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$$$$ | Montmartre |
Once a well-guarded foodie secret, a Michelin star brought this singular restaurant, tucked behind the Sacré-Coeur, richly deserved acclaim. Now the dining room is packed with diners enjoying impeccable contemporary French cuisine that's gorgeously presented and full of flavor. With no à la carte ordering, you are truly in the hands of chef Laurent Magnin, whose menus include the seven-course "temptation" menu (€135) and the eleven-course tasting menu (€180). Expect delights like lacquered suckling pig or roasted mullet in a sublimely creamy mushroom duxelle. It's the perfect end, or midday pause, to a day spent wandering the village-y streets of Montmartre. There is also a five-course "menu dejeuner" for lunch that costs €65.
52 rue Lamarck, Paris, Île-de-France, 75018, France
Known For
- Vividly imagined cuisine on multicourse tasting menus
- Location near the Sacré-Coeur
- Very friendly service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., Aug., 1 wk in mid-Apr., and last wk of Dec., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Eiffel Tower |
Pascal Barbot rose to fame thanks to his restaurant's reasonable prices and casual atmosphere, but after the passage of several years, L'Astrance has become resolutely haute. His dishes often draw on Asian ingredients, as in grilled lamb with miso-lacquered eggplant and a palate-cleansing white sorbet spiked with chili pepper and lemongrass. They offer à la carte, as well as a lunch menu for €125 and the full tasting menu for €285 (this is what most people come for). Each menu also comes at a (significantly) higher price with wines to match each course. Barbot's cooking has such an ethereal quality that it's worth the considerable effort of booking a table—you should start trying at least two months in advance.
4 rue Beethoven, Paris, Île-de-France, 75016, France
Known For
- Set menus that change daily
- Space that seats only 25 lucky diners a night
- Extraordinary wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends and Aug., Reservations essential
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$$$ | St-Germain-des-Prés |
A perennial favorite, this lively, unpretentious bistro is prized by expats and locals for its friendly atmosphere, consistently good food, solid wine list, and English-speaking staff. Dishes like pork belly with crushed potatoes or swordfish with fresh vegetables always hit the spot, especially when followed by decadent chocolate ganache infused with candied bergamot or poached peaches with white wine and sorbet.
69 rue de Seine, Paris, Île-de-France, 75006, France
Known For
- Convivial atmosphere
- Excellent selection of natural wines
- Good-value menu that changes daily
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential, Closed Sun.
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$$$ | Montparnasse |
This world-renowned, cavernous spot with Art Deco murals practically defines the term brasserie. It's been popular since Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir were regulars, and today it attracts a mix of bourgeois families, tourists, and lone diners treating themselves to a dozen oysters. Recent additions to the classic brasserie menu are a tart of caramelized apple and pan-fried foie gras, beef fillet flambéed with cognac, and profiteroles made with Valrhona chocolate.
102 bd. du Montparnasse, Paris, Île-de-France, 75014, France
Known For
- Classic brasserie menu
- Lively atmosphere
- Historic setting
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$$$ | Louvre |
After taking over the original La Régalade, chef Bruno Doucet kept some of what made the old restaurant so popular (country terrines, reasonably priced wines, convivial atmosphere), but he also had a few tricks under his toque, notably creating a successful haute-cuisine-meets-comfort-food destination. With a good quality-to-price ratio, this chic bistro has evolved into a staple of the neighborhood.
123 rue St-Honoré, Paris, Île-de-France, 75001, France
Known For
- Contemporary iterations of French bistro classics like escargots or beef bourguignon
- Comfort-food desserts like rice pudding or soufflé
- Good-value prix-fixe menu for lunch and dinner
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$$ | Champs-Élysées |
Shortly after earning a second Michelin star from the chic open kitchen at the Hôtel Prince des Galles, Stéphanie le Quellec left to strike out on her own. Now she's regained her two stars at this gleaming dining room on the elegant Avenue Matignon, the perfect setting for the refined, scintillating cuisine that earned the former Top Chef winner a loyal following among Paris gastronomes. Whether you're having lunch in the ground-floor brasserie, with its burnished bronze bar, or downstairs in the elegant 30-seat dining room with an open kitchen, Le Quellec doesn't skimp on luxury ingredients in signature dishes like Pompadour potato soufflé with Ossetra caviar, poached langoustine, and the famous foie gras tart, all masterfully paired with handpicked small-producer wines. Pastry chef Pierre Chirac's irresistible desserts round out a perfect meal.
32 av. Matignon, Paris, Île-de-France, 75008, France
Known For
- Beautiful atmosphere
- Famous foie gras tart
- Handpicked small-producer wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends
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$$$$ | Latin Quarter |
You can't deny the splendor of this legendary Michelin-starred restaurant's setting overlooking the Seine; if you don't want to break the bank on dinner, treat yourself to the three-course lunch menu for €120. This entitles you to succulent slices of one of the restaurant's numbered ducks (the great duck slaughter began in 1919 and is now well past the millionth mallard, as your certificate will attest). Don't be too daunted by the vast wine list—with the aid of the sommelier you can splurge a little and perhaps taste a rare vintage Burgundy from the extraordinary cellars, which survived World War II.
15–17 quai de la Tournelle, Paris, Île-de-France, 75005, France
Known For
- Duck in all its many forms
- One of the city's best wine lists
- Fabulous Seine-side setting with glorious views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., and Aug., Reservations essential, Jacket and tie
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$$$ | Charonne |
The Paul Bert delivers everything you could want from a traditional Paris bistro (faded 1930s decor, thick steak with real frites, and good value), so it's no wonder its two dining rooms fill every night with a cosmopolitan crowd. The impressively stocked wine cellar helps, as does the heaping cheese cart, the laid-back yet efficient staff, and hearty dishes such as monkfish with white beans and duck with pears. The prix-fixe lunch menu is only €22, or you can order à la carte.
18 rue Paul Bert, Paris, Île-de-France, 75011, France
Known For
- Excellent, and abundant, cheese trolley
- Delicious dessert soufflés
- Sidewalk seating in summer
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
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$$ | Latin Quarter |
This charming Quartier Latin bistro with woodwork and murals dating from 1925 is always packed and boisterous. A glance at the affordable menu makes it easy to understand why: dishes such as chestnut soup with spice bread, sea bass marinated in lime and coconut, and apple and quince tatin (upside-down tart) with gingerbread ice cream put a fresh twist on French classics. Service is reliably courteous. If you don't finish your bottle of wine, you can take it with you to savor the last drops.
25 rue Jussieu, Paris, Île-de-France, 75005, France
Known For
- Authentic Parisian bistro atmosphere
- Excellent value daily prix-fixe lunch menu
- You can take home your wine if you don't finish it
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Champs-Élysées |
Christian Le Squer is among the most famous and most respected chefs in Paris, as proved by his turn here at one of the city's most deluxe dining rooms. You'll find all the luxury products you might expect—caviar, truffles, game in season—along with a masterful touch that often transforms homey Breton ingredients such as oysters or lamb into imaginative tours de force. A perfect example would be his famous Ile de Chausey lobster marinated in citrus and served in a heart of caramelized romaine with a featherlight beurre blanc mousseux. Desserts are ethereal, wines are top-notch, and service is unfailingly thoughtful.
31 av. George V, Paris, Île-de-France, 75008, France
Known For
- Michelin-starred French fine dining
- Famous flowery outdoor terrace
- Unfailingly accommodating service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential, Jacket and tie
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$$$ | Eiffel Tower |
This quaint, casual bistro a few blocks from the Musée d'Orsay is open seven days a week and serves its own scrumptious versions of the deeply satisfying French classics like a country terrine, brandade de morue (a garlicky, salty cod and mashed potato dish) and blanquette de veau (a delicious, creamy veal dish). Desserts are also traditionally French, and the giant dollop of chocolate mousse is to die for.
51 rue de Verneuil, Paris, Île-de-France, 75007, France
Known For
- Top-notch, market-fresh dishes
- Reasonable prices, especially for wines by the glass
- Friendly atmosphere
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$$$ | Canal St-Martin |
Across from a pretty square on the border of two up-and-coming neighborhoods, this light-drenched spot is one of Paris's standout gastro-bistros. By adhering to a tried-and-true formula—meticulously sourced produce, natural wines, and an open kitchen—the dishes here are small wonders of texture and flavor. This is a great choice for diners eager to experience what the Paris dining scene is all about in a hip, off-the-beaten-path locale.
34 rue Sainte-Marthe, Paris, Île-de-France, 75010, France
Known For
- Daily changing, market-fresh gastronomic menu
- Hip, laid-back atmosphere
- Veggie-centric dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Sun.–Fri., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Louvre |
One of the area's most historic (and romantic) spots has welcomed everyone from Napoléon to Colette to Jean Cocteau beneath its mirrored ceiling and is still a contender for the most beautiful restaurant in Paris. This once-Michelin-starred spot has made a few changes of late, transitioning to an all-day menu of far more reasonable (but still delicious) fare.
17 rue de Beaujolais, Paris, Île-de-France, 75001, France
Known For
- Gorgeous outdoor terrace overlooking the Palais Royal gardens
- Sumptuous historic decor dating from the 18th century
- Prix-fixe menu including an ever-changing plat du jour
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$$ | Champs-Élysées |
Hide Kobayashi, known as "Koba," is one of several Japanese chefs in Paris who trained with some of the biggest names in French cuisine before opening their own restaurants. Not surprisingly, this great-value bistro near the Arc de Triomphe became instantly popular with locals as well as visiting Japanese and Americans who follow the food scene. Generosity is the key to the cooking here, which steers clear of haute-cuisine flourishes; both the monkfish fricassee with anchovy-rich tapenade and a classic veal kidney in mustard sauce, for instance, come with a heap of mashed potatoes. For dessert, try the stunning île flottante (floating island), made with oven-baked meringue. Wines by the glass start at €8—unheard-of in this area.
10 rue du Général Lanzerac, Paris, Île-de-France, 75008, France
Known For
- Chic, unpretentious dining room
- Stellar prices for this pricey neighborhood
- One of Paris's best prix-fixe menus
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., 2 wks in May, and 2 wks in Aug. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Eiffel Tower |
In a highly publicized battle, the prestigious helm of Paris's most haute (literally) restaurant was wrested from Alain Ducasse by three-star chef Fréderic Anton of the prestigious Le Pré Catelan in the Bois de Boulogne, with Anton's "zero waste" approach and his idea to serve less complicated fare, focusing on French meats and vegetables produced by smaller French artisanal farms and regional delicacies, winning out. Though not cheap (tasting menus are more than €200), winning a Michelin star in 2020 clinched the restaurant's standing as one of Paris's top splurge-worthy dining rooms.
Av. Gustave Eiffel, Paris, Île-de-France, 75007, France
Known For
- Famous Eiffel Tower dining (with accompanying views)
- Lavishly priced dishes
- Advance reservations a must
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential, Jacket and tie
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$$$$ | Western Paris |
Live a Belle Époque fantasy as you dine beneath the chestnut trees on the terrace of this fanciful landmark pavillon in the Bois de Boulogne. Each of chef Frédéric Anton's dishes is a variation on a theme, such as l'os à moelle: bone marrow prepared two ways, one peppered and the other stuffed with porcini and cabbage, both braised in a concentrated meat jus. For a taste of the good life at a (relatively) gentle price, order the three-course €165 lunch menu and soak up the opulent surroundings along with service that's as polished as the silverware.
Rte. de Suresnes, Paris, Île-de-France, 75016, France
Known For
- Three Michelin stars
- "country" setting
- Elegant service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues., 2 wks in Feb., 3 wks in Aug., and 1 wk in late Oct.–early Nov., Reservations essential, Jacket and tie
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$$ | Père Lachaise |
The impressive but unfussy gastronomic menu here features Asian-inflected dishes that express the food's far-flung influences. A starter of "zakouskis," several small dishes that may include deep-fried giblets, fresh radishes with anchovy butter, or herb-infused cockles, warms you up for a sublime entrée of whole lacquered quail, cod with spicy black-bean reduction, or crispy melt-in-your mouth pork on a bed of braised leeks. Deliciously nuanced desserts, a good selection of natural wines, and an unbeatable two-course €26 lunch menu add up to an essential Paris dining experience.
32 rue St-Maur, Paris, Île-de-France, 75011, France
Known For
- Great-value lunch menu
- Accommodating to vegetarians
- Lovely, intimate setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Champs-Élysées |
Perhaps the most traditional of all Paris luxury restaurants, this two-star grande dame basks in renewed freshness under chef Giuliano Sperandio, who brings a welcome contemporary spirit that translates to daring on the plate. Dishes such as scallops meunière (with butter and lemon) are matched with contemporary choices like a splendid spelt risotto with truffles and frogs' legs or panfried duck liver with caramelized fruits and vegetables. One of the 19th-century paneled salons has been turned into a winter garden, and contemporary paintings adorn the walls. The service is flawless, and the legendary wine list is full of classics.
15 rue Lamennais, Paris, Île-de-France, 75008, France
Known For
- One of the oldest names in Paris for fine French dining
- Discreet hangout for Paris politicians
- 19th-century salon turned winter garden
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends and Aug., Reservations essential, Jacket and tie
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$$$$ | Bastille |
Paris's grandest Belle Époque beauty, hidden within the Gare de Lyon train station, has been fully restored to a culinary status almost befitting its eye-popping decor. The menu of French classics is not cheap, though the €49 "travelers menu" for lunch assures you'll be wined, dined, and on your train in 45 minutes. But why not linger? The chic bar is a great place to meet for coffee or a cocktail whether you're heading off on a train or not. Magnificent hardly describes this historic monument's lushly gilded boiserie, extravagant frescoes, and original globe lighting.
Pl. Louis-Armand, Paris, Île-de-France, 75012, France
Known For
- Unique historic atmosphere
- Gorgeous setting
- Tasty and creative cocktails
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$$$$ | Eiffel Tower |
With chef Alain Solivérès (formerly of Taillevent) now at the helm, this much-beloved outpost has taken on a new shine—and a Michelin star. The food is sophisticated and the atmosphere is lively and chic. Pastry chef Kimiko Kinoshita's gorgeous creations top off a ravishing, well-priced meal. With wines starting at around €40 (and €58–€65 lunch menus on weekdays), this is a wonderful place for a classic yet informal French meal.
135 rue St-Dominique, Paris, Île-de-France, 75007, France
Known For
- Few minutes' walk to the Eiffel Tower
- Famous chef that actually cooks here
- Open seven days a week, a rarity in this quartier
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential