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A culinary institution since 1861, this warm and welcoming retreat in the heights of Suresnes has served generations of Parisians and locals who flock here for a reliably delicious meal. With a crackling fire in winter and a flower-bedecked terrace in summer, you'll enjoy gastronomic versions of French classics in every season along with fantastic views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower. Chef Guillaume Delage, who's plied his craft in some of France's greatest kitchens, specializes in seasonal dishes with extravagant touches, like the lièvre à la royale (wild rabbit stuffed with foie gras and simmered in red wine), a staple on the menu since 1861. Desserts are equally delicious and an encyclopedic wine list delights aficionados and amateurs alike. Though the restaurant is worth a trip on its own, being a three-minute walk from the American Cemetery makes it the perfect spot before or after a visit.
10 rue du Calvaire, Île-de-France, 92150, France
Known For
- Top-quality classic French cuisine
- Tremendous views
- Historic recipe of wild rabbit stuffed with foie gras and simmered in red wine
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.
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A mandatory stop for pastry- and chocolate-lovers alike, this master pâtissier excels in classic French confections with all the bells and whistles. Light as air and made with the best ingredients, Cassel's award-winning creations are as beautiful as they are scrumptious. The sinful mille-feuille comes in five flavors, including sweet chestnut and Earl Gray tea; the tarte duo de cerise mixes tart and sweet cherries with almond cream; and some say his classic macaron is one of the best in France. Chocolates are freshly made on the premises. Don't miss the lovely tea salon for lunch or a midday break, where you can choose from a gourmet menu of hot and cold dishes for lunch and a large selection of Dammann Frères teas, coffée, chocolat chaud, and pastries.
21 rue des Sablons, Fontainebleau, Île-de-France, 77300, France
Known For
- To-die-for mille-feuille
- Chocolates, caramels, and other French specialty sweets that make great gifts
- Classic French tea salon
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner
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Worldwide chef sensation Gordon Ramsay brings his conversation-worthy cuisine to this Versailles berth. Picture exemplary entrées like ravioli of langoustines and lobster cooked in a Riesling bisque with Petrossian caviar and lime consommé, or Périgord foie gras done "2 ways," roasted with a beetroot tart and pressed with green apple and Sauternes, all available on an expensive five-course tasting menu at dinner. The Trianon's more casual, 60-seat Véranda restaurant (open for lunch and dinner) is also under Ramsay's sway, and in its black-and-white contemporary setting you can opt for his "light, modern take" on bistro novelties like radicchio and Parmesan risotto with chorizo oil. Teatime provides a delightful (and more reasonable) restorative for weary château-goers, with a French twist on high tea: scones, madeleines, and heavenly macarons.
1 bd. de la Reine, Versailles, Île-de-France, 78000, France
Known For
- Stellar cuisine from a star chef
- More casual Véranda outpost next door
- One Michelin star
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential, Jacket required
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$$$$ | Quartier Saint-Louis |
Chef Rémi Chambard's Michelin-starred dining room at the charming "countryside" luxury hotel Les Étangs de Corot is a favorite hideaway for Paris gastronomes not only for the lovely setting, between Paris and Versailles, but for his flawless cuisine made from top-notch ingredients (veggies are from the Versailles gardens). In warm weather, the famous Sunday brunch, served in the beautiful patio garden, is an experience to remember.
55 rue de Versailles, Versailles, Île-de-France, 92410, France
Known For
- Beautiful lakeside setting with outdoor garden seating
- In a luxury hotel for a perfect weekend getaway between Paris and Versailles
- Superb cuisine
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.--Wed. No dinner Sun.
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$$$ | Quartier Saint-Louis |
There's no doubt that dining in the world's most famous palace at a restaurant conceived by the world's most famous chef is an experience worth having. Although Alain Ducasse is not actually cooking here, you can enjoy a gourmet version of breakfast, lunch, or teatime in splendid surroundings with views of the palace from the first-floor restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows. For the best value, go for the fixed-price menus. A six-course teatime (3:30 to 5:30 pm), with both savory and sweet offerings, is a particularly pleasant option. The restaurant also hosts several exclusive candlelit dinners after palace closing hours throughout the year. Be sure to reserve ahead of time online or by phone. Several of Ore's fixed-price menus include the price of admission to Versailles, allowing you to skip the long lines.
Pl. d'Armes Château de Versailles, Versailles, Île-de-France, 78000, France
Known For
- On-site Versailles dining (with some prix-fixe menus that include admission)
- Elegant surroundings and linen-clad tables
- Serene atmosphere away from the crowds (just be sure to reserve in advance)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Back in Monet's day, this pretty-in-pink villa was the favorite hotel of the American painters' colony. Today it remains one of the most charming spots in the Île-de-France (despite the tourists), although the surroundings retain more historic charm than the simple cuisine (mainly salads large enough to count as a main course in their own right, or straightforward, if unremarkable, dishes like an omelet or gigot d'agneau [lamb and mutton]). A decent three-course prix-fixe menu is available at lunch and dinner. Renovated to appear as it did in Monet's time, the dining room is stage-set rustic; and there’s an extraordinarily pretty rose garden out back with embowered paths that lead to the studio Cézanne once used.
81 rue Claude-Monet, Giverny, Normandy, 27620, France
Known For
- Lovely rose garden
- Crowd magnet
- Rustic atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Nov.–Mar. No dinner Sun.
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Three km (2 miles) from Rambouillet near the small town of Gazeran, this ivy-clad 18th-century home is a romantic setting for an elegant gastronomic meal. Dishes like roasted cod in beef reduction with black-truffle risotto or fillet of venison with parsnip mousse are made with the freshest ingredients—many from the kitchen garden—and can be followed by a copious cheese plate or tempting seasonal desserts. A beautiful garden terrace is delightful in the summer. Three-course prix-fixe menus at both lunch and dinner are an excellent value.
20 av. du Général de Gaulle, Gazeran, Île-de-France, 78125, France
Known For
- Garden terrace
- Romantic and refined atmosphere
- Seasonal menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner Sun., Reservations essential
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With a roaring fire in winter and an outdoor terrace in summer, this quaint, country-style restaurant specializes in the fruits of the sea. Traditional dishes—like brioche-enrobed escargot with Roquefort sauce, plump seafood sausage, a hearty soupe de poisson (fish soup), and a heaping seafood platter—are served in a wood-beamed dining room.
19 rue de l'Etang de la Tour, Rambouillet, Île-de-France, 78120, France
Known For
- Charming setting
- Homemade French specialties
- Friendly service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Sat. No dinner Sun.
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For total van Gogh immersion, have lunch—or dinner on Friday and Saturday—in the restaurant he patronized regularly more than 100 years ago, in the building where he actually died. A three-course prix-fixe menu is available, and saddle of lamb and homemade terrine are among Loran Gattufo's specialties. What makes eating here special, though, is the genius loci, complete with glasswork, lace curtains, and wall blandishments carefully modeled on the original designs. Table No. 5, the "table des habitués," is where Van Gogh used to sit. A magnificently illustrated book, Van Gogh's Table, by culinary historian Alexandra Leaf and art historian Fred Leeman, recalls Vincent's stay at the auberge and describes in loving detail the dishes served here at the time.
52 rue Général-de-Gaulle, Auvers-sur-Oise, Île-de-France, 95430, France
Known For
- Good traditional, regional dishes
- Historic backstory
- Rustic authenticity
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Tues., and Nov.–Mar. No dinner, Reservations essential
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Young Japanese chef Kunihisa Goto has finally brought Fontainebleau's dining scene a Michelin star. The sleek contemporary dining room is the perfect setting for his refined cuisine that draws from the natural bounty of the lush Fontainebleau region, both wild and cultivated. The menu is small, all the better to highlight luxury ingredients like sea urchin, caviar, truffles, and langoustine served with more prosaic riches like caramelized local tomatoes, puree of chervil root, or a velvety buckwheat sauce (prix-fixe menus are available for both lunch and dinner).
43 rue de France, Fontainebleau, Île-de-France, 77300, France
Known For
- Seasonal cuisine
- Japanese-inflected dishes
- Stellar wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Wed.
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Housed in the stone-vaulted kitchens of the Château de Chantilly's legendary 17th-century chef Vorace Vatel, this quaint restaurant has an open-hearth fireplace big enough for whole lambs or oxen to sizzle on the spit. Reflect at leisure on your cultural peregrinations over mouthfuls of grilled turbot or roast quail, and don't forget to add a good dollop of homemade crème de Chantilly to your dessert. Open from noon to 5, it offers à la carte options plus a €35 prix-fixe menu.
Château de Chantilly, Chantilly, Hauts-de-France, 60500, France
Known For
- Family-friendly vibe
- Quick dining
- Reasonable prices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner
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A pleasing mix of ancient and modern, this colorful, light-filled restaurant, with high-beamed ceilings and limestone walls hung with contemporary art and "candeliers," was once a farmstead on the grounds of the nearby Château de Vaux-le-Pénil. But Isabelle and Fabrice Vitu's warm welcome and Michelin-starred cuisine are the real draws; locals and Parisians alike appreciate the refined menu that includes surprising twists on French classics and plenty of delicacies from the sea. Savor scallops on a bed of Puy lentils, crisp veal foot in a smoked-eel emulsion, or succulent John Dory with truffles—but be sure to save room for the warm Grand Marnier soufflé, a house specialty. The three-course menu is the best value.
11 rue de la Libération, Vaux-le-Pénil, Île-de-France, 77000, France
Known For
- Beautiful, intimate setting
- Excellent wine cellar
- Top-notch location near the chateau
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., and Aug., Reservations essential
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French country specialties and fish are served at this rustic restaurant—one of Barbizon's very best—with a big open fire and a large terrace shaded by lime and chestnut trees. The three-course weekday menu is a good value, but wine here is expensive and cannot be ordered by the pichet (pitcher). Reservations are essential on weekends and highly recommended in summer.
2 av. Charles de Gaulle, Barbizon, Île-de-France, 77630, France
Known For
- Lovely leafy terrace
- Local favorite
- Top-quality French classic dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues., Wed., part of Aug., and part of Dec.
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The 15-minute walk from the palace gates to this cozy, well-priced bistro is rewarded by an enticing daily menu of French classics all listed on a blackboard that's brought to your table. Dishes like homemade foie gras, roasted cod, and ham with parsley sauce are made with ingredients fresh from local suppliers. Best of all is the list of 200 natural French wines, many served by the glass, and the very reasonably priced, three-course dinner menu. Be sure to reserve ahead of time, as it's very popular with the locals.
7 rue de Montreuil, Quartier Montreuil, Île-de-France, 78000, France
Known For
- Good-value prix-fixe menus
- Excellent natural wine list
- Gets busy, so reservations necessary
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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Adjoining the property of the stately 17th-century Château de Bourron, in the heart of the Forest of Fontainebleau, this lovely restaurant is well worth the short trip out of town. Bright and airy, with an open terrace in warm weather, the elegant dining room shows meticulous attention to detail—from the crisp table linens to the stylish flower arrangements—all the better to highlight chef Dominique Maès's sophisticated French fare. The six-course tasting menu (wine pairings extra) is the best deal, allowing for a well-rounded sampling of this talented chef's inventive cuisine.
12 bis, rue Blaise de Montesquiou, Bourron-Marlotte, Île-de-France, 77780, France
Known For
- Excellent location
- One of the town's few gastronomic tables
- Romantic atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Tues., and late Dec.–early Jan. No dinner Sun., Reservations essential
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