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$$ | Western Paris |
The plush chestnut-and-cream decor of this café is the work of one of Givenchy's nephews. Cocktails are classy, there's a good variety of beer on tap, and the food (brasserie fare such as steaks, fish, and frites) is tasty. In the evening, candlelight makes everyone look even more glamorous.
2 rue de Passy, Paris, Île-de-France, 75016, France
Known For
- Extensive drink options
- Cheese and charcuteries platters
- Glamorous candlelit space
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | Eiffel Tower |
Giant mirrors, red leatherette banquettes, vintage posters, and checker-tile floors add up to a '60s movie set of a Parisian bistro. But the menu of delicious comfort food—made with top-quality artisanal ingredients and the best produce from throughout France—is delightfully real. Wines and menus are exceedingly reasonable for this neighborhood, which is one reason it's filled with locals.
36 rue de Varenne, Paris, Île-de-France, 75007, France
Known For
- Reliably good
- Open all afternoon and until late
- Charm galore
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | Marais Quarter |
On the lower garden level of a chic concept store you'll find the perfect spot for a quick and healthy lunch between bouts of shopping. Highlights include a small soup menu, a risotto of the day, and hearty vegetarian salads. You can also order a freshly pressed juice or iced tea with mint (or a crisp glass of rosé) to wash it all down.
111 bd. Beaumarchais, Paris, Île-de-France, 75003, France
Known For
- Quick lunchtime spot
- Fresh juices and mint iced tea
- Rosé by the glass
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner
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Proving that an organic, vegetarian, lactose- and sugar-free menu can, indeed, be delicious, Judy was founded with the conviction that our well-being is directly connected to what we eat and how we live. The cheerful, inviting space comes with a sunny sidewalk terrace where seats are coveted by locals. If they’re taken, grab some takeout at the attached shop on Rue de Fleurus and walk one short block to the Luxembourg Gardens for an outdoor picnic.
18 rue d’Assas, Paris, Île-de-France, France
Known For
- Fresh veggie bowls
- Delicous fresh-pressed organic juices
- Vegan and gluten-free options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$$ | Marais Quarter |
The rare authentic Parisian bistro that refuses to change, Les Ambassade claims one of the city's great restaurant characters: maître d' Francis Panek, with his handlebar mustache and gravelly voice. Settle into the dining room in an ancient Marais house to try rich, rib-sticking dishes from the Auvergne, a sparsely populated region in central France. Indulge in a heaping serving of the superb lentils in goose fat with bacon or Salers beef in red wine sauce with aligot (mashed potatoes with cheese). You might want to loosen your belt for the astonishingly dense chocolate mousse, served in a giant bowl that allows you to decide the quantity.
22 rue du Grenier St-Lazare, Paris, Île-de-France, 75003, France
Known For
- Copious quantities of classic French cuisine
- Excellent price-to-quality ratio
- Chocolate mousse for dessert
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$$ | Eiffel Tower |
Come for the early sitting at this little bistro specializing in classic French fare and you'll often discover the dining room filled with more than a few tourists (the waiters speak English perfectly). The reasonably priced (€60) five-course tasting menu may account for the restaurant's popularity—there are two seatings each night. The service can be brusque, with waiters plunking even the higher-priced bottles of wine on the table without waiting for the customer to swill and slurp. Still, these problems seem to be minor judging by the ever-crowded tables. The restaurant's popular wine bar (La Cave de l'Os à Moelle), just across the street, serves a popular, prix-fixe menu for €31.
3 rue Vasco de Gama, Paris, Île-de-France, 75015, France
Known For
- Large portions at good prices
- Classic Parisian "blackboard" menu
- Well-priced wines and Champagne by the glass
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
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$$ | St-Germain-des-Prés |
Portraits of cows adorn the stone walls of this no-nonsense bistro near the Luxembourg Gardens, hinting at the kitchen's penchant for meaty cooking (Ferrandaise is a breed of cattle). Still, there's something for every taste on the market-inspired menu, which changes monthly and lists at least one fish, one poultry, and one vegetarian main. The dining room buzzes with locals who appreciate the friendly service and good-value three-course prix fixe (€22 at lunch, €37 at dinner).
8 rue de Vaugirard, Paris, Île-de-France, 75006, France
Known For
- Excellent prices
- Daily blackboard menu
- à la carte options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and 3 wks in Aug. No lunch Mon.
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$$ | Western Paris |
Housed in a former train station, this restaurant-lounge is frequented by business types and chic youth alike. Sit on the large terrace or descend the wide staircase to a room bathed in natural light by day and warm golden tones at night. Reasonable lunchtime set menus feature traditional and inventive French cuisine.
19 chausée de la Muette, Paris, Île-de-France, 75016, France
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$$ | Montparnasse |
This neighborhood bistro is a local favorite for its fresh, seasonal menu, friendly service, and excellent value. The creamy roast endive soup with foie gras starter, followed by the wild fish and celery root risotto, are always excellent choices.
22 rue de Fleurus, Paris, Île-de-France, 75006, France
Known For
- Creative seasonal dishes
- Casual atmosphere
- Good wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | St-Germain-des-Prés |
The terrace of this corner café, opened in 1902, is a favorite haunt of local gallery owners and Beaux-Arts students. Open every day from 8 am to 2 am, light fare is available throughout the day. If there's a line, walk a few paces up Rue Jacques Caillot to Le Bistrot Mazarin, which has good café options and a comfortable outdoor terrace.
43 rue de Seine, Paris, Île-de-France, 75006, France
Known For
- Proximity to art galleries
- Old-world feel
- Lively outdoor terrace
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$$ | Montparnasse |
This small, casual French restaurant is nestled on a tiny street that runs between two major boulevards. The atmosphere is warm and relaxed, and the extensive, traditional menu of market-fresh produce makes it difficult to decide what to eat; for starters, try the sautéed pleurotes (oyster mushrooms) with a poached egg or the salmon-mango tartare, followed by the wild-fish catch of the day or juicy pork ribs, all accompanied by a wine direct from the producer. Friendly chef-owner Eric also offers daily specials depending on what he finds at the market.
6 rue Leopold Robert, Paris, Île-de-France, 75014, France
Known For
- Tasty, unfussy dishes
- Friendly service
- Good wines at reasonable prices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | Canal St-Martin |
The avant-garde chef Inaki Aizpitarte transformed what was a dowdy café into a sleek, if chilly, all-marble watering hole (designed by Rem Koolhaus) for late-night cuisinistas. Honing his ever-iconoclastic take on tapas, the dishes served here are a great way to get an idea of what all the fuss is about. Dishes are small, decently priced, and meant to be shared to maximize exposure to the food.
131 av. Parmentier, Paris, Île-de-France, 75011, France
Known For
- Late-night revelry
- Good wines by the glass
- Tapas by a star chef
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., and 1 wk at Christmas. No lunch Sat., Reservations essential
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$$ | Montparnasse |
With its Art Nouveau decor, friendly waitstaff, and menu of fresh bistro food, this is the perfect place for a drink or meal after visiting the nearby Montparnasse Cemetery.
234 bd. Raspail, Paris, Île-de-France, 75014, France
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$$ | Montparnasse |
This lively café in the heart of the Left Bank theater district specializes in meats, wines, and cheeses from the Auvergne region of France, famous for its prize beef cattle. If you don’t want meat but love cheese and mashed potatoes, try the aligot, a hearty recipe of potato puree, melted cheese, cream, and garlic.
3 rue de la Gaîté, Paris, Île-de-France, 75014, France
Known For
- Good house wines
- Casual and friendly service
- Very lively atmosphere
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$$ | Eiffel Tower |
A quiet residential street shelters one of Paris's great neighborhood bistros and among the last of the city's authentic ones, which retains its moleskin banquettes, blackboard menus, and small wooden tables where you'll touch elbows with your neighbors. Expect fresh market ingredients in a gastronomic menu that's liberal with deluxe details. A typical meal might include vegetable soup with foie gras and cream, truffle tagliatelles, panfried scallops in crab sauce or axoa de veau (a Basque veal sauté), and a vanilla soufflé with cherry jam. All this plus a great choice of wines by the glass keep happy regulars filling the dining room. Prix-fixe menus start at €32 at lunch.
21 rue François-Bonvin, Paris, Île-de-France, 75015, France
Known For
- Proximity to the Eiffel Tower
- Sampling of the French classics
- Dessert soufflé du jour
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Mon., 3 wks in Aug., and 1 wk at Christmas
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$$ | Eiffel Tower |
Chef Christian Constant has an unfailing sense of how Parisians want to eat these days, as proved by this third addition to his mini restaurant empire near the Eiffel Tower. At Les Cocottes, he's shifted the normally leisurely bistro experience into high gear, which allows him to keep prices moderate. Seated at a long counter on slightly uncomfortable stools that discourage lingering, diners can mix and match from a menu of soups, salads, cocottes (dishes served in cast-iron pots), verrines (starters presented in tapas-style glasses), and comforting desserts, all made from fresh, seasonal ingredients.
135 rue St-Dominique, Paris, Île-de-France, 75007, France
Known For
- Cozy spot for elevated French comfort food
- Casual, child-friendly atmosphere
- Dishes served in cast-iron pots
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$$ | Marais Quarter |
All of Paris seems to collide at this lively corner café in the heart of the Marais, where you'll find pretty much whatever is your pleasure any time of the day or night. Slide into a red banquette, or take a seat on the wide wraparound terrace to watch the world go by while indulging in generous servings of all the French classics, a glass of wine, or coffee and dessert.
28 rue Vieille du Temple, Paris, Île-de-France, 75004, France
Known For
- Extensive menu
- Lively atmosphere
- Decent prices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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$$ | Marais Quarter |
This spot has quickly become a go-to for its chic atmosphere, small gourmet plates, and natural wines from around the world. Olivier Garcia, ex-sous-chef at the one-Michelin-star restaurant Tamara, presides over a small but tantalizing menu that includes a scrumptious oyster gratin with miso and caramelized shallots or melt-in-your-mouth pressed beef shoulder with seaweed and rhubarb. The knowledgeable staff can steer you to some gems from their far-flung wine cellar to perfectly pair with each dish.
5 rue du Pont Louis Philippe, Paris, Île-de-France, 75004, France
Known For
- Laid-back atmosphere
- Great wines by the glass
- Excellent location
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$$ | Sentier |
You could hear the buzz for miles when this beautiful dining room opened in 2019, and it's only gotten louder thanks to a shiny new Michelin star. Jerusalem-born chef Assaf Granit brings his formidable talent and imagination to Israeli and Asian-inspired dishes. Candlelit at night, the small but beautiful dining room is the perfect backdrop to an unforgettable meal.
19 rue St-Sauveur, Paris, Île-de-France, 75002, France
Known For
- Perfect for a romantic dinner
- Unusual wines
- To-die-for desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | Grands Boulevards |
There's something about this sleek little wine bar that attracts top talent before they really hit the big time. Currently, it's a whole new culinary adventure under the helm of Mexican chef Robert Mendoza, whose sublime concoctions have Parisians coming back again and again. The spare decor is the perfect backdrop for the chef's deliciously colorful plates, and you can watch the cooks master the open kitchen as the enthusiastic crowd gets more lively as dishes arrive and wine is poured (there are at least 20 choices by the glass).
43 rue des Petites Écuries, Paris, Île-de-France, 75010, France
Known For
- Excellent, inventive food
- Vegetarian options
- Outstanding wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends