The caves of Dom Perignon( photo courtesy Dom Perignon)
Reims is a bustling town of business people, trendy shops, and pedestrian-friendly zones. Some of the region’ s best dining is here, including the famed Le Parc at les Crayères. To stretch your travel budget a bit further, take a page from the locals and eat at one of the many restaurants or brasseries in town. Épernay, and in fact the entire region, also offers restaurants and hotels of various sizes, small familyrun hostelleries, and bed and breakfasts. Meals can range from a casual French salad to a memorable fine dining experience, and almost every restaurant has a few Champagnes by the glass. It’ s easy and accessible. It’ s a bubble-lover’ s heaven. �
A side trip to Champagne inside Paris
Photo by Carol Fletcher
For those visitors to Paris who do not have enough time to travel to the Champagne countryside, but do have enough time to sit down for a glass of wine, try Le Bar à Bulles at the Galleries Lafayette on blvd Haussmann. Overlooking a shopping area on the main floor, and under the magnificent stained glass Coupole of the building six stories above, the Champagne bar offers a delicious array of Champagnes by the glass. A sip of Champagne is a way to celebrate an afternoon of shopping, and the experience is all indulgence— just like a great glass of Champagne. www. banvilleandjones. com 45