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$$$$ | Champs-Élysées |
Tucked away in a quiet garden across from the Petit Palais, Ledoyen—open since 1779—is a study in Empire-style elegance (this is where Napoléon first met his eventual wife Joséphine). Star chef Yannick Alléno injects the three-star dining room with a frisson of modernity by putting fresh farmhouse ingredients front and center in his €415, 10-course tasting extravaganza (a seven-course menu is a slightly more reasonable €295). This may seem de trop, but in Alléno's hands dishes like smoked eel soufflé with watercress coulis and candied onion, tender mussels with tart green apple and caviar, or artichoke-and-Parmesan gratin are rendered as light as a feather. The desserts are tiny masterpieces.
1 av. Dutuit, Paris, Île-de-France, 75008, France
Known For
- One of the most romantic settings in Paris
- Lots of cool history
- Langoustine tart with caviar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends and Aug. No lunch, Reservations essential, Jacket required
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$ | Eiffel Tower | Coffee
Don't expect to be mobbed by tourists at this bright café two minutes from the Champs de Mars. Locals love it for the sidewalk terrace and garden seating in the back—not to mention the good coffee, tea, and stellar brunch. Even if you don't snag a seat outside, the charming interior is a cheerful spot to tuck into a heaping plate of eggs Benedict, smoked salmon tartine, or avocado toast. There are also fresh fruit smoothies and home-baked pastries. Its all-day hours (seven days a week) makes it the perfect place for a well-priced lunch or teatime. Reservations are always a good idea, especially on weekends.
47 av. de Suffren, Paris, Île-de-France, France
Known For
- Superb brunch or lunch served seven days a week
- Reservations a good idea on weekends
- Minutes from the Eiffel Tower
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$$$ | Grands Boulevards | Italian
Lodged in one of Paris's most picturesque historic passages, the Italian Caffè Stern—a listed monument updated by designer Philippe Starck—is loaded with the sort of antique charm that makes a cup of coffee and dessert feel like a romantic moment in time. Full meals are a more elegant—and expensive—affair, though teatime (3 pm–6 pm, €26) and the prix-fixe lunch make for a more manageable splurge.
47 Passage des Panoramas, Paris, Île-de-France, 75002, France
Known For
- Superb historic setting in the Passage des Panoramas
- Gorgeous decor
- Top-notch food
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$$$ | Western Paris |
The culinary experience here is a progression of delights, from your first luscious sip of carrot vélouté to a light-as-air chocolate soufflé contrasted with a zesty yuzu macaron. In between, the set menu (€120 for four courses; €150 for five) may include dishes like butter-poached lobster with beets, onions, and horseradish cream or foie gras en terrine with quince, walnuts, and dates—all meticulously sourced from the finest producers around France—which will surprise, comfort, and deeply satisfy. Every detail in this Michelin-starred gem, from the stemware to the service, is poised, elegant, and precise.
31 av. de Versailles, Paris, Île-de-France, 75015, France
Known For
- Perfect service and presentation
- Beautiful, serene setting
- Excellent selection of mostly natural wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Eiffel Tower |
Although two-Michelin-star chef David Toutain's approach may be exasperatingly conceptual for some, others find his earthy, surprising, and inspired concoctions utterly thrilling. Each dish is a lesson in contrasts—of temperature, texture, and flavor—as well as a feat of composition: briny oysters, brussels sprouts, and foie gras in a warm potato consommé; creamy raw oysters with tart kiwi and yuzu; crispy pork chips alongside velvety smoked potato puree. Toutain has a particular soft spot for root vegetables and truffles, which he sprinkles liberally throughout dishes like salsify broth with lardo and black truffle.
29 rue Surcouf, Paris, Île-de-France, 75007, France
Known For
- Equally wonderful choices for vegetarians and carnivores
- Epitome of "seasonal" cuisine
- Plenty of avant-garde thrills
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends. No lunch Wed., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Grands Boulevards |
Set in a brick-and-stone-walled building on a pedestrian street near Rue Montorgueil, Frenchie has quickly become one of the most hard-to-book bistros in town, with tables booked months in advance, despite two seatings each evening. This success is due to the good-value, €140 five-course dinner menu (prix fixe only); boldly flavored dishes such as calamari gazpacho with squash blossoms or melt-in-the-mouth braised lamb with roasted eggplant and spinach are excellent options. Service can be, shall we say, a tad brusque, but for some that's a small price to pay for food this good.
5 rue du Nil, Paris, Île-de-France, 75002, France
Known For
- Casual laid-back atmosphere that belies the ultrasophisticated dishes
- Extensive and original wine list
- Graciously accommodating to vegetarians
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends, 2 wks in Aug., and 10 days at Christmas. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | St-Germain-des-Prés |
Within the beautifully restored Monnaie de Paris, you'll find star chef Guy Savoy's hallowed dining room. The market-fresh menu features à la carte classics such as artichoke truffle soup or red mullet fish, but if you want the ultimate gourmet dining experience, splurge on the 13-course, €630 tasting menu. The more modest eight-course lunch menu will only set you back €260, and these prices do not include wine. Whatever you order, every dish is a work of art.
11 quai de Conti, Paris, Île-de-France, 75006, France
Known For
- Gorgeous setting overlooking the Seine
- Intimate, art-filled dining rooms
- One of Paris's most highly rated dining experiences
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., and 1 wk at Christmas. No lunch Sat., Reservations essential, Jacket required
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$$$$ | Champs-Élysées |
In one of the most anticipated announcements in the Parisian food world, the Plaza Athénée named talented young chef Jean Imbert, a protégé of his predecessor Alain Ducasse, as head of their new temple to gastronomy. A long marble table is the centerpiece of this opulently refurbished dining room (which seems to take Versailles as its model), and the menu is no less splendid, with options like Casparian imperial caviar, Bellevue lobster in a foie gras broth flecked with black truffle, and whole turbot masterfully boned table-side. Each dish goes the extra mile, and that goes for the desserts by pastry chefs Angelo Musa and Elisabeth Hot too. Even among the gilding, marble, Aubusson carpets, and towering chandeliers, a feeling of intimacy prevails, with splashes of candlelight for romance.
25 av. Montaigne, Paris, Île-de-France, 75008, France
Known For
- Gorgeous, über-opulent dining room
- Rising star chef
- Exemplary service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Tues.–Fri., Reservations required
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$$$ | Louvre |
A favorite with the French and expats alike, this neighborhood bistro blends great dining with an inspired wine list and a handy location a stone's throw from the Louvre. Exquisite French ingredients are given an inspired, often slightly lighter, makeover by Chef Romain Roudeau, although hearty house-made terrines and foie gras as well as slow-cooked meat and game are frequently featured on the eclectic menu.
47 rue de Richelieu, Paris, Île-de-France, 75001, France
Known For
- Great cheese selection from Neal's Yard and neighboring Madame Hisada
- Phenomenal wine selection on-site and takeaway
- Small space, so best to reserve in advance
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
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$$ | Latin Quarter |
Michelin-starred chef William Ledeuil flexes his genius for France-meets-Asia flavors at this chic address—his third—a few blocks from Île St-Louis and Notre-Dame. Ledeuil is known and loved for his fearless pairings of bold and subtle flavors, like veal tartare pasta with crunchy peanuts and pungent bonito flakes or Thai beef soup with luscious Iberian ham, mushrooms, and sweet pear. Desserts are equally expressive and not to be missed. The affordable lunch prix-fixe menus are a fabulous deal.
26 bd. St-Germain, Paris, Île-de-France, 75005, France
Known For
- Asian-inflected contemporary French cuisine
- Excellent-value lunch menus
- Easy walk from many tourist sights
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., and 2nd wk of Jan.
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$$$$ | Montmartre |
Once a well-guarded foodie secret, a Michelin star brought this singular restaurant, tucked behind the Sacré-Coeur, richly deserved acclaim. Now the dining room is packed with diners enjoying impeccable contemporary French cuisine that's gorgeously presented and full of flavor. With no à la carte ordering, you are truly in the hands of chef Laurent Magnin, whose menus include the seven-course "temptation" menu (€135) and the eleven-course tasting menu (€180). Expect delights like lacquered suckling pig or roasted mullet in a sublimely creamy mushroom duxelle. It's the perfect end, or midday pause, to a day spent wandering the village-y streets of Montmartre. There is also a five-course "menu dejeuner" for lunch that costs €65.
52 rue Lamarck, Paris, Île-de-France, 75018, France
Known For
- Vividly imagined cuisine on multicourse tasting menus
- Location near the Sacré-Coeur
- Very friendly service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., Aug., 1 wk in mid-Apr., and last wk of Dec., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Eiffel Tower |
Pascal Barbot rose to fame thanks to his restaurant's reasonable prices and casual atmosphere, but after the passage of several years, L'Astrance has become resolutely haute. His dishes often draw on Asian ingredients, as in grilled lamb with miso-lacquered eggplant and a palate-cleansing white sorbet spiked with chili pepper and lemongrass. They offer à la carte, as well as a lunch menu for €125 and the full tasting menu for €285 (this is what most people come for). Each menu also comes at a (significantly) higher price with wines to match each course. Barbot's cooking has such an ethereal quality that it's worth the considerable effort of booking a table—you should start trying at least two months in advance.
4 rue Beethoven, Paris, Île-de-France, 75016, France
Known For
- Set menus that change daily
- Space that seats only 25 lucky diners a night
- Extraordinary wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends and Aug., Reservations essential
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$$$ | Montparnasse | Brasserie
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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$$$ | Louvre |
After taking over the original La Régalade, chef Bruno Doucet kept some of what made the old restaurant so popular (country terrines, reasonably priced wines, convivial atmosphere), but he also had a few tricks under his toque, notably creating a successful haute-cuisine-meets-comfort-food destination. With a good quality-to-price ratio, this chic bistro has evolved into a staple of the neighborhood.
123 rue St-Honoré, Paris, Île-de-France, 75001, France
Known For
- Contemporary iterations of French bistro classics like escargots or beef bourguignon
- Comfort-food desserts like rice pudding or soufflé
- Good-value prix-fixe menu for lunch and dinner
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Latin Quarter |
You can't deny the splendor of this legendary Michelin-starred restaurant's setting overlooking the Seine; if you don't want to break the bank on dinner, treat yourself to the three-course lunch menu for €120. This entitles you to succulent slices of one of the restaurant's numbered ducks (the great duck slaughter began in 1919 and is now well past the millionth mallard, as your certificate will attest). Don't be too daunted by the vast wine list—with the aid of the sommelier you can splurge a little and perhaps taste a rare vintage Burgundy from the extraordinary cellars, which survived World War II.
15–17 quai de la Tournelle, Paris, Île-de-France, 75005, France
Known For
- Duck in all its many forms
- One of the city's best wine lists
- Fabulous Seine-side setting with glorious views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., and Aug., Reservations essential, Jacket and tie
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$$$ | 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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$$ | Latin Quarter |
This charming Quartier Latin bistro with woodwork and murals dating from 1925 is always packed and boisterous. A glance at the affordable menu makes it easy to understand why: dishes such as chestnut soup with spice bread, sea bass marinated in lime and coconut, and apple and quince tatin (upside-down tart) with gingerbread ice cream put a fresh twist on French classics. Service is reliably courteous. If you don't finish your bottle of wine, you can take it with you to savor the last drops.
25 rue Jussieu, Paris, Île-de-France, 75005, France
Known For
- Authentic Parisian bistro atmosphere
- Excellent value daily prix-fixe lunch menu
- You can take home your wine if you don't finish it
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Champs-Élysées |
Christian Le Squer is among the most famous and most respected chefs in Paris, as proved by his turn here at one of the city's most deluxe dining rooms. You'll find all the luxury products you might expect—caviar, truffles, game in season—along with a masterful touch that often transforms homey Breton ingredients such as oysters or lamb into imaginative tours de force. A perfect example would be his famous Ile de Chausey lobster marinated in citrus and served in a heart of caramelized romaine with a featherlight beurre blanc mousseux. Desserts are ethereal, wines are top-notch, and service is unfailingly thoughtful.
31 av. George V, Paris, Île-de-France, 75008, France
Known For
- Michelin-starred French fine dining
- Famous flowery outdoor terrace
- Unfailingly accommodating service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential, Jacket and tie
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$$$ | 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.