Vegetarian Experiences in Paris

I was asked recently for advice on vegetarian restaurants that were wheelchair friendly. It’s funny, one of my areas of expertise is making web sites accessible, but I never gave much thought to the restaurants I review. Is there a truly accessible restaurant in Paris?

I would likely say there is no such thing. Most Paris restaurants have terrible web sites filled with Flash movies that lock information away from users. Sure, it is possible to make Flash accessible to screen readers, but I wouldn’t expect to much from these. I’ve never seen braille menus in Paris. Most buildings in Paris have at least a small step before entering and the bathrooms are in the basement.

Accessible Restaurant Options in Paris

There is a restaurant that treats everyone as if they were blind. Dans le Noir diners are served in total darkness by people wearing night-vision goggles. Braille menus are available and it’s probably not filled with steps. They even have a vegetarian menu.

Your safest option for a meal and accessible bathroom is probably the foodmall inside the Louvre. It’s not very exciting—in fact its much like the food court in any major American shopping mall. However, there are elevators, easy access from the metro, and certainly a bathroom without steps (I haven’t checked). The food is ok and there is a good variety. It’s a good choice when you want something basic and don’t want to hastle with finding a restaurant with vegetarian options.

You’ll also find restaurants in modern buildings more appropriate. They’ll probably have better sidewalks, fewer steps, and bathrooms that are more wheelchair friendly.

I’ve started going back to my favorite restaurants and looking at how wheelchair friendly they are. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Chez Lili et Marcel has a ramp at the front door instead of a step and their bathroom is on the main level (it is a tight fit though).

Non-Accessible Vegetarian Restaurants

I should point out some popular restaurants that are not going to work with wheelchairs. Potager du Marais is extremely tight and the only option would be sitting outside on their narrow sidewalk. Grenier de Notre-Dame is also a tight restaurant on multi levels in an ancient building.

Most of the restaurants I’ve gone back to have a small step to enter and no wheelchair bathroom access. Life is much easier in Spring and Summer when the tables are brought out to the sidewalk and everyone eats under the setting sun. Please leave a comment on any of the Paris Vegetarian restaurant reviews with your viewpoint on its accessibility. Do you know any good restaurants I should add to an accessible vegetarian restaurant list?

Dans le Noir

51 rue Quincampoix (4°)

info@danslenoir.fr

tel: 01 42 77 98 04

fax: 01 42 77 98 07

Metro: Les Halles ( ligne 4 et 1 ),
Hôtel de ville ( ligne 1 et 11 )
Etienne Marcel ( ligne 4 )
Rambuteau ( ligne 11 ),
Châtelet-Les Halles (lignes A, B et D)

Restaurant