Oysters have been enjoyed in France since Roman times, when bivalves were exported to Italy from the Arcachon basin. Though it’s possible to find oysters in Paris year round, midwinter is when they are at their peak, piled high in poissonneries and displayed outside brasseries to be shucked by gnarly-handed men.
Where can you score some great oysters in Paris? We asked our contributing advisors – a group of food-obsessed Paris writers – to name their favorite spots for indulging in some half-shell love. The overall favorite: Huîtrerie Régis. All five restaurants are presented below according to the number of votes each one received.
Five Great Places for Oysters:
- Huîtrerie Régis Régis’ superb oysters come from the famous claires of the the Marenne-Oléron. They’re available for take out or to eat on the spot in the cheerful little dining room.
- L’Ecailler du Bistrot The “bistrot” in question is carnivore-heaven Paul Bert, just next door. But at L’Ecailler the focus is on seafood, including a gorgeous array of Belon, Utah Beach, and Spéciales.
- Garnier Get your Gillardeaux to go like Lobrano does or take a seat in this classic brasserie for some of the city’s best bivalves.
- L’Ecume Saint-Honoré This charming poissonnerie has several tables for dégustation on the spot.
- L’Huîtrier Claires and Belons are on the menu at this sleek address in the 17th.
- Runners Up: Le Baron Rouge, Goumard, La Cabane a Huitres, Le Dome, Rech, La Rotonde
More delicious Five Great lists:
- Five Great for Crêpes
- Five Great for Dinner in Montmartre
- Six Great for Wild Game
- Five Great with Kids
- Five Great for a Box of Chocolates
- Five Great for Groups
- Five Great for Ice Cream
- Five Great for Vegetarians
- Five Great Steak Frites
- Five Great Baguettes
- Five Great for Sunday Dinner
- Five Great for Outdoor Dining
Wow- Thanks so much for the info on Huîtrerie Régis! The oysters were coming out of a station wagon just as we ordered and tasted as if they’d just been pulled from the sea. The menu with a choice of 6 special claires and 6 claires that included a glass of PERFECT Sancerre and a coffe was an excellent value at 29€– The apple tart and jambon was exceptional as well- but the real stars are the oysters. Thank you a million times! I NEVER would have found this place if not for your site- Had lunch here twice during my stay and will be back in December.
Three footnotes:
At the L’Ecailler du Bistrot, one orders the Utah Beach’s, not just in homage of our troops lost June 6 1944, but because they’re awesome,
and no place else in Paris (or as I know, the world) has the sound effects as L’Ecume Saint-Honoré has and finally,
despite my idol Gerry’s troubles with finding a bathroom on AF 5010, his oyster joint L’Ecaille de la Fontaine in the 2nd, is pretty good, too.
I love Huiterie Regis! The oysters are so fresh and the ambience is great. Tiny restaurant, so reservations are absolutely necessary.
We had an almost religious experience here at Huitrerie Regis.
The oysters were amazing and the reverence displayed towards the oysters by the staff made the experience even more special. There are cheaper places to get oysters in Paris but we felt it was worth the money as the oysters we had elsewhere in Paris were good but not this good!
Thanks for the recommendations. We had delicious oysters recently in Honfleur. And found boxes and boxes of oysters for sale at a Normandy market. http://chaumierelesiris.com/2012/01/09/a-winter-market-in-france/
While fully culpable for my votes recorded above, I want to add one other place. I ate today at the new Cagouille/David Herve off-shoot next door to La Cagouille – the Cananon de l’Ecailler in the 14th and this Marenne-Oleron/Breton beach cabin on the Square served very, very good products at very, very good prices – 66 E a couple with lots of oysters, shellfish, wine & coffee. The afternoon was perfect Brittany weather – cold, blustery, rainy and grey.
http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/john_talbotts_paris/2012/06/le-cabanon-de-lecailler-in-the-14th-very-fine-products-from-the-sea-my-streak-is-unbroken.html
Does Pleine Mer not even make the top ten? Are we talking of oysters and nothing but oysters?
BEST oysters in Paris: newly set up Paris-Pêche at Marché d’Aligre Tuesday to Sunday. The seafood and fish in general there is a dreamboat. The owner used to be in the Marché itself, now he has set up some tables and selected some good wines and they open their store to oyster and seafood-hungry guests daily. It’s the best oyster I’ve had in Paris! Served on ice! miam
Thanks so much for recommending Huîtrerie Régis!! We would have never found this little hole-in-the-wall in St. Germain were it not for Paris by Mouth. My friend and I dined there on a Saturday night in October and everything was delightful. The ambiance could not have been more inviting, nor the owner more friendly despite our late arrival sans reservations. Oh…and the oysters….mmm, the oysters. So fresh, so milky, so full of the crisp cold sea! They were simply stunning! Making the night even more appealing was the surprisingly reasonable price. We shared two dozen, a bottle of Sancerre + some glasses, a spectacular terrine of scallops and homemade tarte tatin for less than 100EU. Definitely recommended for oyster lovers.