Originally Posted by
willie--wonka
I vote for Relais de Venise, too.
The lines start at 7:00. You can sometimes get in a bit early if you volunteer for the non-smoking seats upstairs.
They open at 7:00 PM ... the line starts at least 15 to 20 min. earlier.
I don't smoke, however, I avoid the non-smoking area upstairs ... all you find there are fellow Americans
We went by bus -nice ride through nice areas- from Montparnass to Port Maillot .... but the bus was coming from the Marais area (where the OP, adagio, is staying)