Travel

Les Cocottes Paris: A Classic Bistro Near the Eiffel Tower

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Hand-cut steak tartare plated in a neat round with a garnish on top, on a black plate at Les Cocottes near the Eiffel Tower

*Updated November 2026*

After visiting the Alsatian Christmas markets in Strasbourg and Colmar in December 2025, Dan and I went to Paris before flying back home. As always, Paris is lovely, especially around the holidays. We didn’t have time for too many Parisian things, preferring to spend our time at the Christmas markets, but we did have time for a wonderfully Parisian dinner at Les Cocottes, near the Eiffel Tower.

Part of our dinner at Les Cocottes.

Part of our dinner at Les Cocottes.

Les Cocottes is worth booking if you want classic French bistro food within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower without tourist-trap prices.

We had booked an upscale tasting menu restaurant close to our hotel, but the restaurant unexpectedly lost water (crazy!) and cancelled on us. After doing some quick research, I made a reservation at Les Cocottes in the 7th arrondissement, near the Eiffel Tower. It’s not an area I usually frequent unless I’m visiting the Eiffel Tower, but I was intrigued by the menu and good online reviews, seemingly from locals. I was also inspired because I had a great meal in this area a few years ago at Le Casse-Noix.

Eiffel Tower lit up gold against a pink and orange sunset sky in Paris in December

Paris in December!

About Les Cocottes, Near the Eiffel Tower

Les Cocottes is a French bistro serving classic Parisian dishes with a bit of a modern flair. The restaurant is open 7 days a week, and offers terrace seating in good weather. In addition to its classic menu, it offers daily specials, as well as a lunch prix fixe Monday to Friday (for 32 or 38 euro) and a daily lunch and dinner prix fixe for 45 euro (called the Cocottes Menu). 

Les Cocottes restaurant storefront at night on Rue Saint-Dominique in the 7th arrondissement of Paris

Les Cocottes from the street.

Les Cocottes menu listing starters, mains and desserts, plus the Le Semainier daily specials and the Menu des Cocottes prix fixe

Les Cocottes menu.

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Tbilisi Food Tour: Eating Our Way Around Old Tbilisi, Georgia

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Close-up of twisted khinkali dumplings and a dish of melted butter at Café Daphna in Tbilisi

On our trip to Georgia and Azerbaijan in July 2026, Dan and I took the Culinary Backstreets Tbilisi food tour on our first full day in Georgia. The tour, Old Town and Beyond: A Tbilisi Silk Road Feast, runs about seven hours and costs $125 per person. We did this because (1) we love to eat and drink and (2) it would give us some historical background and recommendations for Tbilisi. We booked with Culinary Backstreets (not sponsored), the same company we used for our Culinary Backstreets food tour in Izmir in 2023. This post reviews our tour in detail, including what we ate and drank. For how we spent the rest of the week, see our 5-day Tbilisi itinerary.

Panoramic view of Tbilisi, Georgia, with the Kura River winding past green hills and Old Town rooftops

Tbilisi, Georgia!

Where Our Tbilisi Food Tour Began: Abanotubani

Our tour began at 10:00 a.m. in the Abanotubani district at the southeastern edge of the Old Town of Tbilisi. This district is historically home to many of Tbilisi’s bathhouses, which are fueled by Tbilisi’s hot sulfur springs. We met right in front of the most photogenic bathhouse, Chreli Abano (or the Orbeliani Baths). Yes, this is the blue Persian-style building that many think is a mosque. We also saw the rooftops of other old bathhouses in the area. While the bathhouses had nothing to do with our tour, it was interesting to see.

Blue-tiled Persian-style facade of the Orbeliani Baths (Chreli Abano) in the Abanotubani district of Tbilisi

The Orbeliani Baths.

Brick domes of underground sulfur bathhouses in Abanotubani, Old Tbilisi

The roofs of ancient bathhouses.

Stop One: Tea and Khachapuri at Tbilisi’s Last Teahouse

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5 Days in Tbilisi, Georgia: A Foodie Itinerary

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Panoramic view of Old Tbilisi, the Kura River and Rike Park from the hill below Narikala Fortress

Last updated: October 2026

We traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia in July 2026. We originally planned this trip for April 2020 but it was cancelled because of the Covid pandemic. Six years later, we finally rescheduled our trip. This post details what we did during our 5 days in Tbilisi, which was very much a food and wine focused itinerary. After Tbilisi, we continued to Batumi, Georgia before flying to Baku, Azerbaijan for a long weekend.

Georgian flag bunting strung across a narrow street of old brick buildings in Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi, Georgia!

Our 5 Days in Tbilisi at a Glance

  • When we went: July 2026
  • Where we stayed: Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace
  • Getting around: Bolt (skip the unofficial airport taxis)
  • Our top meals: OtsY and Khash Khash

Day One: A Late Arrival in Tbilisi, Georgia

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The Most Delicious Cheese Fondue in Basel, Switzerland

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Long wooden tables under a beamed timber ceiling in the dining room of Baracca Zermatt Basel

*Updated October 2026*

Where is the most delicious cheese fondue in Basel, Switzerland? Baracca Zermatt Basel. Absolutely outstanding.

Truffle cheese fondue pot, a basket of bread cubes and a bacon salad on a wooden table at Baracca Zermatt in Basel, Switzerland

Fondue at Baracca Zermatt in Basel, Switzerland.

In December 2025, I took a day trip from Strasbourg, France, to Basel, Switzerland, to visit Basel’s three small Christmas markets. When in Switzerland, and because Basel’s markets are on the smaller side, I decided that I simply had to have a cheese fondue meal on the day trip. I made a lunch reservation at Baracca Zermatt, and it was absolutely delicious.

Wooden chalet exterior of Baracca Zermatt in Basel with vintage chairlift seats and stacked firewood out front

Baracca Zermatt Basel. Really does feel like a ski resort in the center of Basel.

Baracca Zermatt Basel

The restaurant describes itself as a “piece of Zermatt at the bend of the Rhine in Basel.” Baracca Zermatt Basel is the second location of the restaurant, with the first, and original, being in Kloten, Switzerland. The Basel location opens as a pop-up restaurant from October 24, 2026 to the end of March 2027. The concept is an old Zermatt postal hut with interiors by Zermatt artist Heinz Julen. It serves traditional Alpine dishes in a pop-up building that really makes you feel like you are in the Alps, including an antique ski gondola. The Basel location sits close to the Basel Zoo, beside Osteria Acqua. 

Rustic wooden dining room at Baracca Zermatt Basel with a chandelier, exposed beams and a central fireplace

The interior of Baracca Zermatt Basel. It looks very Swiss mountain chic.

Wide view of the timber-beamed dining room and chandeliers inside the Baracca Zermatt pop-up restaurant in Basel

Another view of the pop-up restaurant.

Reservations at Baracca Zermatt Basel

I reserved a table in advance via the restaurant’s website, in German. However, we visited for lunch midweek in December, and we almost certainly did not need a reservation at that time. Better safe than sorry!

If you are planning to visit for lunch, lunch is only served November through January, Monday to Thursday, 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. As a result, a Friday or weekend market day trip cannot do lunch here.

Table setting with a white plate, cutlery on a yellow napkin and wine glasses on a wooden table at Baracca Zermatt Basel

Despite being a pop-up, it felt upscale.

Drinks at Baracca Zermatt Basel

Baracca Zermatt Basel has a full bar, as well as all the standard soft drinks. As we were in Switzerland for the first time in a few years, we split a bottle of Swiss Cabernet Franc. While we probably did not need this entire bottle of wine at noon on a Tuesday, it was quite good and paired well with our fondue.

Bottle of Swiss Cabernet Franc and a glass of red wine on a wooden table at Baracca Zermatt Basel

The Food at Baracca Zermatt Basel

Baracca Zermatt Basel offers a limited menu, specializing in Cheese Fondue, Cheese Raclette, and Fondue Chinoise (meat fondue). There are a couple of other dishes on the menu, but its specialties are the traditional fondue and raclette. Perfect for a Swiss lunch. And, fun fact, the fondue is lactose-free.

Baracca Zermatt Basel lunch menu listing cheese fondue, raclette and fondue chinoise prices in Swiss francs

The lunch menu in 2025. As of October 2026, the prices remain the same.

For our lunch, we selected the truffle cheese fondue for two people. I also ordered the “Lamb’s Lettuce Salad with Bacon”. I was feeling like something somewhat healthy. Shortly after we ordered, our salad arrived. It was a salad large enough to split between two (or even three) and dressed with a light house-made dressing, freshly made bread croutons, hard-boiled egg, and the tastiest bacon. Truly, this salad was RIDICULOUS. It was one of the best things I ate on this entire trip. I still talk about it. The only salad that came close all trip was the Caesar at Les Cocottes in Paris. I checked the menu in October 2026, and it remains at the top! The salad cost 16 CHF in 2026.

Salad of lamb's lettuce topped with crispy bacon, bread croutons and chopped egg at Baracca Zermatt Basel

My stunning Lamb’s Lettuce Salad at Baracca Zermatt Basel.

Our truffle fondue arrived next. It was served in a large fondue pot set over a small flame with crusty bread, pickles, and potatoes. It was hard to snap an excellent picture of the fondue, but trust me when I say, it was fantastic. We could not finish it all, but the staff kindly offered to bring us extra bread if we wanted. The Truffle Fondue cost 40 CHF per person in 2026 (30 CHF for the regular cheese, plus 10 CHF for the truffle), for a total of 80 CHF for two people.

Aside from truffle, traditional, tomato, herb, chili, and porcini fondues are available.

Creamy truffle cheese fondue flecked with black truffle in a red enamel fondue pot at Baracca Zermatt Basel

Truffle Cheese Fondue at Baracca Zermatt Basel.

Wicker basket of cubed white bread for dipping into cheese fondue at Baracca Zermatt Basel

The bread for the fondue.

We skipped dessert in favor of finding a treat at the Christmas markets. All in, this was an unexpectedly outstanding meal in Basel, Switzerland. Highly recommend if you are in town during the pop-up season.

Further, if you are looking for something really exciting and special, Baracca Zermatt Basel offers the “Liebesgondeli”, or dinner inside a gondola for 2 to 4 people. You have to call the restaurant and book this by phone. We did not do this, but it seems very fun. Similar to an experience offered at the Lavaux Wine Bar in New York!

Vintage blue ski gondola cabin with curtains outside Baracca Zermatt in Basel, next to a stone railway viaduct

How cute is this little ski gondola outside the restaurant?

STEAL OUR TRIP

Baracca Zermatt Basel: Binningerstrasse 14, 4051 Basel (next to Osteria Acqua). Reservations via restaurant website. Open for dinner Monday to Saturday from 6:30 p.m. Open for lunch November through January, Monday to Thursday, 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Closed Sundays except for a few November and Advent Sundays, and Mondays are also closed from February. Also closed December 24 – 26.

Related reading: our 6-day European Christmas market itinerary (Strasbourg, Colmar, Basel and Paris), our Colmar Christmas market day trip from Strasbourg, and the time we found cheese fondue in the Maldives.

Broadway Lottery List: Every Show With a Digital Lottery or Rush Right Now

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Playbills for Aladdin, The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! held up inside the New Amsterdam, Palace and Nederlander theatres, three Broadway shows with a digital lottery

Last checked: November 3, 2026. This is our list of current Broadway lotteries and rush: right now 31 Broadway shows run a digital lottery and 13 run digital rush. Off-Broadway, 11 shows run a digital lottery and 34 run digital rush. Tap a show name to go straight to where you enter or buy. We check every platform directly, which is how we saw 31 Broadway shows for about $47 a ticket.

Our latest wins (updated November 3, 2026)

  • The Fantasticks, Tuesday, November 3, 8:00 p.m.: TodayTix lottery, won the afternoon before. $30 a seat all in.
  • Wanted, Sunday, November 1, 7:00 p.m.: Telecharge lottery, won at the 10:00 a.m. draw the day before. Left Orchestra Row H, $35 a seat all in.
  • Downstate, Monday, October 26, 8:00 p.m.: Telecharge lottery, won at the 10:00 a.m. draw the day before. Left Mezzanine Row F, $49 a seat all in.
  • The Lion King, Saturday, October 24, 2:00 p.m. matinee: Broadway Direct lottery, won the afternoon before. Orchestra Row Z, $35 a seat all in.
  • The Imaginary Invalid, Friday, October 23, 7:00 p.m.: TodayTix rush, bought at 9:09 a.m. that morning. Balcony Row B, $48 a seat all in.

Digital only. This list covers lotteries and rush you enter online or in an app. It does not include in-person box office rush, standing room, student rush, or cancellation lines.

Lottery or rush? A lottery is a free random drawing; rush is first come, first served on the day. Our guide to winning Broadway lotteries covers when to use each.

Before you click: Telecharge only shows its lotteries and rush from midnight to 3 pm Eastern, all on one page, rush.telecharge.com. The Lottery tab lists the next day’s performances and the Rush tab lists today’s, so a show that isn’t playing tomorrow won’t appear in the lottery that day. Some shows also skip the lottery or rush for certain performances, or drop off for a few days and come back. If a show on this list isn’t there when you look, check back the next day.

Broadway shows with a digital lottery

Broadway shows with digital rush

Off-Broadway shows with a digital lottery

Off-Broadway runs are short, so this half of the list changes fastest. We list a show here when Telecharge, Lucky Seat or TodayTix sells it as an Off-Broadway play or musical.

Off-Broadway shows with digital rush

Before you enter

  • TodayTix lottery and rush are in the app only. On your phone, the TodayTix links above open the app if you have it. Get it for iPhone or Android.
  • Check the show is still running. Our NYC Stage Tracker has every Broadway closing date, with lottery and rush badges on each show.

Quick answers about the list

Which Broadway shows have a digital lottery right now?

As of November 3, 2026: 860, A Few Good Men, Aladdin, The Book of Mormon, Buena Vista Social Club, Downstate, The Fantasticks, The Great Gatsby, Hadestown, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Here There Are Blueberries, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Just in Time, The Lion King, The Lost Boys, Maybe Happy Ending, MJ, Much Ado About Nothing, Oh, Mary!, Operation Mincemeat, Other Desert Cities, The Outsiders, Paranormal Activity, The Rocky Horror Show, Schmigadoon!, Six, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Wanted, Wicked. Most run through Telecharge, Broadway Direct, Lucky Seat or the TodayTix app, and Hamilton and The Book of Mormon also run their own.

Which Broadway shows have digital rush?

As of November 3, 2026: & Juliet, 860, The Book of Mormon, Downstate, The Fantasticks, The Great Gatsby, The Imaginary Invalid, Maybe Happy Ending, Now You See Me Live, Operation Mincemeat, Other Desert Cities, Paranormal Activity, School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play. TodayTix rush is in the app; Telecharge rush is on rush.telecharge.com.

Which Off-Broadway shows have a digital lottery right now?

As of November 3, 2026: Alice in Wonderland, Friends! The Musical Parody, Jamie Allan’s Amaze, Little Shop of Horrors, Perfect Crime, The Play That Goes Wrong, Pre-Existing Condition, Singfeld! A Musical About Nothing, Soon, Spring Awakening, Traitorz: The Unauthorized Musical Parody.

Which Off-Broadway shows have digital rush right now?

As of November 3, 2026: 2:22 A Ghost Story, A Ghost In Your Ear, Clifford Odets’ Waiting for Lefty, Copperfield! The New Musical, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Degenerates, Delirium, Fantasma, Ghost Notes, The Heart, Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody, The Holes, I Became We, Jamie Allan’s Amaze, The King’s Critique, Love Me, Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, Midnight, Parcel from America, Perfect Crime, The Play That Goes Wrong, Pre-Existing Condition, the ripple, the wave that carried me home, Rope, Singfeld! A Musical About Nothing, Slam Frank, Soon, The Steel Man, Traitorz: The Unauthorized Musical Parody, Tristan & Yseult, The Unbelievers, The Verge, The Visitors, We’ll See. Nearly all Off-Broadway rush is in the TodayTix app.

How much are Broadway lottery and rush tickets?

Most are about $20 to $60 a seat; our lottery and rush guide shows what we paid for every ticket.

When can I enter the Telecharge lottery?

Between midnight and 3 pm Eastern, for the next day’s performances. Outside those hours the Telecharge lottery and rush page shows nothing.

Plan the rest of your night

Programs and prices change often. Check the link before you plan around it.