cafe maxim's in paris - anyone been there ?

Question

Has anyone online been to Maxim's in Paris ? Maybe a frenchman can answer this one. I believe it costs about 30 pounds (400 rands and about 50 euros) for a coffee there - Is this at all true ? Because I am struggling to believe that anyone would pay that for a coffee. I have a bet riding on this so please help if u can.

Answer 1

To be honest, Maxim's is a famous place to go in Paris but now it is horrible. The service is not so good as they used to do in the past and it is expensive. In fact when you go in that place you pay the name. That it. Maybe for foreigners, it is a typical french place with a wonderful food. But for french people and specially parisian it is a place to avoid. Many places, not famous, deserve to be famous because they made good quality. And Maxim's now does not deserve this popularity or they should propose cheaper prices. But if you never been in Paris, i am sure you will like the place because the design is beautiful. So go their just to take a coffee or hot chocolate and have your own opinion of the place. I don't remember the price for a coffee but i am sure it is under 50 euros. I think around 10 and 18 euros...

Answer 2

The average price for a three course meal with wine and coffee at Maxim's is 168€. That alone is enough to clearly establish that your friend is talking crotte de taureau.

http://uk.holidaysguide.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-219920-action-describe-maxim_s_paris-i

Maxim's is now owned by Pierre Cardin and this upper-class Parisian bistro has now spawned a chain of airport restaurants so that just about tells you all you need to know about the place.

I had lunch there once a few years ago and dinner last year and I can say from experience (I love eating in Paris) that it is not a particularly pleasant experience.

If you find yourself with 150 € to spend on food in Paris then I'd strongly advise looking elsewhere - Paris is the culinary capital of the world and you don't need anything like that kind of cash to eat better and in a less pompous environment than Maxim's.

I'd estimate that a cofee at Maxim's would cost 8 euros - which is ridiculously over-priced as it stands but there is no way on earth that they charge £30 for a coffee, even the Tour d'Argent doesn't charge that kind of fee for coffee unless you're talking about some kind of guest coffee that was hand picked, ground with a pestle and mortar and carried across the Atlantic in a vacuum sealed bag to europe by a Brazilian olympic swimmer. Even then I find that hard to believe.

There are a lot of rich people in Paris and it wouldn't surprise me if there are places where it costs 50 euros for a coffee but I used to have meetings and tea on a regular basis in the Hotel Meurice, the Crillon and the George V and I've never paid more than 10 euros for a coffee.

You can safely say to your friend that you've won your bet and if this isn't proof enough then get your friend to call them [phone] and simply ask (in English it'll be fine) what the price of a coffee is in their bistro or in Le Grill. Don't you make this phone call as you'll be wasting your money.

Answer 3

expensive yes