Septime (return Visit)
One of the the best contemporary tasting menus in Paris, and still one of the most difficult reservation to get.
Open Monday
Mer & Coquillage
Mer & Coquillage is a seafood restaurant near the Louvre that’s open on Monday. With soft lighting, candles, gleaming silverware and kind service, it’s a beautiful option when you need to impress. Mer & Coquillage has been included among our of 50 favorite restaurants in Paris. MER & COQUILLAGE 36 Rue des Petits Champs, 75002Open Monday-Friday for lunch & dinnerOpen Saturday for dinner onlyClosed SundayReservations online or at +33 1 42 33 00 22 Their Instagram / Our Instagram OUR PHOTOS OF MER &… Read More »Mer & Coquillage
Café Des Ministères
First the bad news: Café des Ministères is almost impossible to book right now. We named it our best restaurant of 2022, and plenty of newspapers (Le Figaro, the New York Times) have lavished similar praise. If you manage to get in (they open online bookings three weeks in advance of a particular date), don’t neglect to order the choux farci façon Reine with leaves of Pontoise cabbage lacquered around a tender mound of smoky sausage and foie gras, in… Read More »Café Des Ministères
Café Compagnon
An all-day cafe in Sentier from Charles Compagnon, the serial restauranteur behind Le Richer and 52 Faubourg Saint-Denis. Café Compagnon is open early for breakfast and coffee and stays open until 11pm. A great place to pop in for a bite when strolling around the rue Montorgeuil, and one of the only Compagnon spots that accepts reservations. 22-26 Rue Léopold Bellan, 75002 Open Monday-Friday from 8am-11pmOpen Saturday & Sunday from 9am-11pmReservations online or at +33 9 77 09 62 24 OUR… Read More »Café Compagnon
Shabour
With seats arranged around the central kitchen, Israeli Chef Assaf Granit’s Shabour is as much a theater as it is a culinary experience blending French and Mediterranean flavors. One recent lunchtime “Voyagette” tasting menu built around repurposed French art de la table saw a langoustine and lobster appetizer dusted with pandan from a French sugar spoon. Dessert was inspired by the dinner menu’s signature black tea-infused haminados egg, reimagined to unite tea-soaked genoise, tahini cream, and cured egg yolk within a hand-painted… Read More »Shabour
La Bête Noire
La Bête Noire is a sweet spot for breakfast and lunch near the Luxembourg Gardens with very good pastries. Recommended for Great Vegetarian Food in Paris. 58 Rue Henri Barbusse, 75005Open every day from 9am-4pmReservations online or at +33 1 42 01 86 14 OUR PHOTOS OF LA BÊTE NOIRE
Treize au Jardin
Treize au Jardin is a gorgeous spot for brunch, afternoon tea and cake, or early evening cocktails on a sun-dappled terrace across from the Luxembourg Gardens. Laurel Sanderson and Kajsa von Sydow made their name with brunch and desserts, but are now serving an expanded menu that includes fantastic salads and adult beverages to match their later opening hours. You can catch some rays on the outdoor terrace and bring home a bunch of flowers or a stack of brownies.… Read More »Treize au Jardin
Pouliche
Chef Amandine Chaignot has been a judge on the French show MasterChef for the better part of a decade. At her restaurant Pouliche, she puts out pretty plates for an Instagram crowd in a dining room that could be ripped from the pages of a West Elm catalog. The menu is heavy with vegetarian options – Wednesday is entirely vegetarian – and the space is filled with pretty young things. Portions are tiny. Read our full review of Pouliche. 11 Rue d’Enghien,… Read More »Pouliche
Astier
This classic, checkered tablecloth bistro with an excellent cheese plate.
Café les Deux Gares
This is affordable and really well-executed modern bistro fare, based on exceptional seasonal ingredients. Café les Deux Gares may be off the beaten track but it’s worth the journey, Especially on a Monday night. It’s also great for lunch, with beautiful natural light and a dining room full of regulars. Café les Deux Gares has been included among our favorite restaurants in Paris. CAFÉ LES DEUX GARES 1 Rue des Deux Gares, 75010Open Monday-Saturday from 9am-midnight. Closed Sunday.Reservations online or at +33… Read More »Café les Deux Gares
Breizh Café Odéon
Well-sourced products plus unlikely Japanese touches put Breizh Café head and shoulders above most crêperies.
Hardware Societe
Hardware Societe is a Melbourne-style cafe in Montmartre serving breakfast and lunch (brunch, if you must) in the shadow of the Sacré-Coeur. Friendly service and pretty outdoor seating make this an ideal spot before or after exploring the Montmartre hillside. 10 Rue Lamarck, 75018Open every day from 9:30am-3:30pmNo reservations
Norma
When you’ve eaten your fill of French fare, give the fresh pasta from Norma a try. This Italian restaurant in the heart of the North Marais boasts a menu rich in both filled and non-filled pastas, including the paccheri alla norma with fried aubergines. A great choice for vegetarians that’s open for dinner on Monday nights (and lunch on both Sundays and Mondays). Norma is also famous for its egg “alla milanese” – an anchovy-scented Scotch-egg-like concoction comprised of a battered and… Read More »Norma
Candide
In a city dominated by kitchens that send shared small plates out the instant they’re ready – even if that means diners must resort to balancing the bread basket on their knees – rare is the gem that gets the category right: service that’s casual but still attentive, with plates that are simple yet surprising. Candide strikes that balance marvelously: a small plates restaurant that feels like a restaurant, from the expert service to the delightful, creative dishes. The small dining room… Read More »Candide
Colorova
Colorful pastries (and some savory goods, too) at this vibrant and playful tea salon.
Café des Musées
Café des Musées is a reasonably-priced bistro in the heart of the Marais with a notable beef bourguignon.
Vivant 2
While a chorus of Bonsoir, bienvenue! still sounds the moment you walk through the door at Vivant 2, these days, it’s underscored by a bop-filled soundtrack and service with a smile that make a seat at the open kitchen’s wrap-around bar feel more inviting than austere. Chef Rob Mendoza is a champion of delicate, plant-focused fare, his luscious, creative moles drape anything and everything from broccoli to Bresse hen. Elsewhere, he effortlessly blends international ingredients with French terroir: House-made potato flatbread is spread thickly with tahini and blanketed with swiss chard; tuna is served with a Korean gochujang-spiked tomato broth. This restaurant is a great option for vegetarians and is open on Monday nights. A curated list of natural and sustainable wines seals the deal.
GrandCoeur
A beautiful and expansive outdoor terrace tucked inside a hidden courtyard in the Marais, this is the Paris address of Mauro Colagreco, whose restaurant Mirazur was rated as the World’s Best in 2022. GrandCoeur offers a Mediterranean menu full of fresh fish, with a few vegetarian & carnivorous options. It’s open every day and is a good option for larger groups. GRANDCOEUR 41 Rue du Temple, 75004Open every day for lunch and dinnerReservations online or at +33 1 58 28 18 90… Read More »GrandCoeur
Massale
The 11th arrondissement may be flooded with phenomenal restaurants, but the seasonal menu at Massale stands out with far meatier market-driven options than most other spots leaning into the plant-based trend. Fish and seafood nevertheless abound here, and the wine list features specialties from France’s Jura and beyond.
FIEF
FIEF is a sleek and modern restaurant in the 11th with a Top Chef finalist in the kitchen. Victor Mercier’s menu contains beautiful options for vegetarians, like an artichoke tartlet with black garlic paste and smoked pepper juice, but the fish and meat dishes are crazy good: fresh fish with carrots and spider crab caramel, or chicken with roasted and fermented cabbage and choron sauce. The name FIEF stands for Fait Ici En France (made here in France) and the… Read More »FIEF
Macéo
Macéo is a light and airy restaurant near the Palais Royal from Mark Williamson (Willi’s Wine Bar), serving creative dishes with plenty of vegetarian options. It’s a good place to book for large groups, and for dinner on Monday. The wine list is incredible. Open Saturday, open Monday, good for groups, vegetarian friendly, near the Louvre, excellent wine 15 rue des Petits-Champs, 75001Open Monday-Friday for lunch & dinnerOpen Saturday for dinner onlyClosed SundayReservations online or at +33 1 42 97… Read More »Macéo
Marso et Co
Following his Michelin-starred Tomy & Co and much acclaimed 5th arrondissement Hugo & Co, Chef Tomy Gousset brings his internationally-inspired flair to the 13th, where Mediterranean flavors reign supreme. Behind its bright blue awning, in this spacious spot not far from the picturesque Butte-aux-Cailles neighborhood, flavors from Italy, Greece, Turkey, and North Africa are accompanied by natural and sustainable wines hailing from all over the Mediterranean basin. The menu (39 for three courses, 32 for two) wends its way through… Read More »Marso et Co
Hugo and Co
Hugo and Co is the second Paris restaurant from chef Tomy Gousset, who we first encountered and loved at Tomy & Co. In contrast to the latter, which is now Michelin-starred and more formal, Hugo & Co is the more playful (and affordable) little brother. I love to come here with our vegetarian friends, who always find a huge number of options, but I’ve also swooned over a Croque Monsieur with thick cut ham, oozing Comté cheese, and black truffle.… Read More »Hugo and Co
Alliance
I never got the chance to go to Astrance when it first opened on a sleepy street in the 16th, quietly hustling without the weight of so many Michelin stars. But I imagine it must have felt a lot like dining at Alliance. What the two restaurants have in common is the partnership of an exceptionally talented chef (Toshitaka Omiya) with a masterful and welcoming mâitre d’hôtel (Shawn Joyeux). The service experience is always important, but it carries extra weight… Read More »Alliance
Breizh Café Paul Bert
Well-sourced products plus unlikely Japanese touches put Breizh Café head and shoulders above most crêperies.
Mesa
This vegan restaurant in the HOY hotel offers an enticing menu of Latin American-accented dishes.
Benoît
Open since 1912, this picture-postcard Paris bistro serves elevated and expensive French food.
Chez Michel
This bistronomic Breton restaurant near the Gare du Nord serves a four-course feast featuring dishes that are baked in a massive dining room oven.
Pantagruel
At Pantagruel, a modern & creative restaurant in the Sentier district, each main dish is actually a parade of three smaller ones. Meaty options abound, but vegetables are given star treatment here. Balance and precision are the hallmarks of chef Jason Gouzy’s cuisine at Pantagruel, one of our favorite Paris restaurants.
Amarante
Go big or go home at this larger-than-life bistro featuring hearty, classically French fare.
Cuisine
This Japanese-accented bistro from chef Takao Inazawa and oenophile Benoit Simon opened to critical acclaim in 2019.
L’Avant-Comptoir du Marché
Of Yves Camdeborde’s three Avant Comptoirs, this is the one worth making a special trip – a place where the scale of the site finally matches that Camdeborde’s ambition.
L’Avant Comptoir de la Mer
Avant Comptoir de la Mer is bistronomy chef Yves Camdeborde’s seafood variation on his successful adjacent pork-themed pintxo bar.
A l’Epi d’Or
A l’Epi d’Or is a second spot for classic French food from Jean-François Piège, and about half the price of its nearby sibling, La Poule au Pot. A daily two- or three-course menu (29€ or 39€) makes this a very good deal for central Paris, and the à la carte menu contains kid-friendly classics like croque monsieur (16€) and hachis parmentier (24€). It’s not inexpensive compared to Bouillon République, but it’s inexpensive for Jean-François Piège. We love the steak tartare – served… Read More »A l’Epi d’Or
Le Petit Sommelier
Le Petit Sommelier is a rare high-quality non-stop brasserie with a 1000-reference-strong wine list.
Aux Bons Crus
Read an old travel guide to France, and you’ll likely find mention of les routiers. At these roadside restaurants catering to truckers, grub was classic, cheap, and good. And despite the absence of any highway running through the trendy 11th arrondissement, Aux Bons Crus evokes these restaurants of yore.
Racines
The picturesque Passage des Panoramas is home to this cozy Italian-accented spot with a short, simple menu and natural wine list.
Bouillon Pigalle
Bouillon Pigalle offers cheap classic French food from noon to midnight, every single day.
Contraste
Two chefs – one captivated by the sea, the other by land – unite at this contemporary, creative restaurant in the ritzy 8th arrondissement.
Adar
Adar offers Mediterranean-inspired fare from chef Tamir Nahmias in the picturesque Passage des Panoramas.
Brasserie Bellanger
This modern, inexpensive brasserie offers classic French fare near Gare du Nord.
Ten Belles – Rive Gauche
Ten Belles’ new Left Bank outposts offers some of the charm and all of the flavor of the original.
La Bourse et La Vie
La Bourse et la Vie is one of our favorite Classic Bistros in Paris. It’s a place where you come to celebrate, to bring a date, and to devour one of the best steak-frites in Paris.
La Scène – Stéphanie Le Quellec
La Scène – Stéphanie Le Quellec holds two Michelin stars and is in between Madeleine and the Champs-Élysées. 32 Avenue Matignon, 75008Open Monday-Friday for lunch & dinnerClosed Saturday & SundayReservations online or at +33 1 42 65 05 61
À La Vierge de la Réunion
The overarching honesty and generosity of La Vierge’s concept places the restaurant alongside overachieving peers like Belleville’s Le Cadoret at the vanguard of a new generation of Paris bistrot that recognizes the value of virtue.
Le Chardenoux
Cyril Lignac’s seafood-focused restaurant replaces an 11th arrondissement neighborhood bistrot.
Le Servan
Tatiana Levha, formerly at L’Arpège and L’Astrance, and her sister Katia opened this light, airy bistro with a central bar & hand painted ceiling. The short list of offerings changes each day, but expect seasonally driven cuisine inflected with international touches like tandoori spiced beurre blanc atop asparagus or harissa to spice up the line caught hake. Dessert left room for improvement, but otherwise Le Servan had reasonably priced, expertly executed dishes and friendly service in a beautiful space.
Breizh Café Batignolles
Well-sourced products plus unlikely Japanese touches put Breizh Café head and shoulders above most crêperies.
Coup d’Oeil
This wine bar stands out in the natural wine-staturated 11th arrondissement mainly for its ostentatious design.
Breizh Café Montorgueil
Well-sourced products plus unlikely Japanese touches put Breizh Café head and shoulders above most crêperies.
Clown Bar
In 2016, the team from Saturne took over a historic bar near the Cirque d’Hiver and installed chef Sota Atsumi (ex-Vivant) in the kitchen. Atsumi’s dishes dominated Instagram for a solid two years, and Clown Bar became one of the town’s most difficult reservations to snag. The Saturne team (and restaurant) has since dissolved amid rumors of wine theft and partner animosity. Atsumi has moved on to open Maison. Clown Bar remains open, and Atsumi’s iconic creations, including the brain and… Read More »Clown Bar
Girafe
We have not yet reviewed this restaurant. Check back soon for our thoughts!
Fulgurances L’Adresse
French food magazine Fulgurances opened L’Adresse in 2015 as a culinary incubator featuring a rotating cast of guest chefs.
L’Avant Comptoir
Yves Camdeborde’s audacious, standing-room-only French pintxo bar is a jostling, jolly spot in Saint-Germain.
Café du Coin
Fresh off Paris’ greatest resto reboot of recent years – transforming the defunct destination Restaurant Bones into the beloved seven-day mainstay Restaurant Jones – chef-restaurateur Florent Ciccoli doubled down on the Voltaire neighborhood in late 2017, opening Café du Coin with the aid of frequent collaborator Greg Back (L’Orillon, Les Pères Populaires).
Café de la Nouvelle Mairie
For the wine-indifferent, Café de la Nouvelle Mairie is merely a timeless, picturesque terraced café on a shady lane beside the Panthéon. But for alert wine geeks, it might as well be the Panthéon itself, as pertains to natural wine.
Aux Vins des Pyrénées
An easy-going spot in the Marais for classic French with a twist.
L’Entente
Three cheers to L’Entente founder Oliver Woodhead for having arrived at such an apt name for his curiously dainty, all-day- service “British brasserie” near Opéra. An entente is a diplomatic understanding between nations; any understanding, of course, is what British and French cultures have notably failed to acquire of one another over the last thousand years.Read More »L’Entente
À La Renaissance
Great natural wines by the glass, fresh well-prepared food, and congenial service at this simple bistro near Bastille.
Tomy & Co.
We’re falling more in love with Tomy & Co. with each visit, and have elevated this to our #1 favorite Paris restaurant for modern & creative cuisine. Chef Tomy Gousset’s cuisine is thrillingly modern, and he’s a master of using herbs, acidity and texture to elevate sometimes humble ingredients like beef tongue or tête de veau.
Le Repaire de Cartouche
Le Repaire de Cartouche is a great place to sit at the bar without reservations, order wine with a slab of terrine, and wait for your table to open up at Au Passage. It’s still great fun as a wine bar, even if it can no longer deliver as a restaurant.
Café Méricourt
At Café Méricourt, the interior is light and airy, the staff is among the friendliest in Paris, the loaves arrive daily from Ten Belles Bread, and the coffee, with beans sourced from an array of quality roasters, is reliably great. The food menu leans heavily vegetarian, with tasty options like shakshuka, green eggs and feta, or a daily green bowl. Their famous breakfast sandwich can be topped with bacon or avocado. Carnivores can tear into a delicious focaccia sandwich with… Read More »Café Méricourt
Sauvage
Sauvage is boisterous and fun. It has the feeling of a friendly neighborhood wine bar that just happens to have real talent (chef Sébastien Leroy) in the kitchen. Sauvage caters to a local St-Germain clientele that doesn’t bat an eye at relatively high prices, resulting in luxurious dishes like quail with foie gras and black truffle. The wine list leans natural, and contains treasures. 60, rue du Cherche Midi, 75006Open Monday-Saturday for lunch & dinnerClosed SundayReservations at +33 1 45… Read More »Sauvage
Le Grand Restaurant
Address: 7 rue d’Aguesseau, 75008Hours: Open Monday-Friday for lunch & dinner. Closed Saturday & Sunday.Telephone: +33 1 53 05 00 00Book Online / Website / Instagram Le Grand Restaurant in Photos In Other Words Le Figaro (2015) “Le plat à ne pas laisser filer: homard bleu de Bretagne en feuille de figuier, mûres épicées, foie gras au poivre sauvage, pur instant de mijoté réinventé.” Simon Says (2015) “En fait, si l’on a bien compris, Jean François Piège semble vouloir siffler la… Read More »Le Grand Restaurant
David Toutain
David Toutain, who brought acclaim to Agapé Substance before jumping ship back in December 2012, returned to the Paris scene with this signature restaurant in 2013. His meticulous and conceptual cooking highlights seasonal produce, with vegetables often playing the starring role. This is by no means a vegetarian restaurant, but Toutain’s ability to bring out the beauty in oft-ignored roots reminds us of his former boss Alain Passard.
Le Richer
An offshoot of one our absolute favorites L’Office, you can stop by this former corner café at all hours of the day and night (sans reservation) for snacks, small plates, decent coffee, cocktails, or an evening meal.
Fish la Boissonnerie
This popular restaurant and wine bar run by Drew Harre and Juan Sanchez is a sort of Anglo haven, excellent for a quick glass, a solo dinner at the bar, or for those times when you’re just tired of speaking French. The wine list at Fish la Boissonnerie is populated by small producers, many of them organic and bio-dynamic, with fair prices and plenty of options by the glass. They’re open every day, and we often find ourselves here on… Read More »Fish la Boissonnerie
52 Faubourg Saint Denis
After L’Office and Le Richer (one of our favorite new openings of 2013), Charles Compagnon is back with another gift for the Faubourg. If he has run out of ideas for restaurant names, the same cannot be said for the dishes coming out of his kitchen. The compact menu with 3-4 choices per course contains plenty that we want to eat: well-roasted duck with coco beans, corn and kale, and an egg yolk ravioli with ham and mushrooms that was satisfyingly reminiscent of one of… Read More »52 Faubourg Saint Denis
Freddy’s
Freddy’s is a great call when you want to share some delicious nibbles and great wine while perched on a stool, especially at odd hours or on Sunday and Monday when many other places are closed.
Frenchie Bar à Vins
If you want a taste of Gregory Marchand’s cooking without the challenge of scoring a reservation at Frenchie, this is where to go.
Holybelly
Pancakes, poached eggs and hearty seasonal fare served alongside excellent coffee sourced from Belleville Brûlerie in a sunny space along the Canal St. Martin. An international array of coffee preparations (flat whites, espressos, long blacks, cappuccinos, and very good “real deal” filtered coffee) are accompanied by hot chocolate made from homemade chocolate syrup and a selection of teas from Le Parti du Thé. The exceptionally friendly service is notable. Also notable, the lines for weekend brunch. Get there early.
Papillon
Address: 8, rue Messonier, 75017Hours: Open Monday-Friday for lunch & dinner. Closed Saturday & Sunday.Telephone: +33 1 56 79 81 88Website / Facebook / Instagram COVID-19 UPDATE:Papillon has reopened. Papillon in Photos Photos by Meg Zimbeck © Paris by Mouth In Other Words John Talbott (2016) “The best/most innovative meal I’ve had in 3 weeks.” Les Grands Ducs (2016) “La carte est courte, c’est le moins que l’on puisse dire, et le menu déjeuner (choix imposé), à 36 €, une toute… Read More »Papillon
Jones
Small plates and natural wine from Florent Ciccoli, the owner of Café du Coin and Cheval d’Or. Formerly known as Bones, Ciccoli changed the name when chef James Henry departed and the offer became more simple and casual. The wine bar up front is a great place to gather and nibble with friends.
Faggio
Practical information Address: 72 rue de Rochechouart, 75009 Nearest transport: Anvers (2) Hours: Closed Monday & Tuesday; Open Wednesday-Sunday for lunch and dinner Reservations: Walk-Ins Welcome Telephone: 01 40 37 44 02 Average price for lunch: 20-39€ Average price for dinner: 20-39€ Style of cuisine: Italian & pizza Website Facebook Reviews of interest Alexander Lobrano (2015) “At Faggio, it wasn’t that anyone was unfriendly, but rather that no one was going to acknowledge that you’d had a long wait before being fed. And of course… Read More »Faggio
Hakata Choten
While the focus of this cheap and cheerful Japanese franchise is ostensibly the authentic tonkatsu ramen, the real highlight is the gyoza with a thick, crisp, seared crust and a juicy pork filling. The parent restaurant won the Prix du Concours National of Gyoza in Japan in 2004, and the dumplings truly are winners. The dining room is busy and the lines can be long, but the steaming bowls of ramen come out fast and are worth the wait. The counter seating on the bottom floor makes this a nice option for dining alone.
— Catherine Down, September 2015
Dilia
Practical information Address: 1 rue d’Eupatoria, 75020 Nearest transport: Ménilmontant (2) Hours: Closed Sunday & Monday; Open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch & dinner Reservations: Book a few weeks in advance Telephone: 09 53 56 24 14 Average price for lunch: 10-19€ Average price for dinner: 40-59€ Style of cuisine: Italian Website Facebook Book Online Reviews of interest Table à Découvert (2015) “Une assiette étrange à l’arrivée, je me souvenais juste que j’avais commandé le Saint-Pierre. En fait, le filet ferme et délicieux… Read More »Dilia
Ob-La-Di Café
Ob-La-Di might be the most Instagrammed café of the 2015 rentrée, but there’s real substance at this stylish spot in the Haut Marais. Most of the baked goods are made in-house, and many of them manage to be vegan and gluten-free, and still actually taste good. Coffee is expertly prepared with Lomi beans by Lloyd, formerly of Boot Café, who also curates a killer playlist most days. Creative offerings include an affogato made with cookie dough ice cream, horchata, a vegetarian burger, and avocado toast that is worth an eye-popping €9 price tag due to the homemade purple potato bread and chimichurri sauce, plus pomegranate seeds.
— Catherine Down, September 2015
An Absolute Favorite
Arpège
Alain Passard spins turnips into gold at this vegecentric (but not vegetarian) three star restaurant.
L’Auberge Bressane
Practical information Address: 16 avenue de la Motte Piquet, 75007 Nearest transport: La Tour-Maubourg (8) Hours: Open Sunday-Friday for lunch & dinner and Saturday for dinner Reservations: Book a couple days in advance Telephone: 01 47 05 98 37 Average price for lunch: 20-39€ Average price for dinner: 60-100€ Style of cuisine: Classic French Website Facebook Reviews of interest Alexander Lobrano (2015) “A living archive of the great tastes of Gaul… With the possible exception of the price–there’s an excellent value 24.50 Euros… Read More »L’Auberge Bressane
Gare au Gorille
Address: 68, rue des Dames, 75017Hours: Open Monday-Friday for lunch & dinner. Closed Saturday & Sunday.Telephone: +33 1 42 94 24 02 (not answered during service)Book Online / Website / Instagram COVID-19 UPDATE:Gare au Gorille has reopened with some outdoor tables. Our Most Recent Visit Just steps from the train tracks leading to and from the Saint-Lazare train station, this is the new project from two Septime alums, Marc Cordonnier (Grébaut’s former sous-chef) and his front-of-house partner Louis Langevin. With a hip hop soundtrack… Read More »Gare au Gorille
Le Severo
Practical information Address: 8 rue des Plantes, 75014 Nearest transport: Mouton Duvernet (4), Pernety (13) Hours: Closed Saturday and Sunday; Open Monday-Friday for lunch and dinner Reservations: Book a few days in advance Telephone: 01 45 40 40 91 Average price for lunch: 20-39€ Average price for dinner: 40-59€ Style of cuisine: Classic French Facebook Reviews of interest Simon Says (2015) “Si l’on veut manger une bonne viande à Paris, c’est ici. Même les deux bouchers « stars » qu’une fausse inimitié… Read More »Le Severo
Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen
This historic three-star restaurant is perched in a pavilion just off the Champs-Elysées and has been a dining destination since the French Revolution. Long-time chef Christian Le Squer handed the reigns to Yannick Alleno in July 2014, and Alleno has promised a renewed focus on what he considers to be the great strength of French cuisine – sauces.
Willi’s Wine Bar
Willi’s Wine Bar has been a Paris institution since 1980, when Mark Williamson opened up near the Palais Royal. If you’ve come to Paris to drink wine, this is a great place to stop in for a glass (or bottle) and some simple food. It’s also a good place to book for larger groups. Open Saturday, open Monday, good for groups, vegetarian friendly, excellent wine, near the Louvre 13 rue des Petits-Champs, 75001Open Monday-Saturday for lunch & dinnerClosed SundayReservations online… Read More »Willi’s Wine Bar
Buvette Gastrothèque
Manhattanite Jody Williams has brought her well-loved French “gastroteque” back to the city that inspired the original rustic-chic cafe.
Le Garde Robe
Natural wine, snacks to soak it up, rowdy crowds and dancing bartenders. One of the original natural wine hangouts in Paris. Bottles also available for purchase to go.
– Meg Zimbeck, 2011
Coinstot Vino
Guillaume Dupré runs this wine bar in the passage des Panoramas, serving a range of small plates for snackers, a few hot items for the hungry, and vins natures for the thirsty.
Ten Belles
Just steps from the Canal Saint-Martin, this shoebox-sized café is serving beautiful coffee with Anglo-inspired breakfast and lunch bites like scones, healthy sandwiches and sausage rolls.
Septime Cave
Septime’s Bertrand Grébaut and Théo Pourriat converted a shoe-repair shop to open this intimate, impeccably-designed wine bar just around the corner from their renowned restaurant. The well-informed staff serve a limited menu of exquisite small plates (ranging from cheeses and cured meats to foie gras stuffed with smoked eel) alongside a sizeable selection of well-priced natural wines from France and abroad.
On any given evening a mixed crowd of locals and tourists – some waiting for tables at Clamato, others just enjoying apéro-hour – perch on bar stools and repurposed grocery crates, mingling to a soundtrack of reggae and vintage jazz classics. For years more a way-station than an outright destination, Septime Cave has since summer 2015 been open for business on Sundays, rendering it all the more indispensable to the rue de Charonne neighborhood.
Quedubon
You can call Quedubon a bistro or a wine bar or a cave. All apply to this address near the beautiful Parc des Buttes Chaumont. The simple food ranges from light (capriccios of fresh fish) to homey (braised meats) to downright offal (veal brains), and is washed down by one of the vins naturels that populate the impressive wine list maintained by Gilles Bénard. Owing in part to the non-central location, there’s a village-like feeling to this friendly place. You can also buy bottles to go.
Au Boeuf Couronné
Meat is king at Au Boeuf Couronné, a restaurant across the street from the Parc de la Villette – the previous site of the Paris slaughterhouse. It’s a beautiful old brasserie and a reliable place for steak lovers in search of a slab. Open every day.
Coutume
Part of the new wave of cafés, Coutume serves serious coffee drinks along with light & healthy lunch fare.
Akrame
Address: 7 rue Tronchet, 75008Hours: Open Monday-Friday for lunch & dinner. Closed Saturday & Sunday.Telephone: +33 1 40 67 11 16Book Online / Website / Facebook / Instagram COVID-19 UPDATE:Akrame is currently planning to reopen in September. Until then, the restaurant is offering a full menu of choices for pickup and delivery via Akrame Home, launched during confinement. Order online a day in advance before 3pm. In Other Words The following reviews pertain to Akrame’s former location in the 16th before moving… Read More »Akrame
Le Dôme
Practical information Address: 108 boulevard du Montparnasse, 75014 Nearest transport: Vavin (4), Edgar Quinet (6) Hours: Open every day for lunch and dinner Reservations: Book a day or two in advance Telephone: 01 43 35 25 81 Website Book Online What people are saying Not Drinking Poison in Paris (2015) “The upside of a city that trades on history, however, is the persistence of such majestic creations as Le Dôme’s airy millefeuille, gargantuan portions of which are hacked off a tree-trunk-sized… Read More »Le Dôme
Tricotin
Practical information Address: 15 avenue de Choisy, 75013 Nearest transport: Porte de Choisy (7, T3) Hours: Open every day 9am-11pm Reservations: Walk-Ins Welcome Telephone: 01 45 84 74 44 Average price for lunch: 10-19€ Average price for dinner: 10-19€ Style of cuisine: Chinese [slideshow_deploy id=’57398′] Reviews of interest Hipsters in Paris (2015) “Basically its busy, vibrant, disorganised, inexpensive and (usually) delicious. Go in with reasonable expectations about the service and decor and you will exit supremely satisfied.” John Talbott (2014) “… a… Read More »Tricotin
Bob’s Bake Shop
Bob (aka Marc Grossman)’s mini empire continues to expand with American style diner and bakery complete with pecan or lattice-topped cherry pie, Belleville Brulerie coffee, hand-rolled bagels and even their elusive brethren bialys. There’s a pretty lovely outdoor terrasse, too.
La Cantine du Troquet Dupleix
Lusty Basque fare, affordably priced. Arrive early (doors open at 7pm) to avoid a wait at this casual, no-reservations bistro run by chef Christian Etchebest.
Le Grand Pan
Benoit Gauthier’s Le Grand Pan unfussily and deliciously serves up superb meats and market-fresh vegetables.
A la Biche au Bois
Practical information Address: 45 avenue Ledru-Rollin, 75012 Nearest transport: Gare de Lyon (1, 14, RER A), Quai de la Rapée (5) Hours: Closed Sunday; Open Tuesday-Friday for lunch & dinner and Monday & Saturday for dinner Reservations: Book a few days in advance Telephone: 01 43 43 34 38 Average price for lunch: 20-39€ Average price for dinner: 20-39€ Style of cuisine: Classic French Facebook Reviews of interest Atabula (2014) “Au programme: nappes épaisses, lourds couverts dans une ambiance mi populaire-mi bourgeoise.… Read More »A la Biche au Bois
Shan Goût
This tiny, highly regarded Chinese restaurant veers from the usual family style format, offering a limited-choice, three-course menu.
Jeanne A
This little epicerie also offers all-day service of inexpensive, classic bistro dishes.
Clamato
Clamato is a seafood-focused small plates restaurant from Bertrand Grébaut of Septime. Expect pristine marinated fish, platters of oysters, silky crab fritters (accrabes), and maple syrup pie for dessert. Wines are natural and well-selected, just like at Septime.
La Fontaine de Mars
The Obamas ate here! The Obamas ate here! This perpetual favorite, a mainstay on the crowded rue Saint-Dominique, offers classic cooking with a southwestern tilt. Open every day.
Le Meurice
Le Meurice is a Michelin two-star restaurant headed by Alain Ducasse and run by executive chef Amaury Bouhours. Currently, the main attraction is pastry chef Cédric Grolet and his stunning desserts. The other star is the opulent room itself, designed by Philippe Stark and inspired by Versailles. At the time of my visit in 2014, Le Meurice held three Michelin stars and offered a relatively inexpensive lunch service (2 courses for 85€ or the whole lunch menu for 130€). While… Read More »Le Meurice
Cosi
The sandwiches at this shop — run by Juan Sanchez and Drew Harré of Fish — are made with a focaccia-like bread, right from the oven, with fresh fillings and plenty of vegetarian choices. Open every day.
Le Cornichon
Here you’ll find robust, seasonal bistro cooking from a Chez l’Ami Jean alum. Menus at 31€/34€ for lunch/dinner, unless you spring for the Desnoyer côte de veau, seasonal game dishes, or other items that carry a supplement.
The Green Goose
This may just be the white whale of Parisian bars: good homemade food, good craft beer, friendly service, and big enough to gather a crowd without becoming uncomfortably crowded. Skip the Green Goose beer (a boring Belgian for happy hour purposes only) and discover the range of O’Hara’s on tap or one of the handful of Irish craft bottled beers – no industrial stout here. Settle in with a pint at one of the comfortable barstools or at a long communal table and don’t miss the lovingly prepared food at this excellent Irish gastropub, including Scotch eggs, a fair burger, and a big Sunday brunch. Read More »The Green Goose
Drouant
Facing a very pretty square, Drouant has been around since 1880. Now run by Antoine Westermann, the menu offers elegantly updated classics with an emphasis on seafood.
Pierre Gagnaire
Pierre Gagnaire is a Michelin three-star restaurant that has also spent many years on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Gagnaire is considered a pioneer in molecular gastronomy and collaborated with chemist Hervé This in early explorations of synthetic cuisine – creating new forms and textures using tartaric acid, glucose, and polyphenols, and so on. In contrast to the ebullient food, the dining room at Gagnaire has always been icy and formal. Dining here – at least during my two… Read More »Pierre Gagnaire
Le Comptoir du Relais
Yves Camdeborde’s beloved bistro, once neo and now classic. Book months in advance for weeknight, no-choice dinner, or just queue up at lunch or weekends for the so-called “brasserie menu”.
Bob’s Juice Bar
I once sat across from Owen Wilson at a communal table at Bob’s Juice Bar. He seemed happy with his veggie bowl, and you probably will be, too. This is the original Paris outpost from Marc Grossman selling healthy salads, bowls, smoothies, and other vegetarian delights. Open Monday, open Saturday, good for breakfast, cheap eats, vegetarian friendly, gluten free options, vegan options 15 rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010Open for breakfast & lunch Monday-SaturdayClosed Sunday OUR PHOTOS OF BOB’S JUICE BAR IN… Read More »Bob’s Juice Bar
Urfa Dürüm
This is no ordinary kebab joint: The bread at this Kurdish sandwich shop is made before your eyes, split and filled with lamb, beef, or chicken that’s been grilled to order, garnished simply with a few greens, red onion, sliced tomato and herbs.
L’Orient d’Or
Craving a little heat? Head to this address for chili-laden Hunanese fare. If you want their chicken Zuo Zang-tong — General Tso’s chicken — be sure to call a day in advance and let them know.
Le Relais de l’Entrecôte
At Le Relais de L’Entrecôte, the choices are steak or steak, and the supply of golden fries is unending. Which is how the line to be seated will seem unless you go early. Included in our list of Five Great Steak Frites in Paris. Three locations.
Chez Georges
A popular, old school bistro serving classics like frisée au lardons, jambon persillée, escargot, and tarte tatin.
Garance
Two Guillaumes (Guillaume Iskandar and Guillaume Muller) formerly of l’Arpège, have opened this much-praised modern bistro near the Esplanade des Invalides.
Garnier
Practical information Address: 111 rue St. Lazare, 75008 Nearest transport: Saint-Lazare (3, 12, 13) Hours: Closed Monday & Tuesday Reservations: Walk-ins Welcome Telephone: 01 43 87 50 40 Average price for lunch: 40-59€ Average price for dinner: 60-100€ Style of cuisine: Classic French, oysters/shellfish, seafood Reviews of interest Time Out (2012) “Some loyal patrons never get beyond the oyster bar or the fresh shellfish buffet, while others reliably order the lobster from the tank or salad with balsamic vinegar and lightly spice… Read More »Garnier
Les Pâtes Vivantes
Practical information Address: 46 rue du Faubourg-Montmartre, 75009 Nearest transport: Le Peletier (7) Hours: Open every day for lunch and dinner Reservations: Walk-Ins Welcome Telephone: 01 45 23 10 21 Average price for lunch: 10-19€ Average price for dinner: 10-19€ Style of cuisine: Chinese Website Facebook Additional location Address: 3 rue de Turbigo, 75001 Nearest transport: Étienne Marcel (4) Hours: Open every day for lunch and dinner Telephone: 01 40 13 08 04 Reviews of interest Table à Découvert (2013) “Tout est mélangé et… Read More »Les Pâtes Vivantes
Les Cocottes
Practical information Address: 135 rue St. Dominique, 75007 Nearest transport: École Militaire (8), Pont le l’Alma (RER C) Hours: Open every day, 12pm-11pm Reservations: Reservations not accepted Telephone: no phone Average price for lunch: 20-39€ Average price for dinner: 40-59€ Style of cuisine: Classic French Website [slideshow_deploy id=’58242′] Additional Locations Address: 2 avenue Bertie Allbrecht, 75008 Nearest transport: Ternes (2) Hours: Open every day, 12pm-11pm Reservations: Reservations not accepted Telephone: 01 53 89 50 53 Website Reviews of interest Reviews from the… Read More »Les Cocottes
Neva Cuisine
Contemporary French cooking in a polished, airy room from a couple of Grande Cascade alums.
L’Atelier Saint-Germain de Joël Robuchon
The original L’Atelier, in what’s now a global empire.
La Taverne de Zhao
Cheap and cheerful cooking from the Shaanxi province, courtesy of Zhao, who hails from Xi’an. Get the pork-filled flatbread.
Le Griffonnier
A place to eat classic French bistro food (oeufs mayo, steak frites, celery remoulade), drink from an excellent wine list, and be surrounded (still, for now) by actual French people.
Le Petit Vendôme
Practical information Address: 8 rue des Capucines, 75002 Nearest transport: Opéra (3, 7, 8), Madeleine (8, 12, 14) Hours: Closed Sunday; Open Monday 8.30am-3.30pm; Open Tuesday-Friday 8.30am-2am; Open Saturday 8.30am-5pm Reservations: Walk-Ins Welcome Telephone: 01 42 61 05 88 Average price for lunch: 20-39€ Average price for dinner: 20-39€ Style of cuisine: Classic French Facebook Book Online Reviews of interest David Lebovitz (2011) “The place is packed full of locals…dim, noisy, and chaotic; you pull up a chair wherever if you… Read More »Le Petit Vendôme
Allard
The sepia-toned dining room at this historic bistro remains the same, but Alain Ducasse and protégé Laëtitia Rouabah have taken over the kitchen and the accompanying carte of classic Burgundian dishes. Reviews are mixed.
Le Pantruche
Franck Baranger’s modern bistro near Pigalle is turning out dishes like celery root soup, oyster tartare, and a standout côte de cochon. Two courses at lunch for 17€, three at dinner for 32€.
Happy Nouilles
This is no longer included among the favorite 350 addresses that make up Our Guide to Paris Restaurants. We’ve maintained this page so that you can refer to the practical information and other reviews of interest. Feel free to share your own opinion in the comments.
Le Bon Georges
It’s all about the bon produits at Le Bon Georges: beef from Alexandre Polmard, sustainable seafood from small-scale fishermen, market fresh veg from Joël Thibault, and vins de propriétés. The menu changes each day at this brand new, but classically beautiful bistro.
Grazie
Practical information Address: 91 boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003 Nearest transport: Saint-Sébastien-Froissart (8) or Chemin Vert (8) Hours: Open every day for lunch & dinner Reservations: Book a day or two in advance Telephone: 01 42 78 11 96 Average price for lunch: 20-39€ Average price for dinner: 20-39€ Style of cuisine: Italian, pizza, vegetarian options Website [slideshow_deploy id=’57417′] Reviews of interest Le Fooding (2015) “On vient autant chez Grazie pour les cocktails de folie, secoués derrière le massif comptoir par Ricardo et… Read More »Grazie
Grillé
This might be the most pedigreed kebab you’ll ever eat: prepared by Le Chateaubriand alum Frédéric Peneau with meat from butcher Hugo Desnoyer, homemade spelt flatbread, and herbs from Annie Bertin. Veal, lamb, or pork (depending on the day), the kebabs are served with your choice of white sauce (fromage frais and horseradish) or green (a barely spicy, green tomato and pepper sauce). A vegetarian option beyond the fries will be available soon. There aren’t any seats on-site, or even in the immediate vicinity, so be prepared to eat it on the go.
FTG
Just down the street from the impossible to get into Frenchie, you can complete the Gregory Marchand hat trick at the latest outpost from the renowned Frenchie chef. The Anglo-inspired eatery features excellent Reubens, flavorful fish and chips, sweet treats like cheesecake and doughnuts, housemade ginger beer, pickles & maple smoked bacon, and one of the best beer lists we’ve seen in Paris.
Le Mary Celeste
The people behind Candelaria are back with a new place serving wild oysters by the piece, outstanding small plates, serious cocktails, natural wine, and craft beer.
Candelaria
With its bright, bare-bones kitchen, crowded counter, communal table, and addictive salsas — all mercifully un-Frenchified — this upper Marais spot has officially changed the game, and people are lining up for tacos and agua fresca. Go through the unmarked door next to the stove and you’ll find a serious bar, staffed by Experimental Cocktail Club grads.
Huîtrerie Régis
Régis’ fantastic oysters come from the Marenne-Oleron and are available for dégustation on the spot in the pale blue and white dining room, or to take home.Read More »Huîtrerie Régis
La Tour de Montlhéry – Chez Denise
The market at Les Halles is long gone, but its legacy is still in evidence at Chez Denise, an old-school meat joint that’s open late. Expect to find steak, bone marrow, frisée salad on these red & white checked tablecloths. Come hungry, and don’t expect to be fussed over.
– Meg Zimbeck, 2010
L’As du Fallafel
Cheap, messy and seemingly obligatory. The line-averse should probably avoid it on a Sunday afternoon.
Eggs & Co.
Practical information Address: 11 rue Bernard Palissy, 75006 Nearest transport: St. Germain-des-Pres (4) Hours: Open every day from 10am-6pm Reservations: Walk-ins Welcome Telephone: 01 45 44 02 52 Average price for lunch: 10-19€ Style of cuisine: Eggs, classic French, vegetarian options Website Reviews of interest Le Figaro (2009) “… des œufs sous toutes leurs formes: mollets, brouillés, au plat…il ne reste plus qu’à choisir le fond, la façon de les accommoder: herbes, jambon, fromages, champignons, au total 29 possibilités…” Food &… Read More »Eggs & Co.