The streets around the Louvre have improved considerably as a dining destination. It’s still true that the neighborhood rewards those who know where to look — the blocks immediately adjacent to the museum are thick with tourist traps — but a short walk in almost any direction opens up genuinely good options. To help you find the best restaurants near the Louvre, we’ve organized this page by meal occasion, which tends to be how people use it: a quick lunch before the museum, a long dinner afterward, or somewhere with a view to mark the occasion.
Click any restaurant name for our full review and practical information.
Breakfast Before the Museum
Le Tout-Paris — The Cheval Blanc’s rooftop brasserie serves a full breakfast (70€) with views over central Paris. The spread is extensive: viennoiseries from pastry chef Maxime Frédéric, eggs Benedict and soufflé omelettes, Norman dairy, fresh juices, and a serious tea and coffee selection. A splurge, but a genuinely special way to start a day at the Louvre.
Café Compagnon — For something simpler and considerably less expensive, this all-day café near the rue Montorgueil opens early for coffee and breakfast. Large outdoor terrace; no reservation needed.
Lunch
Simple and Fun
Maslow — Vegetarian and vegan small plates on the Quai de la Mégisserie, open every day until 11pm. Bright, casual, and one of the better plant-based options in central Paris. Good for vegetarians.
À L’Épi d’Or — A bistro from chef Jean-François Piège at about half the price of his nearby La Poule au Pot. A daily two- or three-course lunch menu (37€ or 46€) is a good deal for this part of the city, and the à la carte menu runs to classics like croque monsieur and hachis parmentier. The steak tartare — with fresh herbs, a runny yolk, flaky salt, and crispy fries — is particularly good. Open Monday through Friday.
Au Pied de Cochon — The round-the-clock Les Halles brasserie, open 24 hours. Not a destination meal, but one of the most reliably open addresses in central Paris for something quick at any hour.
Properly Delicious
19 Saint-Roch — We love the modern compositions here, and the chef’s counter makes it a wonderful option for solo dining; the short, focused menu changes regularly. Easy to book.
Juveniles — Our top pick in the neighborhood, this bistro on the rue de Richelieu has great food, a warm welcome and a wine list worth exploring. Simple bistro fare done with real care; one of the most consistently enjoyable lunch spots near the Louvre. Open Monday through Friday.
Dinner
Classic French
La Poule au Pot — A genuine looker: vintage wallpaper, globe lighting, and a silver serving chariot wheeling between Pepto-Bismol colored tables. Chef Jean-François Piège’s menu leans into traditional cuisine bourgeoise — onion soup, escargots, blanquette de veau, steak au poivre finished tableside. It’s expensive at 75–100€ per person, but the cooking justifies it and the room is an experience. Open Tuesday through Saturday.
La Bourse et la Vie — A classic bistro in the adjacent Sentier district from chef Daniel Rose, known for lovingly researched and refined versions of old recipes — a pot au feu with deeply flavored bouillon, 30-day aged steak frites. A good option for a classic French dinner near the Louvre. Open Monday through Friday.
Juveniles — Also a good dinner option: a wine-focused bistro with a warm room and a list that rewards exploration. Open Monday through Friday.
Tasting Menus
Pantagruel — A modern restaurant just off the Palais Royal gardens, behind a pale blue façade, from chef Jason Gouzy. The cooking is inventive and fun — think lobster toastie and playful takes on classic French ingredients — in a colorful room that feels youthful without being casual. A full review is coming soon.
Verjus — A seasonal tasting menu restaurant steps from the Palais Royal, with ingredients drawn from the team’s own garden outside Paris. Chef Garrett Murphy’s cooking is worth planning a meal around; the wine pairings are among the best in the city. Good for vegetarians; private dining for groups of 8–12. Open Monday through Friday for dinner, plus Friday lunch.
Frenchie — One of the most influential restaurants of its generation in Paris, from chef Gregory Marchand, still cooking at a high level. Located on the rue du Nil in the adjacent Sentier district.
For the View
These restaurants are organized around their setting rather than their food — come for the spectacle.
Le Jardin Cheval Blanc (mid-May to mid-September only) — A lush rooftop garden at the Cheval Blanc hotel with sweeping views over central Paris. Better for a drink and a few bites than a full meal, but one of the most beautiful outdoor dining options near the Louvre in the warm months. Open every day during the season.
Le Tout-Paris — The Cheval Blanc’s rooftop brasserie, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The views are the draw. Open every day.
Loulou — The outdoor terrace inside the Musée des Arts Décoratifs faces onto the Tuileries with a distant view of the Eiffel Tower. The Italian menu is expensive for what it is; come for the setting and a glass of chilled rosé. Open every day.
Looking for more? Browse our 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris or explore our neighborhood guides.
help an old fogey pse. When I lived in paris ere pomidolienne i sometimes ate at ma bourgogne when flush. I know p des vosges has changed out of all recognition (and cost) but is ma bourgogne still much the same in quality and style of food – and do they now take standard credit cards? Many thanks….. john
Ohh boy,
This is problematic for all of us, because Christmas here is a family day, and Christmas Eve is even more so.
I cannot speak for everyone or anyone, but what sort of place would you settle for? – a place like the Brasserie Lorraine, not far away or Moroccan food, no, I guess that’s not Christmasy, Asian food in Belleville or the 13th, can you give us a hint about about what you expect – turkey, not likely and extremely expensive, beef/oysters/mousse Yes. It’s a tough night/day/week.
Give us more info and we’ll be back.
Hello,
We are visiting Paris this December and are looking for a restaurant that serves a good Christmas dinner. We are a family of 4– 2 parents and 2 older teen boys (ages 19 and 16) and do not require much pampering or special treatment, but we’d like a warm holiday atmosphere. Do you have any recommendations? We rented an apartment just off the Arc de Triomphe and will be there from 24 December to 28 December.
Thank you
Great news! Thanks for letting us know Lindsey.
A New Kunitoraya is opening soon, on the corner of rue Villedo. Udon will soon flank my dear coffee shop Télescope 🙂 Even more reason to linger in the neighborhood.
You can replace Kunitoraya with Le Saut du Loup. Might not be the best value or food, but the view of the Jardin des Tuileries in indisputably great.
http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr/IMG/jpg/sdl-terrasse2-3.jpg
Thanks for the heads up! Duly noted.
Please note that Kunitoraya is no more. It has been replaced by another udon bar named Jubey, which I have not tested yet.