The 10 Best New Restaurants in Paris

Top chef contender Pauline Séné’s marble-and-mirror-clad dining room, perched in the Ménilmontant neighborhood in the artsy 20th, is a shining example of what makes the new generation of Paris’s gastronomic bistros (“bistronomy”) so compelling. Her ravishing small dishes at Fripon both surprise and delight: Noirmoutier oysters in coriander-flecked nuoc mam sauce with kumquat zest and pickled onions, leek ravioli in haddock cream with green apple and dill, and melt-in-your-mouth slow-cooked lamb on a bed of red cabbage with crisp-tart pomegranate. All dishes are served with a curated selection of natural wines. At lunch, go for the views of Paris and excellent-value menus (€21, €25). But to experience the full range of what this gifted chef can do, opt for the seven-course tasting menu at dinner (€75), served by candlelight on immaculate white linens.

Upbeat color-block walls, casual tables, and a totally relaxed atmosphere belie a sophisticated, wildly ambitious cuisine imbued with a sense of curiosity and fun at Mache. Chef Michaël Gamet aims high in sculptural dishes that artfully juxtapose texture, color, and flavor. Expect earthy smoked eel topped with lacquered root veggies flanked by shaved cauliflower against a black rice tuile or the crisp asparagus served over a dash of vivid leek mayonnaise with a dollop of black garlic and grapefruit purée flecked with puffed rice and pickled walnuts. Desserts are equally creative and enticing. At €25 and €32 for two or three-course menus at lunch and €68 for a tasting menu at dinner, including wine pairings, it’s one of the city’s better bargains.

Expect over-the-top glamour at this elegant mahogany-paneled mansion inhabited in turns by a member of the Nobel family and a Parisian arms dealer. A backstory befitting Maison Russe‘s swanky mix of sophistication and indulgence, where mirrors reflect the glint of candlelight and silver on snowy linens and the caviar and king crab are washed down with icy vodka and champagne. An authentic Russian singer and dancer accompanied by two musicians work the rooms to enhance the festive mood while happy diners tuck into billowy blueberry pavlovas. Sumptuous private dining rooms on the upper floors invite intimate suppers or parties.

The ground-floor bar and a romantic outdoor terrace, newly opened in June, are equally opulent. Prices are commensurate with quality, which is fastidiously top-notch. And you can bring it home—the on-site boutique cum gourmet shop carries all the restaurant’s fresh delicacies, preserves, desserts, and a selection of high-end Maison Russe-themed gifts.

This festive new Italian eatery, Bambini, in the Palais de Tokyo contemporary arts center fills a big gap in a neighborhood short on casual, reasonably priced, and worthwhile dining experiences and long on world-class museums (the Musée Guimet, Palais Galliera fashion museum, Musée Yves Saint Laurent and Musée d’Art Moderne are all a stone’s throw away). Copious dishes of Italian comfort food dominate Bambini’s menu: crisp-tender arancini, rigatoni with pesto, and a half-dozen thin-crust Neapolitan-style pizzas, including a terrific burrata and black truffle pie. Tiramisu or a giant slice of tangy lemon cake top off the meal. It’s open till 2 am, so if you have a late-night craving to stay or go for a pizza, this is the place.

At Sapid, globetrotting multi-starred chef Alain Ducasse (who earned his vegetarian creds at his three-star luxury eatery at the Plaza Athénée) takes us from the sublime to the accessible. With a veggie-centric menu designed by Ducasse protégés Roman Meder and Marvic Medina, this new outpost in the Bohemian-chic 10th arrondissement gives a gastronomic twist to well-sourced simple plates. Whether a made-in-Paris burrata with champignons de Paris or a roasted celery root sandwich with herbed lettuces and smoked trout, no dish will set you back more than €14, so a table of two or three can easily try them all.

Lunch is served cafeteria style (or takeout) at long marble tables, but with a bit more panache at dinner when diners are served at table. Expect good, well-priced natural wines by the glass or bottle.

Three-Michelin star father-and-son-team Michel and Sébastien Bras reign over Halle aux Grains‘ minimalist dining room, crowning the new Bourse de Commerce, an 18th-century building that was once Paris’s grain exchange. The light-drenched space, reimagined by architect Tadao Ando, offers rare views over Les Halles to the Centre Pompidou. A grain-centric menu (hence the name), features dishes like merlu fish in a crispy buckwheat butter crust or venison filet with lentil sprouts, and irresistible desserts all made in-house and assembled to order. The wine list features 30 signature wines specially crafted for the Bras by distinguished winemakers whose blends you’ll only taste here.