Paris’ Best Spots for Eating & Drinking Outside
Our selection of spots for eating and drinking outdoors, organized by preference, location and price. Scroll to the end to find a map of all our picks.
Tag Archives: outdoor dining
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. Wines are inexpensive and available by the carafe, like in the old days. The café’s simply-executed bistrot cuisine is well-sourced and agreeable: oeufs mayonnaise, chicken liver terrines studded with grapes, and hearty Angus steaks for pressure-free meals on long summer evenings.
But for alert wine geeks, Café de la Nouvelle Mairie might as well be the Panthéon itself, as pertains to natural wine.
À La Renaissance
Great natural wines by the glass, fresh well-prepared food, and congenial service at this simple bistro near Bastille.
L’Angelus du Canal (ex- Philou)
Chef Philippe Damas is showcasing the season's best ingredients (porcinis, partridges) at this this bistro near the Canal Saint-Martin.
Our Guide to Outdoor Dining
Want to eat en terrasse today? We’re in the process of updating this list for 2019 but you can see our past selections below.
Maison Plisson
This sprawling 500m² space on the edge of the trendy Northern Marais does double duty. On one side, it’s an upscale market, boasting fresh fruits and vegetables, high quality cheeses, charcuterie, and deli items, as well as a bakery, an excellent selection of wines and a range of luxury local and imported grocery items. On the other, it’s a café, serving a small range of dishes made from ingredients sold next door. In a neighborhood surprisingly devoid of good grocery purveyors, the store is a revelation: The boulangerie turns out the best croissants for several blocks, the charcuterie is excellent and this is the go-to spot for top-notch pickles or proper English tea. With the Bastille market just around the corner customers might balk at the price of produce here, but if only kale will do, this is the store for you. In the café, the concise lunch menu offers very good – if overpriced – simple French classics. At a lower price point, and for smaller appetites, there’s also a nice selection of quiches, tartines and sandwiches.
— Emily Brookes, November 2015
Grand Cœur
Practical information
Address: 41 rue du Temple, 75004
Nearest transport: Hôtel de Ville (1, 11), Rambuteau (11)
Hours: Closed Monday; Open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch & dinner and Sunday for lunch
Reservations: Book a few days in advance
Telephone: 01 58 28 18 90
Average price for lunch: 20-39€
Average price for dinner: 40-59€
Style of cuisine: Modern French
Website Facebook Book Online
Reviews of interest
Simon Says (2015) “Par esprit de contrariété, j’avais choisi un tartare histoire de voir si les pneus étaient bien dessinés. Impeccable, il fut. Volontaire et déluré, parfait pour dissoudre une mélancolie matinale.”
Table à Découvert (2015) “Annoncé comme l’une des plus belles terrasses de l’été et je ne peux dire le contraire, Grand Cœur fait une entrée fracassante ! Le genre d’adresses qui ouvre avec des grands noms, de l’architecture, un emplacement situé comme dans un rêve… Le plat de grosses asperges blanches, les noisettes du Piémont, la sauce béarnaise à la reine-des-prés, le tout sur un risotto d’orge. Les textures se répondent bien, les goûts aussi. Entre la pointe d’amertume des asperges, le croquant des noisettes, l’onctuosité de la crème.”
Alexander Lobrano (2015) “The gastronomic axis of Grand Coeur is well-sourced and precisely executed contemporary French comfort food, and this makes it an especially welcome restaurant in the Marais, the 4th Arrondissement, which has always suffered from an odd paucity of such amiable, good quality tables.”
Chez Casimir
This bustling annex of Chez Michel offers hearty seasonal cooking and a heavy dose of old Paris charm. Open weekdays for lunch and dinner with menus at 22€ and 29€, and from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays with 25€, all-you-can-eat brunch.
Simone
Practical information
Address: 33 Boulevard Arago, 75013
Nearest transport: Les Gobelins (7)
Hours: Closed Sunday & Monday; Open Tuesday-Friday for lunch & dinner; Open Saturday for dinner only
Telephone: 01 43 37 82 70
Average price for lunch: 10-19€
Average price for dinner: 30-49€
Style of cuisine: Modern French
Website Facebook
Reviews of interest
Le Figaro (2013) “Assiettes néo-popu pas trop mal bossées.”
John Talbott (2013) “All the critics love it, the locals too, so much that they were turning people away even with outside tables but I’ll never get my gang to return.”
Le Fooding (2013) “Une bande d’amis copains-clopant en plein service, proposant du rab de tables sous les marronniers quand il fait bon, et dedans comme dehors, de chouettes assiettes apéritives (kalamata, saucisson sec, harengs fumés, 4,50 €), une fraîche salade de légumes mandolinés-assaisonnés (fenouil, champignons de Paris, herbes), un sauté de lapin bien servi, orge et olives dans un bon jus.”
L’Express (2013) “Deux plats très sages: un faux-filet de l’Aubrac et pommes de terre fumées, et un thon rouge de ligne avec des segments de courgettes et d’aubergines. C’est plus rustique mais impeccable, sans oublier des desserts aimablement gourmands.”
Le Journal du Dimanche (2013)”C’est une oasis du boulevard Arago avec ses quelques petites tables posées sur le trottoir, ses flacons nature, sa cuisine précise, travaillée, maligne, son équipe de joyeux drilles.”
Photo via Simone’s Facebook page
Camélia
We’ve visited and reviewed more than 400 Paris restaurants, but this isn’t one of them. Scroll below to see what others have said about this place, or jump to see our favorite restaurants in Paris.
A Noste
Practical information
Address: 4 bis rue du 4 Septembre, 75002
Nearest transport: Bourse (3)
Hours: Open every day
Reservations: Reservations not accepted for the tapas bar, but book a few weeks in advance for the upstairs restaurant
Telephone: 01 47 03 91 91
Average price for lunch: 10-19€ at the tapas bar and 20-39€ in the restaurant
Average price for dinner: 20-39€ at the tapas bar or 60-100€ in the restaurant
Style of cuisine: Basque, small plates & tapas
Website Facebook
Reviews of interest
David Lebovitz (2014) “We were pleasantly surprised when the waiter brought over our Tortilla de pommes de terre confites à l’ail doux… instead of the classic, thick, dense potato and egg cake that’d been baked a few hours ago, and served in wedges (which isn’t bad at all…), at A Noste, it’s served hot from the skillet and loaded with plenty of sautéed garlic. Garlic is often presented in Paris restaurants in doses that are barely perceptible. So – wow – it was quite a hit to get something with a lot of sweet, stewed garlic in it.”
Le Figaro (2014) “Sur le principe d’un menu unique, le programme y prévoit une petite rafale de plats créatifs et un instant carnassier, articulé autour de plusieurs viandes rôties. Du bœuf, du veau, du porc, le tout saisi à la broche et servi à discrétion. Emballant sur le papier… frustrant à l’arrivée. À mettre, on l’espère, sur le compte d’une malédiction d’un soir: deux malheureux morceaux coupés dans le bout d’un rumsteak, pas très goûteux et trop cuits ; une tranche de foie de veau ultra-fine et elle aussi trop cuite ; de l’échine de porc marinée au chorizo, rattrapant péniblement l’ensemble.”
Paris Bouge (2014) “C’est un ancien pub-usine de 300 mètres carrés revu en version loft XXL. Julien voulait créer trois ambiances. En bas, des tables hautes en bois où on partage des tapas entre amis les uns en face des autres. Au milieu, l’estafette à taloas rouge écarlate, sorte de food truck qui propose des galettes traditionnelles basques de maïs salées et sucrées. À l’étage, une table plus gastro. Sans oublier la terrasse au soleil.”
Table à Découvert (2014) “De la cuisine des Landes savoureuse, relevée, acide, pimentée, des textures frites, moelleuses, fondantes, une addition de 22€ par personne pour quatre copieuses assiettes de tapas, moi ça me va.”
John Talbott (2014) “Upstairs or downstairs, you will not be disappointed.”
Le Figaro (2014) “Inventif et solide dans ses propositions…”
Table à Découvert (2014) “A l’étage, c’est différent. Dès qu’on a monté l’escalier, le calme prend le dessus, les fenêtres sur la rue du Quatre Septembre donne un côté salle à manger. Une quarantaine de places assises se partagent, avec des banquettes confortables, des orchidées et une cuisine un peu ouverte où l’on aperçoit une rôtissoire, le thème de la Table. Menu unique au déjeuner (38 €) et au dîner (60 €) avec en plat principal des viandes rôties servies à volonté…”
Les Grands Ducs (2014) “Un service d’une absolue gentillesse, une assiette franche, généreuse et sans artifices, un décor contemporain bien fichu et un choix adapté à la dimension de son appétit et de son portefeuille: il n’en faut pas plus pour faire de A.Noste l’un de nos chouchous de cette rentrée. Courez-y!”
John Talbott (2014) “I have rarely had such a satisfying meal… here they slice up fabulous beef, veal with a bacon/ham taste and pork with a spicy rub to your liking (portion and cooking wise) from a rolling cart with some terrific raw vegetables and rough cut fried potatoes (this guy has really got the touch.)”
L’Express (2014) “Cette fougasse de maïs, pour moi l’un des musts de la carte, avec sa pâte craquante et moelleusement alvéolée et sa garniture sucrée-salée à base de fromage de brebis, de magret fumé et de raisins secs. Pour une jolie collection de tapas à partager, compter 25-30 € par personne!”
Table à Découvert (2014) “Le sandwich de Julien Duboué inspiré d’un pain du Pays Basque et qui me fait dire: ô bonheur de goûter un sandwich savoureux, roboratif et vraiment bon qui va chercher plus loin, c’est à dire dans les traditions régionales et non pas américaines! Oserais-je dire du coup que c’est l’un des meilleurs sandwichs de Paris?”
The Broken Arm
Part concept shop, part café, the stylish space has small plates, cookies and cakes, and a tightly edited, but well-prepared, coffee menu. Coffee available to-go, as well.
Chamarré Montmartre
Practical information
Address: 52 rue Lamarck, 75018
Nearest transport: Lamarck-Caulaincourt (12)
Hours: Open every day for lunch & dinner
Reservations: Book a day or two in advance
Telephone: 01 42 55 05 42
Average price for lunch: 20-39€
Average price for dinner: 60-100€
Style of cuisine: Modern French, fusion
Website Facebook Book Online
Reviews of interest
Simon Says (2009) “Ici, la cuisine garde toujours son tempo chamarré, piochant dans les îles de l’océan ces jolis boosters de saveurs: poivre de Madagascar, huile de café, limequats, chutneys, mangue, vanille…”
Alexander Lobrano (2009) “… one of the most guileless, intelligent and original fusion cuisines currently available in Paris.”
Table à Découvert (2009) “… les formules déjeuner annoncent de belles couleurs, des plats tout en nuances de cuisson, de fraîcheur, d’épices et de fruits.”
John Talbott (2009) “… I had the fancy-schmancy wild Garenne rabbit rollatines (6€ supplement) with foie gras and dozens of other ingredients that I could neither keep track of nor cared to. I didn’t finish it, quickly ordering coffee, finishing my wine and deedeemowing out of there.”
Photo via Chamarré Montmartre’s Facebook page
Bread & Roses
Practical information
Address: 62 rue Madame, 75006
Nearest transport: Saint-Placide (4), Rennes (12)
Hours: Closed Sunday; Open Monday-Saturday 8am-7:30pm
Telephone: 01 42 22 06 06
Reservations: Reservations not accepted
Average price for lunch: 20-34€
Style of cuisine: British, soups/salads/sandwiches
Website Facebook
Additional locations
Address: 25 rue Boissy d’Anglas, 75008
Nearest transport: Madeleine (8, 12, 14)
Hours: Closed Sunday; Open Monday-Friday 8am-8pm and Saturday 10am-8pm
Telephone: 01 47 42 40 00
Reviews of interest
Simon Says (2014) “Les pâtisseries ont du coffre (le sticky toffee pudding était scélérat à souhait)… mais j’ai eu du mal avec l’addition. Moi, qui était venu grignoter une salade, fut elle la « grande salade d’été>, j’ai fait un gloups devant la douloureuse: 82,70 euros à deux avec un dessert partagé et cette salade, certes convenable, à 26 euros, mouais.”
Paris Bouge (2013) “Fort du succès de la nourriture bio et bonne, Bread and Roses excelle avant tout dans ses pains et sa viennoiserie.”
Time Out (2012) “Giant wedges of cheesecake sit alongside French pastries, and huge savoury puff-pastry tarts are perched on the counter. Attention to detail shows even in the authentically pale taramasalata, which is matched with buckwheat-and-seaweed bread. Prices reflect the quality of the often organic ingredients, but that doesn’t seem to deter any of the moneyed locals, who order towering birthday cakes here for their snappily dressed offspring.”
David Lebovitz (2010) “One of the curious things that’s happening right now in the Paris food scene is a spate of what I consider ‘anglo’-style cafés opening up in various smaller neighborhoods… Places like… Bread and Roses… are all packed at lunchtime not with homesick Brits or Americans, but Parisians. These simple cafés and take-outs are riffs on places in England like Ottolenghi that take care when selecting ingredients.”
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 whole that the servers parade around the restaurant with justifiable pride.”
Simon Says (2015) “C’est une sorte de grosse bestiole. Qui ne bouge pas… On y vient ici s’offrir les poissons du jour, les plateaux de fruits de mer écumant d’iode. C’est impeccable, un peu roué dans la passation de commande où l’on aime bien pousser le bouchon. Mais qu’importe, si l’on a réservé ici, c’est que l’on savait exactement où l’on allait. Sans trop chercher, on atteint avec une aisance déconcertante une addition à 200 euros pour deux personnes.”
Condé Nast Traveler (2015) “I don’t eat fancy food, so most of my recommendations are for bistros and other elbows on-the-table sorts of places—like this one, where Hemingway met painter Jules Pascin, commemorating their story in A Moveable Feast. Here, the fish is still prepared in an old-school way (i.e., filleted tableside) and the maître d’s still wear tuxedos.”
Dorie Greenspan (2008) “Whenever I see a big metal platter with a mound of crushed ice and a pile of oysters, clams, shrimp, langoustines and other precious shellfish, I imagine that I’m in Paris in the 1920s… my favorite place to enjoy this luxury – and is it ever a luxury (especially now with the dollar so weak) – is at Le Dome…”
Photo courtesy of Patricia Wells’ website
Le Dome in video
Anthony Bourdain’s Paris episode for “The Layover.” The segment on Le Dome begins around the 27:00 mark.
Bob’s Bake Shop
The mini empire of benevolent Bob (aka Marc Grossman) continues to expand with this latest offering – an American style diner and bakery complete with apple, pecan, lattice-topped cherry or rhubarb pies, Belleville Brulerie coffee, hand-rolled bagel sandwiches and even their elusive brethren, bialys. There’s a pretty lovely outdoor terrasse, too.
Le Grand Pan
Benoit Gauthier’s Le Grand Pan unfussily and deliciously serves up superb meats and market-fresh vegetables.
Les Trois Garçons
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 Chardenoux
Le Chardenoux is currently closed for renovations (as of August 2018). We’ll update this description when we know more.
MaSa
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.
Practical information
Address: 112 avenue Victor Hugo, Boulogne-Billancourt
Nearest transport: Marcel Sembat (9)
Hours: Lunch and dinner, Monday-Friday; closed Saturday and Sunday
Reservations: Book a few days in advance
Telephone: 01 48 25 49 20
Average price for lunch: 35-49€
Average price for dinner: 50-100€
Style of cuisine: Modern French
Website
Reviews of interest
Emmanuel Rubin – Figaroscope (2012) “Toujours aussi pleine de mots, toujours aussi prodigue au pictural mais désormais moins précieuse et plus précise à tenir les promesses d’un style…Œuf à 62 ° façon frita, caramel de piment d’Espelette: presque une confiserie. Quasi de veau, caramel de lactose, morilles fraîches, échalotes: du corps et de l’esprit…”
John Talbott (2012) “the carte is replete with complicated and intriguing sounding dishes which could easily drive the a la carte bill to more than 80 Euros a person, but luckily at lunch they have a 2-choice one course for 25, two for 35 and three for 42 E…
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.
Cul de Poule
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.
Mini Palais
Eric Fréchon of the Bristol is the consulting chef of this contemporary, chic brasserie. Book a table on the terrace when weather permits. Open every day, all day.
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”.
Le Cambodge
Where bobos go for bo bun. Go early or be ready to queue.
Hôtel Amour
Fashion types flock to to this boutique hotel for lunch in the secluded back garden.
Ralph’s
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.
Jaja
Practical information
Address: 3 rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, 75004
Nearest transport: Hotel de Ville (1, 11), Saint Paul (1)
Hours: Open every day for lunch & dinner
Reservations: Walk-ins Welcome
Telephone: 01 42 74 71 52
Average price for lunch: 20-39€
Average price for dinner: 40-59€
Style of cuisine: Modern French
Website Facebook Book Online
Reviews of interest
John Talbott (2011) “She had what was advertised as a wok’d chicken… with a timbale of rice (we both thought this was really boring) and I had a croustillante of pigs’ feet that was beyond boring. Summary: none of us finished our portions.”
Table à Découvert (2011) “Avec l’intéressante formule déjeuner et les prix à la carte, je ne remets pas en cause les tarifs, mais simplement le contenu de l’assiette, peut-être aurait-il fallu s’en tenir au registre purement bistrotier? Vous savez qu’ici, je ne parle jamais ou presque des adresses qui m’ont déplu, si je parle de celle-ci, c’est parce-qu’elle m’a déçu.”
Les Grands Ducs (2011) “Quant au décor, au design soigné et chaleureux, on s’y sent bien, attendant avec impatience l’arrivée des beaux jours et la vie en plein air sur la terrasse de bois. Si on ajoute le service, juvénile aux petits oignons, et un menu déjeuner à 21€, vous conviendrez avec moi que cette adresse ne manque pas de charme, loin de là. Alors, excusez-moi, j’y retourne!”
Le Figaro 2011) “… une cave de première, militant les traverses de la vigne nature, les références classiques et les étiquettes classieuses… Crème de châtaignes, émulsion de lard fumé et poitrine crispy… Galette croustillante de pied de cochon, mesclun… Saint-marcellin plutôt que dessert…”
Le 39V
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.