706 Best Restaurants in France

A true neighborhood haunt, this bustling little bistro near the Musée Picasso offers a convivial slice of Parisian life at a good value. Traditional French bistro fare is adapted to a modern audience. The best choices are the old tried-and-trues: hand-cut tartare de boeuf; rare entrecôte served with a side of golden-crisp frites and homemade béarnaise; and the classic Parmentier, with pheasant instead of the usual ground beef.

The gâteau de foies de volaille aux raviolis (chicken-liver ravioli) is a masterpiece at this eatery founded in 1864. Game and steak dishes are robust, as is the cassolette d'escargots (stew of beans, mutton, and snails). For dessert, stick with the terrific cheese selection. The rows of tables, the mosaic-tile floor, and the absence of anything too decorative gives this place the feel of a men's club.

The walls at this 1930s restaurant are crammed with gilt-edged mirrors, golden cherubs, and old paintings, while crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, which itself is topped by a magnificent Art Deco glass roof signed by Jacques Simon. The café is popular among locals, so reserve a table in advance (request one inside as the terrace looks out over a tramline).

Situated on a grande place in the Vieille Ville, with cathedral views and a traditional menu of solid sustenance, this venerable bistro attracts those looking for an all-day mixture of café and restaurant. It's the quintessential spot for people-watching over a coffee or meal. Try for a table on the terrace. The view over Place Pey-Berland is never less than diverting; however, some say you end up paying for the place more than the plate.

This oasis on the outskirts of the Marais offers a delicious and refreshing pause in a serenely chic atmosphere. Enjoy a fresh-pressed juice, a frothy cup of hot chocolate, or a glass of natural wine, as well as gourmet vegan food: decadent-yet-healthy salads; velvety veggie soups; and the café's renowned desserts, including apricot clafoutis, sautéed figs with rosemary crumble, and yummy cakes and cookies. Open from morning till late afternoon, this is the perfect spot for breakfast, lunch, or a snack.

This Japanese-inspired minichain of coffeehouses is the place to be seen during Paris Fashion Week. There are four locations in Paris: one at  208 rue de Rivoli, one at  2 pl. André Malraux with a full restaurant menu, one at  30 rue du Vertbois that also serves as a roastery, and this one—the original and persistent favorite, thanks in large part to the views over the Palais Royal gardens.

A trailblazer on the Paris gastro-coffee scene, out-of-the-way Café Lomi first supplied expertly roasted single-origin coffees to the first wave of barista cafés and top restaurants. Now Lomi's industrial-chic loft is equal parts roaster, café, workshop, and pilgrimage stop for hard-core coffee lovers, serving a range of splendid brews along with cookies, cakes, and other confections.

Run by the Costes family, this café overlooking the main courtyard of the Louvre and its famous glass pyramid is a stylish place to meet for a drink or a coffee, whether in the chic, jewel-toned dining rooms or on the Louvre's long, sheltered terrace. Regular café service shuts down during meal times, when fashion-conscious folks dig into classic bistro fare like steak tartare or duck foie gras with a handful of lighter offerings like quinoa with avocado and pomeranate or vegetarian pasta with a slightly spiced tomato-basil sauce.

There are plenty of cafés to choose from on bustling Rue Cler, one of Paris’s most famous market streets, with sadly lots of mediocre coffee. But at this adorable café, you get charm, a sidewalk terrace, and all the classic coffee drinks (plus vegan milks too), along with an array of sweets, viennoiseries, and gourmet sandwiches for breakfast, lunch, or a snack.

At this most retro of brasseries that's constantly teeming with life, everything screams Paris, from its tiled floors and bentwood chairs to its moleskin banquettes and giant mirrors. Even though it's located off the tony Rue du Bac, it still feels every bit the down-to-earth neighborhood stalwart that it is. Uniformed waiters deftly deliver your order and whisk away your empties, whether you’re there for an espresso or staying for lunch or dinner. The menu of brasserie classics remains one of the more authentic in Paris: think fat, buttery escargots; buttery steak with crispy frites; lush steak tartare; homemade duck terrine; and billowy mousse au chocolat for dessert. The café also serves a classic Parisian breakfast. All-day hours (from 7:30 am until 10:30 pm) are a big bonus and the sidewalk terrace is the best in the neighborhood.

Run by two sisters who are as committed to using local, sustainable ingredients as they are to coaxing all the goodness from the humble vegetable, this bright, popular lunchtime eatery is set amid boutiques on a pedestrian street minutes from the old port. Seated either in the chic dining room or on the sunny terrace, you can tuck into homemade veggie and goat cheese pizza drizzled with local olive oil or slow-cooked pork with nigella seed croquettes. Everything can be paired with a natural wine, craft beer, homemade kombucha, or fresh-pressed vegetable juice.

Settle in on the terrace for lunch (try the beef tartare or the pavé de salmon) or join the locals along the zinc bar at this Latin Quarter favorite. Nestled at the foot of gently sloping Rue Monge, it offers friendly service amid an old-school bistro ambience.

Tourists are given as hearty a welcome as the locals who favor this colorful eatery, set in the one-time residence of the Counts of Toulouse and known for its convivial atmosphere, friendly staff, reasonable prices, and lovely terrace. The fixed-price lunch menus are particularly good deals, and for dinner, Thursday night features tapas, and Friday and Saturday night highlight refined dishes that make for romantic meals.

With a name that translates to \"to each one his glass,\" this charming corner café is where tea lovers don't have to settle for the usual humdrum selection of teabags in the midst of a coffee bonanza. Here both tea and coffee are meticulously sourced and served with utmost care so everyone is happy. Whatever you do, don't skimp on the desserts, as they're as good as the beverages.

This cozy yet stylish restaurant and wine bar is popular with locals in the wine trade. The menu is limited, but made fresh and very good value compared to the generally elevated prices of St-Émilion. Wood tables, lounge chairs, and understated artwork on the original stone walls give it a casual, intellectual vibe. Free Wi-Fi is available.

Long a showplace for Riviera luxury, the Negresco is replete with Régence-fashion salons decked out with 18th-century wood boiserie and Aubusson carpets. Its main dining room, the Michelin-star Chantecler, has been playing musical chefs for the past few years and currently features a new-generation culinary artist, Virginie Basselot, and her selections of impressive haute cuisine. In the cave, there are 15,000 bottles (if you're counting).

You may be tempted to call it a sandwich stand, but for Parisians it's more of a pilgrimage point at the beloved Marché des Enfants-Rouges. Alain's inspired creations burst with organic vegetables (raw or roasted), artisanal cheeses, locally cured ham, roast chicken, or pastrami, among other gourmet fillings, lodged between slices of bread, a buckwheat galette, or a socca (a Provençale flatbread made with chickpea flour). Each day brings fresh surprises on the blackboard menu, all to be enjoyed at the market's outdoor seating or at a nearby park.

There's nary a fishing boat in sight now at the Port des Pêcheurs, but you can still use your imagination to envision how it looked (and smelled) in the old days, especially with help from one of its modern dining options like Chez Albert. Water views and salty harborside aromas make its hearty fish and seafood offerings quite irresistible. But beware, this easygoing eatery is popular with locals and is definitely on the tourist radar—it's nearly impossible to find a seat on the terrace in summer. 

This intimate restaurant on a cobbled street in the medieval town center is a hit with both tourists and locals alike. Well-crafted menu options such as onion pigeon with verbena pepper sauce and local beef with Mac Hung wild pepper sauce showcase the chef-owner's talent at giving classic dishes a contemporary spin. Desserts focus on favorites such as tiramisu layered with rose de Reims biscuits and a dash of the local Prunelle liqueur. There are street-side tables, but quieter tables are found in the rear courtyard or the modern dining room.

With a great location, this is the place to savor regional specialties like cassoulet. The locals love it, which speaks volumes here in the heart of cassoulet country.

A well-known hole-in-the-wall, this small pizzeria is filled daily with politicos, professionals, and other loyal patrons, who provide a soundtrack of laughter and chatter in the rich Marseille patois. Brace yourself for an epic meal, starting with a large anchovy pizza from the wood-burning oven, and then, perhaps, digging into fried squid, eggplant gratin, or a slab of rare grilled beef.

Tucked into the tiny fishing port of Vallon des Auffes, this local landmark has one of the loveliest settings in greater Marseille. A variety of fresh seafood, impeccably grilled, steamed, or roasted in salt crust, is served in two pretty dining rooms with picture windows overlooking the fishing boats that supply your dinner. Try classic bouillabaisse served with all the bells and whistles—broth, hot-chili rouille, and flamboyant tableside filleting. For tapas or an apéro, head next door to Viaghji di Fonfon.

If you were to ask Parisian bankers, aristocrats, or antiques dealers to name their favorite bistro for a three-hour weekday lunch, many would choose Chez Georges. The traditional fare is very good, particularly the massive céleri remoulade or salade lyonnaise meant for sharing, as well as the offal ranging from liver to sweetbreads. The lively historic atmosphere that evokes 1940s Paris is even better. Be sure when reserving that you're choosing the restaurant on rue du Mail; many share its name but not its reputation.

One of the city's best-known insider spots, this typical bouchon with the de rigueur red-check tablecloths sits behind the Musée des Beaux-Arts. Practically a club, it's crowded with regulars who trade quips with the owner while the kitchen prepares the best tablier de sapeur (tripe marinated in wine and fried in bread crumbs) in town. Whether you order the hunks of homemade pâté, the stewed chicken in wine vinegar sauce, or the plate of ris de veau (sweetbreads), your dinner will add up to good, inexpensive food and plenty of it.

Specializing in fish and seafood, including a succulent bouillabaisse, oysters, clams, and prawns, Chez Huguette is located in the old port of Bastia. It also serves meat dishes such as veal and beef. It has elevated views over the harbor and offers both indoor and outdoor seating options.

This beachside Michelin-starred brasserie near the Jardin du Pharo is considered the last word in bouillabaisse and draws a knowing local clientele willing to shell out a few extra euros for this authentic classic. Before dining, the fish are paraded by your table and then ceremoniously filleted before being served with the classic accompaniments of a spicy rouille and buttery croutons. Oysters, whole grilled fish (priced by the kilo), and an authentic garlic-steeped bourride (fish stew) are other fine choices—as are the great local wines.

The catch of the day determines the offerings here. Plaster walls, benches, and long tables covered with red-and-white tablecloths give off a casual vibe, but the dishes are often excellent.

Artists, tourists, lovers, and heads of state sit elbow-to-elbow in this classic winstub founded in 1873. All come to savor steaming platters of local specialties. Opt for a table in the ground floor dining room where warm Alsatian fabrics dress tables, the china is regional, and the photos are historic—all making for chic, not kitsch.