prices have been lowered here for VAT reasons. |
Many people will recognize La Brioche Dorée as one of the major sandwich and bakery item chains in France. 2.25€ for 33cl (takeaway) 2.65€ for 33cl (eat in) In the past, the reason for different prices was the different VAT rate on takeaway items. Brioche Dorée may not yet have heard about the changed rates. |
Flora Danica is just one of the establishments in the House of Denmark. 4.30€ for 33cl |
Here is McDonald's, located in the former Fiat showroom. It is a goldmine -- or is it? It is supposedly the highest grossing McDonald's in the world per square meter of space, but there are periodic rumors that it will close because the rent prevents it from making a profit. It wouldn't be the first major international chain driven off the avenue. Do you wonder why the sign is not yellow? The only authorized color for a luminous sign on the Champs Elysées is white. 1.70€ for 40cl 2.40€ for 50cl |
The Bistro Romain is loudly touting its new prices due to lower VAT. This chain used to be very popular, but its owner the Flo Brasseries group is dumping the entire chain and all of the restaurants operating under this name will be sold off or rebranded to one of the other Flo chains. This place will almost certainly become a Hippopotamus steakhouse, because the previous Hippopotamus directly on the street closed about 4 years ago when the Citroën building was renovated. 2.00€ for 33cl with any meal selection |
The Quick burger chain is the only credible competition for McDonald's in France. Burger King fizzled more than 10 years ago, leaving Quick and McDonald's to fight over the spoils. This location was a Burger King in the previous century. 2.10€ for 25cl 1.50€ for 35cl 2.90€ for 50cl No, that is not a typo regarding the price for 25cl. |
There was a major fire at the Café George V a few months ago. It was something to do with gas explosions in the basement. Several firemen were injured. I have never seen a place reopen so fast. There were workmen busy within 12 hours after the fire, and they worked round the clock to get it open again as fast as possible. I would say that it reopened within 3 days. It's amazing what money can do.
6.00€ for 33cl
The infamous Paul sandwich and baked goods chain usually has a line coming out the door. In fact, on my first approach I was not able to get inside to check the cola prices because it was too crowded and I was afraid of setting off an angry mob. The following day, I succeeded. 2.90€ for 50cl |
This is the second Brioche Dorée location going down the Champs Elysées. It did not have the same prices as the other one. May the customer be wary! 1.75€ for 25cl 2.15€ for 40cl 2.65€ for 50cl This is considerably cheaper than the first place. |
In the last century, the Deli's Café was a record store and then a video arcade. Some things change fast on the Champs Elysées.
4.00€ for both the 33cl and 50cl sizes
Marriott Square is the only authentic imposter on the street, because its terrace springs out of nowhere. Although the hotel does indeed have its entrance on the Champs Elysées, there is no attached café or restaurant in front. I am not even sure exactly how the customers are served and from where. The terraces on the Champs Elysées are allowed to be set up from approximately April 1 to October 31, so this place does not even exist in the winter. 7.00€ for 25cl |
The Montecristo Café touted itself as a cigar club back when smoking was allowed indoors. How sad.
6.00€ for 33cl
This is the second Quick on the Champs Elysées, covering three floors. In ancient times it was a Wimpy and one of the only 24 hour establishments in the entire city. Let's see if I got those odd cola prices right the first time. 2.10€ for 25cl 1.50€ for 35cl 2.90€ for 50cl |
Here's the Monoprix, but I'll come back to it at the end, because a supermarket is not a café or restaurant. |
Here are two views of the Pomme de Pain, another one of the main sandwich chains. The first photo was taken early in the morning and shows the quantity of beverages that needs to be delivered to these places at this time of year.
2.30€ for 33cl
Le Madrigal used to be a lovely traditional and yes, pricey café, but the waiters were charming and it was a great place to watch the world go by. Then it decided to take the flashy Middle Eastern route (being directly across the street from the aforementioned La Païva). Now, when night falls, it becomes the headquarters of young men from the Gulf, all wearing dark glasses with electronic see-through-the-burqa vision. 6.00€ for 25cl |
To wrap up the final prices, let's jump down into the metro station for a moment.
2.00€ for 50cl
Back to the Monoprix, open from 9am to midnight. In the chilled case: 2.00€ for 50cl 1.50€ for 33cl On the shelves: 1.61€ for 2 liters 1.35€ for 1.50 liter 2.31€ for 6 x 33cl |
A final word of warning. Prices change all the time, and there are a lot of surcharges that I did not mention -- for example, the "night" surcharge that most of the cafés add starting from 9 or 10pm. This will usually add at least 2.00€ to each beverage.
And of course, some of the places have a terrace surcharge mentioned in miniscule print. The prices I listed are usually the basic prices for sitting inside during the day.
Also, don't think that all of the sodas are the same price. At about half of the places they are and at the other half they are not. I saw a 20cl orange soda priced higher than a 33cl cola, for example.
My own advice: Choose carefully before you get too thirsty.