I had a conference in Paris in 2003 and our local guide took us to this place…what an awesome time! If you’re one of those creatures who demands “personal space”…do not put yourself through the agony (laughing). If you don’t mind “rubbing elbows” and meeting new folks from all around the world…THIS IS YOUR PLACE!
Paris imposes a tax on wine in glasses..so this savvy entrepeneur serves the wine in…baby bottles (biberon)! It’s a must experience!!!

Left by Harry on November 17th, 2007

I was in Paris for a week for new years (2007/2008), and i had Le Refuge des Fondues in my schedule before i went from the reviews i read about this place over the internet…. it is an amazing place… we had to squeeze it in our schedule one more time during the week!!!

we met alot of people from all around the world!!! and the people managing this place are so funny!!! typical french with the arrogant attitude!!!

an amazing must try experience!!!! i definitely recommend it to anyone going to Paris!

Left by Nadine Odat on January 6th, 2008

I agree with the above statements about this restaurant – so much fun. I went with my husband and son and ended up chatting with an American couple for hours and laughing until our sides were sore. We had the cheese fondue – you have the choice of meat or cheese. if you go, don’t forget a marker – you’re supposed to write on the walls which are covered with patrons from all over the world. We’re going back to Paris this summer and will return to Le Refuge – will try the meat fondue this time.

Left by Micheline Pride on March 13th, 2008

I used to frequent this place with friends while studying in Versailles in ’98 and I’m so glad to hear it’s still there(hopefully forever!). Great place to meet locals – up close and personal – and have a fabulous time. Speak a little French and the Owners will treat you like locals too. Even though it’s recommended by “Lets Go”, it’s not just a place for poor college students. I can’t wait to go back some day, I still talk about it after 10 years!

Left by Beth C on July 6th, 2008

Wasn’t worth the hassle or the price honestly.

I read these reviews and some others and got the impression it would be a fun place to try out. The fondue itself wasn’t that good…it came inexplicable watery with hard clumps of melted and remelted cheese. If the place catered to a French audience, they wouldn’t be serving things with such little care. Aside from that the servers were openly creepy with the ladies I was with.

There are two benches on either side of the restaurant. If there are any girls in your group, expect they will be directed to walk over the table while one of the servers holds your hands and possibly makes comments while checking you out. If you don’t speak French, you might not notice or worry too much about the upskirt peevery though. When I pointed out to the server that it was a bit much, he just mocked me and invited two guys from an adjacent seat to oogle the next girl in our group he was directing over the table.

Might not be fun to bring a date there, maybe more fun for a group of guys given the predominant crowd of young girls in skirts when I was there. Mostly just a tourist scene, so the service goes beyond the call of duty with living up to a reputation for being terrible. Not the only place in town where you can get wine in a baby bottle either, and lots more options for fondue.

Left by Jean on July 30th, 2008

This place was just AMAZZIINNNG!!!!!!
the atmosphere is great, the food- great.
I definately recommend it.

Left by Maria on July 30th, 2008

I first saw the restaurant around 1990 on a trip to Paris and have had a lot of fun. If you come inside you think it’s totally booked out. But the maitre will find a place for you to sit – I’ll guarantee.
You sit down and you’ll never complain small seats in an airplain ! So you instantly get contact to the people around and will have a great evening.
In 2004 I was again in Paris and here again – nothing changed. It’s a really great place to go !

Left by Michael Klein on October 7th, 2008

We came here about half a dozen times during University (’95/’96).

Yes, it’s absolutely sexist that the females had to climb over the table, but it was so much fun going there (and does anyone really want to watch a guy walk over the table, who will probably fall from not knowing how to balance himself?)

A good value, absolutely ridiculous, and best with a group. I can’t believe it’s been 13 years.

Left by Caralien on December 16th, 2008

I visited this restaurant in February 2004 with my mother, and we both loved it. It was cramped, but for €15 each we got an apéritif, nibbles (potatoes and sausage I think), and then the baby’s bottle of wine each, which was very nice, and the generous meat fondu – chunks of beef, a bowl of hot oil to cook it in, and various delicious dips. It was fun, the food was good (although I can’t comment on the cheese fondue) and unbeatable value, and certainly somewhere we’d recommend.

Actually, I climbed over the table, not my mother, so it can’t be that sexist! Sadly I never figured out how to get permission to write on the walls, which are covered in past customers’ comments.

I have read that a sister restaurant has just opened in New York. If it’s anything like the original, it’s well worth a visit – a great antidote to stuffy and formal dining experiences!

Left by Barry Dean on January 24th, 2009

This place is amazing I have dined in many restaurants around the world but this has to top anywhere that I have ever been.

Left by Jonty on January 31st, 2009

This place is my very favorite restaurant in Paris. I first visited it as a student in 1985, and go back every time I’m in town … with family, friends, even my students. The last time I went, the owner recognized me and commented that I go there a lot. Love the meat fondue, but have never had a problem with the cheese. It was a bit of a disappointment when, by 2004, they had updated the plumbing and done away with the turkish toilet because that was a highlight of the Refuge experience. Can’t wait to go back!

Left by Lisa on March 11th, 2009

This was the worst place I have ever been. First thing is the owner is very rude, the place is so small and hot with all the fondues going, they seat you way to close to other people you don’t know and makes you climb over the table to sit on the bench. The food is terrible, the place doesn’t look very clean and when the owner thinks you have been there to long he’ll tell you to go very rude!! We were told to hurry up even though the people next to us were there a long time before us (they were parisians and we are Canadians) makes you wonder what kind of business this is. But anyways I paid the bill which was way more than it should have been 44euros but should of been 38euros but whatever I paid it anyways. So me and my husband leave he had somewhat like the experience drinking from baby bottle and talking to people me not so much, we left and walked about 1 to 2 block when suddenly the owner comes running after us yelling at us that we didn’t pay so I told him that I had paid the girl at the bar and he kept arguing with us. so we walked back to the restaurant with him embarresed as hell he went in and asked the girl working if we had paid and of course she said yes. Then he looked at us no sorry nothing. I’ve never been so humiliated in my life and to think that I spent all that $$ for a crappy evening with my husband in Paris. so one word of advice STAY AWAY!!

Left by Julie on April 13th, 2009

i don’t know what some of these people are complaining about. the owner’s eccentric and french and you know the deal when you get in the door. the food is amazing, the price absolutely reasonable, and the atmosphere one of a kind. people need to lighten up and enjoy themselves a bit more.

Left by dave on April 16th, 2009

Awesome place. Not a place for sensitive boys and girls from what the reviews say so don’t go if you cry easily when a french guy makes jokes. Lighten up people…

Left by Edouard on April 27th, 2009

Best place to meet other people from all over the world, love the babybottles. We call it the BABYBOTTLE PLACE. We took the meat fondue, it’s good, no complaints. For excellent food and another sphere (more luxury maybe) you might better try another restaurant and leave us having FUN!!

Till next time!!

Left by Klaas & Ingeborg on June 8th, 2009

We’ve been there several times, the last with a group of people (we were guiding) who had never been to France before. Everyone had a great time. The fondue is acceptable, the wine is… drinkable, the atmosphere is indescribable.

Klaas got it right. If you’re overly sensitive and/or not in the mood for a fun evening, go someplace else… please.

Left by FrankInFL on July 30th, 2009

i went there with my family tonight! we had a great time!!! don’t expect fine cuisine (its not about that). the guy running the floor was speaking to us in french the whole time despite the fact that we clearly did not understand a word- he was enjoying himself. its in a GREAT area with a small market and several cabaret establishments. if you’re in paris for a few days and have time to add a different type of meal to your itinerary, go here. if you only have enough time to have traditional tourist experiences, this may not be your place.

Left by AJ Mesiti on August 12th, 2009

no recomiendo este sitio a nadie, que quiera comer una buena fondue.

Left by parisina on September 17th, 2009

I completely disagree with the negative comments. This place is one to go to for the experience. This was the most fun I had in Paris. I was not comfortable climbing over the table so my husband sat on the climbed over and the waiters had no trouble with that. They were nice and gave great service. The food was good – it was not exceptional, but it was good. What’s so fun about this place is because you are sitting right beside someone else, you naturally talk with them. We met two groups that were a ton of fun and ended up spending the rest of the evening with a couple from Germany. If you are open to meeting people and to having a totally different experience, go there. It’s so great!

Left by Brenda on March 7th, 2010

This is my favorite restaurant in Paris. I return here every time I visit. The food is delicious, the wine-in-baby-bottles is campy and fun, and the cramped seating almost forces you to interact with your fellow diners and make some new friends for the night. Highly, highly recommended!

Left by Blair G on June 30th, 2010

It was better when it wasn’t so touristic. I often went there but now, us french, are forbidden to enter in to let the place to strangers who gives more tips … shamy …

“It’s a lot of fun, go with a sense of humor and enjoy the young, vibrant atmosphere!”

-> If you love when someone makes fun of you, that’s your right. And more when you are strangers who don’t speak french at all and don’t understand what they’re saying … about you

PS : food is “good” but very not exceptional

Left by Bubu on July 22nd, 2010

Took a trip to Paris May of 2010 with my boyfriend. He had dined here when he was in college and said I had to try this place out. WOW! What an amazing experience! The atmosphere is incredible, the food is good & wine in baby bottles is dangerous! I kept drinking wine & it led to the worst hangover ever the next day!
I met the most amazing people! We laughed! We dined! We drank! We tagged the walls! Perfect!!!

Also, this place is not sexist. I am a guy and I was made to climb up the table to get to my seat. The owners were very nice & respectable! Will go here again whenever I visit Paris again.

Left by Mario on August 28th, 2010

I have to preface this with the fact that I am Asian-American. When I entered the place, the owner proceeded to hum a stereotypically Chinese melody, and then he put his arm around me as if posing for a picture while saying something about a “Chinese dragon.” Now, yes, people in France seem unable to comprehend the idea that one can be ethnically Asian and not particularly identify culturally as Japanese/Chinese/etc., but I have never seen any person in France so utterly rude and upfront about his own ignorance. Besides the way we were treated, the tables are laid out so that they are all right next to each other, with no space in between for anyone sitting against the wall to exit. As a result, the owner insisted on making anyone unfortunate to sit against the wall climb over the tables we were going to eat on. I, and my friend, were wearing skirts. This was not pleasant, and if we attempted to exit without his help either via pushing the table out or climbing out as he insisted, the owner would promptly yell at us.

As for the food, it was average. It was your average melted Swiss cheese, though the bread was good. The meal became much more enjoyable once the owner existed the restaurant for whatever reason and another much less intrusive and rude person took over to refill bread and drinks. While you do get a good amount of food, it wasn’t particularly delicious, and the service, in considering the initial warm welcome we received, was not particularly great.

To sum up, I would not reccommend this place. You can find fondue at a comparable price without the unpleasant experience of being grossly offended and being trapped in your seat for two hours, which would be unfortunate if there was a fire or if you were in need of using the restroom. Also, the fondue is not 15 euro. It is now 21 euro and not particularly worth it.

Left by Angela on October 24th, 2011

Lighten up people ! Oh my goodness !! one goes there for the “show”….The owner is great ! I have been going there since 1982 when I was a student in Paris, and I am happy to report very little has changed…except maybe the owner is nicer…much to my dismay…The first time we went there, after being seated as described above…climbing over the table….which I thought that was hilarious and unique..and I still do..Then he barked at us…”red or white??” ( for our wine choice ), and then again a bit later “beef or cheese” (for our fondue choice)..folks , chill the F out….this is not where one goes for a culinary experience, this is where one goes to have one of the most unusual, fun and amusing dining experiences!!!! bon appetit, et amuse toi bien !!!

Left by Susi on January 24th, 2012