221 Best Restaurants in Paris, France

Background Illustration for Restaurants

A new wave of culinary confidence has been running through one of the world's great food cities and spilling over both banks of the Seine. Whether cooking up grand-mère's roast chicken and riz au lait or placing a whimsical hat of cotton candy atop wild-strawberry-and-rose ice cream, Paris chefs—established and up-and-coming, native and foreign—have been breaking free from the tyranny of tradition and following their passion.

Emblematic of the "bistronomy" movement is the proliferation of "gastrobistros"—often in far-flung or newly chic neighborhoods—helmed by established chefs fleeing the constraints of the star system or passionate young chefs unfettered by overblown expectations. Among the seasoned stars and exciting newcomers to the scene are Yannick Alléno, who left behind two Michelin stars at Le Meurice to open his locavore bistro Terroir Parisien at the Palais Brogniart and earned three stars at the storied Pavillon Ledoyen within his first year at the helm; David Toutain at the exceptional Restaurant David Toutain; Sylvestre Wahid at Brasserie Thoumieux; and Katsuaki Okiyama's Abri.

But self-expression is not the only driving force behind the current trend. A traditional high-end restaurant can be prohibitively expensive to operate. As a result, more casual bistros and cafés, which reflect the growing allure of less formal dining and often have lower operating costs and higher profit margins, have become attractive opportunities for even top chefs.

For tourists, this development can only be good news, because it makes the cooking of geniuses such as Joël Robuchon, Guy Savoy, Eric Frechon, and Pierre Gagnaire a bit more accessible (even if these star chefs rarely cook in their lower-price restaurants) and opens up a vast range of new possibilities for exciting dining.

Like the chefs themselves, Paris diners are breaking away from tradition with renewed enthusiasm. New restaurants, wine bars, and rapidly multiplying épicieries (gourmet grocers) and sandwich shops recognize that not everyone wants a three-course blowout every time they dine out. And because Parisians are more widely traveled than in the past, many ethnic restaurants—notably the best North African, Vietnamese–Laotian, Chinese, Spanish, and Japanese spots—are making fewer concessions to French tastes, resulting in far better food.

Ten Belles

$ | Canal St-Martin

Pedigreed baristas cater to a hip crowd of good-brew connoisseurs here, with an accompanying menu of delicious sandwiches, soups, snacks, and pastries. For Sunday brunch, head over to sister café Ten Belles Bread, where the crusty organic breads and pastries are baked on the premises.

10 rue de la Grange aux Belles, Paris, 75010, France
01–42–40–90–78
Known For
  • Reliably good coffee
  • Homemade everything
  • Small space, and reservations aren't accepted
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner, Reservations not accepted

Ten Belles Bread

$ | Bastille

The two British chefs behind this bustling café in an industrial-style loft on an up-and-coming corner of the 11e are known around town for their gourmet take on healthy foods. Here the emphasis is on breakfast, lunch, and brunch, with a range of salads, savory pies, and pastries all made in the on-site bakery. Besides some of the best fresh-baked bread in Paris, you're also guaranteed great coffee and daily food specials. There are a couple of other branches, too.

17–19 rue Breguet, Paris, 75011, France
01–47–00–08–19
Known For
  • Rustic whole-grain breads made fresh throughout the day
  • Gourmet take-out lunches
  • Top-notch coffee
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner

Terres de Café

$ | Louvre

This small coffee chain was founded in 2009 by Christophe Servell, an award-winning French roaster, and today boasts Europe's largest specialty coffee range. Known for its sustainable approach to sourcing and roasting, it has a handful of pocket-size shops in the French capital tailored less to lingering than to tasting the wares before buying a bag or two to brew at home.

150 rue St-Honoré, Paris, 75001, France
09–86–51–02–00
Known For
  • High-quality coffee beans
  • Coffee workshops
  • Excellent espresso drinks

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Trente-Trois

$$$$ | Champs-Élysées

Despite opening in the midst of a pandemic, in September 2021, this sumptuous contemporary dining room—tucked away in a stunner of a Belle Époque town house—achieved a Michelin star within five months. Chef Sébastien Sanjou's ingredients all have pedigrees (listed on the menu) for exceptional seasonal fare that's both refined and robust. This discreet black book address is all the rage among discriminating Paris gastronomes. 

33 rue Jean Goujon, Paris, 75008, France
01–45–05–68–00
Known For
  • Beautiful atmosphere
  • Up-and-coming chef who accommodates all palates and preferences
  • No à la carte options, just prix-fixe options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.

Verjus Bar à Vins

$ | Louvre

On a nearly hidden street behind the Palais Royal gardens, this tiny wine bar invites customers to perch on metal stools at a narrow bar and enjoy a small but choice selection of wines by the glass and some very good bar snacks like top-notch olives or local Paris ham. Although not a substitute for dinner, it's great for a drink and a nosh on your way to or from somewhere else, including the excellent restaurant upstairs.

47 rue Montpensier, Paris, 75001, France
01–42–97–54–40
Known For
  • Good selection of wines by the glass
  • English-speaking expat hangout
  • Atmospheric cellar setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends. No lunch, Reservations not accepted

Vivant 2

$$ | 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.

43 rue des Petites Écuries, Paris, 75010, France
01–42–46–43–55
Known For
  • Excellent, inventive food
  • Vegetarian options
  • Outstanding wine list, with at least 20 choices by the glass
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends. No lunch

Vive

$$$ | Champs-Élysées

Culinary power couple Stéphanie Le Quellec and her husband David teamed up on this classy duplex restaurant set in a residential neighborhood close to the Arc de Triomphe that highlights the bounty of the sea. Le Quellec wisely lets the delicate flavors of the seafood speak for themselves, paired with refined complementary accents. Start with briny oysters fresh from the Brittany coast, followed by scintillating tarama (fish roe) with celery oil, grilled octopus in a creamy harissa sauce, or the catch of the day served with sake-miso beurre blanc. For dessert, the warm deep-dish pecan cookie for two is worth the trip alone. Seafaring cocktails and excellent wines by the bottle and glass round out a memorable meal.

62 av. des Ternes, Paris, 75017, France
01–42–94–07–90
Known For
  • Maturing tuna like Angus beef
  • Beautiful decor
  • Two-Michelin-starred chef
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.

Willi's Wine Bar

$$ | Louvre

More restaurant than wine bar, this British-owned spot is a stylish haunt for Parisians and visiting gourmands who might stop in for a glass of wine at the oak bar or settle into the wood-beamed dining room. The selection of reinvented classic dishes changes daily and in accordance with the seasons.

Yann Couvreur

$ | Marais Quarter

You’ll find all of this brilliant young pastry chef’s latest and classic creations at this handsome pâtisserie and café, but good luck choosing between the tasty options. Known for his ambitious and subtle flavor pairings and over-the-top decadence, you'll be wowed by pastries like the Entremets Isatis, a pecan biscuit with pecan praline, creamy vanilla-bean ganache, and vanilla caramel; his exquisite lemon merengue tart topped with a tangy dollop of lemon crème; or the signature Mille Feuilles Madagascar.

Yen

$$$$ | St-Germain-des-Prés

If you're having what is known in French as a crise de foie (liver crisis), the result of overindulging in rich food, this chic Japanese noodle house with a summer terrace and a second dining room upstairs is the perfect antidote. The blond-wood walls soothe the senses, and the freshly made soba (buckwheat noodles), served in soup or with a restorative dipping broth, will give you the courage to face another round of caramelized foie gras.

22 rue St-Benoît, Paris, 75006, France
01–45–44–11–18
Known For
  • Authentic Japanese noodles
  • Artisanal sake and other Japanese spirits
  • Light, delicious tempura
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and 2 wks in Aug.

Zen

$$ | Louvre

There's no shortage of Japanese restaurants around the Louvre, but this one is a cut above much of the competition. The menu has something for every palate, from warming donburi to sushi and sashimi. The black-and-white space is refreshingly bright and modern, and you can perch at one of the counters for a quick bite or settle in at a table. A no-reservations policy at lunchtime means you've got as good a chance as anyone at snagging a seat.