706 Best Restaurants in France

You may not be able to afford a squillionaires villa here, but you can buy an ice cream. Pull up a seat on the port-side terrace, and pick your favorite flavor. Need something stronger? Coffee and cocktails are also available. 

Casual, no-frills dining, preferably en plein air, is the trend on the island, and this laid-back beachfront eatery overlooking the Sauzon marina hews to that rule in the best possible way. The menu is filled with satisfying staples (with Asian flavors and fresh herbs from the Malaysian chef’s garden), including the burger of the day with crispy fries, tender chicken suprême and Thai curried rice, copious salads, and warm chocolate gâteau. There are also oysters on the half shell and the freshest catch of the day cooked simply to highlight its basic goodness.

If you’re a stickler for well-prepared coffee, tea, or a velvety chocolat chaud, this contemporary café ticks all the boxes and more. And everything can be accompanied by handmade chocolates.

Soaring ceilings with exposed beams, globe lighting, velvet chairs, and marble-top tables give this superchic eatery the look of a classic brasserie gone upscale. The menu, designed by three-star chef Mauro Colagreco of the world-renowned Mirazur restaurant on the Riviera, features market-fresh French classics complemented by a wine list with plenty of by-the-glass offerings. Best of all, a spacious cobbled outdoor courtyard makes dining here a joy on nice days.

To experience all of the city's culinary diversity under one covered-marketplace roof, head to the food stalls at the Grandes Halles du Vieux Port, which is open 9 am to midnight. Here you can order the freshest catch of the day or vegetarian dishes, as well as gourmet sandwiches, classic pizzas, and authentic tapas to take away or to enjoy on the outdoor terrace. There's also a year-round farmers’ market, a central wine bar, local craft beer, and much more.

On a quiet pedestrian street near the château, this dining room with its open fire is a cozy find for a cold, wet winter night, and the terrace is a shady place to cool off in summer. Traditional Béarn dishes here include magret de canard (duck breast) cooked over coals, and cuisses de grenouille (frogs' legs) sautéed dry and crispy in parsley and garlic.

It's all about oysters at this bright 14-seat restaurant with crisp white tablecloths and pleasant service, popular with the area's chic set. If you find yourself puzzled over the relative merits of fines de claires and spéciales, you can always go with the €39 option that includes a glass of white wine and a dozen No. 3 (medium) oysters—or ask the knowledgeable waiters for advice. This simplest of meals can be supplemented with foie gras and toast followed by the fromage du moment.

You couldn't have a more perfect setting for chef Marco Casolla's delicious pizzas and pasta dishes—inspired by his native Naples and the bounty of the sea—than the white sands of Toulon's Plage du Mourillon. At this beachside terrace restaurant, diners cool off with an apéro spritz in the shade of umbrellas at lunchtime or wrap up a day at the beach over a sunset dinner.

Franco-Vietnamese chef Céline Pham, a talented veteran of top restaurants in Paris, headlines at this chic bistro set in a 13th-century chapel. This is a food lover's destination, not only for the seasonal dishes with subtle and surprising combinations but also for the excellent-value menus (three courses lunch, €41; dinner, €70).

Stéphane Tournié's elegant restaurant next to the Grand Hôtel de l'Opéra is a perennial favorite. Inspired by the seasons, the food is gastronomical local fare with added nouvelle touches. Intimate rooms and a covered terrace around a little pond give it an undeniable allure, though some may find the grand flourishes—glass ceilings and mammoth chandeliers—a little too, well, operatic.

Proving that an organic, vegetarian, and 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. 

One of Paris's first bento-box cafés (it's also a Japanese grocer), this cozy spot on storied Rue Ste-Anne offers an array of delicious eats, from smoked eel and grilled salmon to crispy chicken, fried tofu, and yummy veggie sides like marinated seaweed—a house specialty—and sesame spinach. For a meal on the go, this is the place. It's small, cafeteria-style, and no-frills, and crowds can snake down the block, so get there by noon for lunch. Bento boxes are also great to go.

Set at a leafy crossroads on the lively Rue des Martyrs, this is a top pick in this vibrant neighborhood for a quick stop or to linger with a device. The coffee (roasted at their atelier-café Back in Black) is always good, as are the many other beverage options, both hot and cold, and the food—from healthy salads and sandwiches to yummy pastries—is exactly what's needed to get you revved up for your next Paris adventure.

Some Japanese expats say you won't find anything closer to authentic Japanese cooking in Paris than the kitchen in Kifuné. Sit at the bar to admire the sushi chef's lightning-quick skills, or opt for a more intimate table for tasting the sublime crab-and-shrimp salad starter or a deeply comforting miso soup with clams. To follow, you can't go wrong with the sashimi. Eating here will leave a dent in your wallet (though there is a €35 set menu at lunch), but for fans of Japanese cuisine, the meals are worth it. With only 20 seats, it often turns away would-be customers, so book in advance.

Run by Yoichi Kino, a 30-year master sushi chef whose family has specialized in smoked eel for generations, and Ryuma Takubo, who earned a Michelin star in Japan, Komatsubaki specializes in the exquisite vegetarian cuisine favored by Japanese monks. Diners choose from three sophisticated prix-fixe menus, including a stunning vegetarian version, all served on delicate dishes and accompanied by a distinctive selection of white Burgundies, sakes, and teas. Watch the chefs at work in a tiny jewel-box setting, complete with an elegant authentic dining room that seats six on tatami mats. 

Just two minutes from the port of Bonifacio, this stylish restaurant in the center of the Acheda Lodge de Charme overlooks a luxurious garden with a pool and splashing fountain. L'A Cheda uses local products whether they be from the hotel’s own organic vegetable garden or from a long list of area providers of olive oil, charcuterie, and cheeses. The restaurant also hosts musical evenings and cooking courses.

When chef Jean-Paul Battaglia decided to set up shop in Cannes, gastronomes were delighted, and he does not disappoint—so much so that it’s not uncommon for tourists to eat here more than once during their stay. The roast beef is succulent, and the spicy lobster has just the right kick. L'Affable is always packed (and often noisy), so reservations are essential. Note that dinner service is a €55 fixed-price menu with lots of tempting choices, ditto for lunch (€28 and €33).

Locals come to this restaurant in a former fire-horse shed for Provençal hors d'oeuvres like fried eggplant, green tapenade, chickpeas in cumin, and a slab of ham carved off the bone, perhaps followed by roasted potatoes with lamb chops grilled in the great stone fireplace. Call at least a week in advance to reserve table in summer, when you can opt for just the first-course buffet—and go back for seconds or even thirds.

A popular place for lunch or dinner, this modern bistro and terrace in the heart of the old town draws a lively mix of locals, expats, and tourists looking for authentic market-driven meals. A small but satisfying menu is generously laced with local delicacies—savory ragoût of wild boar, cod with pureed local vegetables and tapenade-laden croutons, and poached-egg cocotte with foie gras cream and turmeric-balsamic toast. A generous wine list offers plenty of local choices by the glass, and the dessert tray in the window—another big draw—features tantalizing concoctions, like a classic chantilly-topped baba al rhum (a small cake made with rum syrup) and creamy tarte au citron (a lemon tart). Service can be slow, but it's always friendly.

At this rare authentic Parisian bistro that refuses to change, 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.

If you love Yves Camdeborde's southwestern France–inflected cooking at Le Comptoir but can't get a table for dinner, head to this tavernlike Basque restaurant run by his longtime second-in-command, Stéphane Jégo. Jégo's style is remarkably similar to Camdeborde's because he uses the same suppliers and shares his knack for injecting basic ingredients with sophistication reminiscent of haute cuisine. You can go hearty with Spanish piquillo peppers stuffed with salt-cod paste or poulet Basquaise (chicken stewed with peppers), or lighter with seasonal dishes that change weekly. The restaurant is popular with rugby fans (a sport beloved of Basques), who create a festive mood. Reserve at least a week ahead for dinner.

This old-style market café within Biarritz's Les Halles market hall has a proper zinc counter with stools inside and a scattering of tables outside. Tostadas of melt-in-your-mouth ham, foie gras, or cheese, charcuterie platters, and Oleron oysters pair well with tasty regional wines by the glass.

This quaint eatery's modern decor, ambient music, and young staff dressed in jeans and black T-shirts make it a hip spot that is popular with the locals for its grilled hamburgers and gourmet salads. For something more traditional, try the meat-and-cheese platter of prosciutto, Brie, smoked salmon, roasted peppers, and fig jam before moving on to the delicious duck breast. Chilled wine bottles come in fluorescent bags rather than Champagne buckets.

Don't let the chic, updated decor fool you: this tiny, reliable bistro hasn't sacrificed substance for style. The servers are friendly, the wine list is small but well curated, and the dining is first-rate, with a €48 three-course dinner menu (you can order à la carte, but it's less of a bargain) of original dishes marrying terroir-driven ingredients like Charolais beef or farm-raised chicken from the Landes with contemporary touches and pretty plating.

Chef Thomas Boullault made a seamless transition when he took the helm of this storied dining room, a favorite among Parisian gourmets. Expect seasonal dishes with a touch of finesse from the open kitchen. Elegant creations like tartelette (tartlet) of venison with squid and trompettes de la mort mushrooms in a wine reduction might be featured. There is no à la carte, and if the dinner menus seem steep at €140 (several dishes have supplements), try the lunch menu for €85. Watch out for the pricey wines by the glass.

For one of the cheapest, tastiest meals in Paris, look no further than the fantastic falafel stands on the pedestrian Rue de Rosiers, where L'As (the Ace) is widely considered the best of the bunch, with lunchtime lines that extend down the street. A falafel sandwich costs €7 to go or €9 in the dining room, and it's heaping with grilled eggplant, cabbage, hummus, tahini, and hot sauce. The shawarma (grilled, skewered meat) sandwich, made with chicken or lamb, is also one of the finest in town. Although takeout is popular, it can be fun (and not as messy) to eat off a plastic plate in one of the two frenzied dining rooms. Fresh lemonade is the falafel's best match.

David Rathgeber spent 12 years working for celebrity-chef Alain Ducasse before taking over this landmark restaurant, where he has created his own menu and welcomes a devoted clientele. Expect classics with a subtle modern touch, such as the signature cassoulet with six different meats, and crème caramel with salted butter—all executed with the precision you would expect of a Ducasse veteran. The excellent two-course lunch menu (Wednesday through Friday only) is a bargain at €26. Rathgeber has also opened an adjacent dining space called L'arrière-Cuisine, which serves take-out street food inspired by his travels; it's open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5:30 pm. 

An open kitchen, a chalkboard menu, a bright terrace, and friendly service combine to create a laid-back atmosphere here, but, when it comes to the food, chef Nicolas Epiard is on his toes, serving up traditional local cuisine with flair and exuberance. Try dishes like the meltingly tender, slow-cooked bull with wild morels and a puree of root vegetables or the sea bass with savory herb pistou (Provence's answer to pesto) and crisp vegetables. Desserts might include fig crumble or white chocolate mousse. A refreshing rosé (the locally influenced wine list has plenty of choices by the glass) is the perfect accompaniment to an exemplary meal that's easy on the wallet.

This slick gastronomic restaurant in the historic center strikes a chord with in-the-know locals. Stylish, sober-colored walls provide a fitting backdrop for the artful dishes prepared by chef-owner Loïc Lefebvre, who whips up dazzling creations while his partner, Caroline Cordier, ensures the service is top-notch.

Overlooking the town's wonderful church, this modern, polished dining room is a good match for chef Jean-Pierre Vullin's cuisine. Frogs' legs and Bresse chicken with a wild-morel cream sauce are the specialties, but also consider the quenelles de brochet (poached-fish dumplings). Jean-Pierre wanders through the dining room ready for a chat while his staff provides excellent service. Don't miss the house aperitif, a Champagne cocktail with fresh raspberry puree. The wine list has 300 vintages.