706 Best Restaurants in France

Tunnel through a street-level gift shop to find this cheerful, second-floor crêperie, notable for its friendly service and local ingredients. It's a top choice for lunch if you're traveling with kids.

Within the five-star Hôtel La Villa perched high amid rambling hills overlooking the ocher-color Old Citadel, La Table by La Villa offers memorable dining highlights as varied as oeuf mollet frit (poached eggs with celery, mushrooms, and black truffles); carpaccio of John Dory and spider crab with fennel, fresh coriander, and shiso leaves; and braised pigeon breast with confit of pigeon leg, porcini mushrooms, and dried fruits.

Tucked away like a boudoir behind a green velvet curtain in the lingerie department of the famous BHV department store hides this elegant dining room. It's an excellent choice for a shopping break or a gourmet dinner after store hours, when veteran chef Michel Roth pulls out the stops in dishes like buttery chicken paté en croute or pan-fried foie gras to start, followed by haddock in a vibrant beet reduction with caviar, and ending with a clementine-and-white chocolate mille-feuille. In summer, breathtaking views of Paris’s city hall (Hôtel de Ville) and the Seine behind it can be enjoyed from the fifth-floor restaurant’s stunning outdoor veranda.

Set in a quiet, aristocratic quartier near the Musée Rodin, postage stamp–size La Table d'Aki features cuisine centered on the sea. Chef Akihiro Horikoshi works all alone in an open kitchen while 16 lucky diners await the next course: lush, simple dishes like plump langoustine shimmering in a silky shallot-fennel sauce or delicate medallions of sole in a mellow red-wine-and-leek reduction. Although perfect for a long, leisurely lunch, the glaring lighting isn't ideal for a romantic dinner.

Uzès's only Michelin-starred restaurant has a stately but cozy dining room that sets the stage for a memorable meal from start to finish. Give yourself time to fully appreciate the dishes of chef Christophe Ducros, whose magic lies in the seasonal pairings of the freshest ingredients from both the countryside (like lamb served three ways) and coast (coquilles Saint-Jacques with butternut squash, yuzu, and trompette mushrooms) with complementary local wines. Service is meticulous yet friendly, and the menu, though abbreviated, covers all the gourmet bases and then some.

It’s well worth a jaunt to the stylish L’Alpaga hotel, outside the village center, to experience chef Alexandre Baule’s sensitive take on hearty Savoyard cooking. Using local ingredients, this refined, healthy cuisine deftly balances subtlety and richness. The beautiful dining room’s beamed ceilings, lustrous wood, and comfy designer chairs make the perfect setting for dishes sourced from top Alpine producers (all listed on the menu). Wine and cocktail pairings, with nonalcoholic options, are a good idea for optimal enjoyment.

For more than 50 years, celebs have vacationed at Hôtel Cap-Estel along Èze's seaside, enjoying its private 5-acre peninsula with all-encompassing views of the Mediterranean and its restaurant. The dishes are worthy of the location, made using local seafood and produce and featured on à la carte and four-, five-, or seven-course set menus, including a vegetarian option.

You can't miss this restaurant's bright red facade that faces the town's covered market (the origin of many of the ingredients of your meal here). A place that takes \"locally sourced\" seriously, you'll find not only the names but the French zip codes for each item on the menu: white asparagus from Mr. Duret with Périgord walnuts; foie gras from Cahors-based Maison Rougié; and butter from Maison Baechler, all the way to your after-dinner espresso. But the real test of quality is on the plate, a test this warm contemporary dining room passes with flying colors.

A pleasing mix of ancient and modern, this colorful, light-filled restaurant, with high-beamed ceilings and limestone walls hung with contemporary art and "candeliers," was once a farmstead on the grounds of the nearby Château de Vaux-le-Pénil. But Isabelle and Fabrice Vitu's warm welcome and Michelin-starred cuisine are the real draws; locals and Parisians alike appreciate the refined menu that includes surprising twists on French classics and plenty of delicacies from the sea. Savor scallops on a bed of Puy lentils, crisp veal foot in a smoked-eel emulsion, or succulent John Dory with truffles—but be sure to save room for the warm Grand Marnier soufflé, a house specialty. The three-course menu is the best value.

This calm café-brasserie on busy Rue de Rivoli is a local favorite with an extensive wine list. Though the food is nothing to write home about, its authentic brasserie atmosphere and inexpensive wines by the glass from every region of France make it a great place for a quick pick-me-up or an apéro on the go. It's open late, too.

If you're hankering after a great coffee, you can't go wrong at this chic café in the up-and-coming Saint-Lambert village district of the city.

For a more elegant introduction to the specialties and wines of Sancerre, why not reserve a table at the loveliest restaurant in town? Set high in the old town under a 14th-century stone tower, the picturesque beamed and half-timbered dining room is the perfect setting for a meal that highlights local delicacies and the highest quality ingredients in beautifully presented dishes. From the spotless linens to the friendly yet discreet service, it’s Sancerre’s top gastronomic experience from start to finish.

This Michelin-starred dining room at the heights of Montbazillac is the region's best bet for a satisfying gourmet meal. Add the exceptional prices on the prix-fixe menus and beautiful panoramic views from both inside and out, and it's well worth making a detour. Dishes—Saint-Pierre fish in shellfish butter with French caviar, salicorne, and preserved lemon; carré de boeuf with beef-cheek raviolis in a sauce of fresh shaved truffles, buttery multicolor carrots, and citrus-lacquer beets—are scrumptious and beautifully presented. Desserts sound so good it's hard to choose, but you can't go wrong with a towering Grand Marnier soufflé. If you don't feel like getting back in the car, the domaine's four hotel rooms and three lodges are the cherry on the cake. 

Vosne-Romanée, the greatest wine village on the côte, also entices with one of the most charming restaurants in Burgundy. The menu changes four times a year and is replete with succulent regional dishes (picture Burgundy truffles, farm-reared capon, tartare of Montbéliarde beef, and crème brûlée).

Cuisine de terroir is served up at this classic restaurant on one of Bordeaux's oldest streets. Like the room itself, the menu aspires to nostalgie, and it succeeds, with dried herbs hanging from the ceiling, a Provençal grandfather clock ticking off the minutes, and an antique fireplace sporting a grill that serves sizzling morsels of duck and chicken. You can also dine or shop at his épicerie, Le Comestible (No. 3), which is lined with bistro tables and jars of foie gras, cassoulet, and other regional sundries. Copies of this business-savvy chef's southwestern cuisine cookbook are sold at the épicerie.

Summer evening meals around the old fountain and boxwood-filled oil jars in the courtyard of the Hôtel d'Europe would be wonderful with filet de boeuf alone, but combine this romantic backdrop with top-notch southern French cuisine and you have a special event. Give yourself over to one of the great restaurants of the Vaucluse, complete with fine regional wines and an army of urbane servers—and hope for moonlight. The three-course €54 lunch menu (coffee and parking included) quickly refuels before tackling an afternoon's touring.

Named for the 13th-century stone tower that flanks it, La Vieille Tour gives classic dishes a contemporary spin. Chefs Nicolas and Samy Ruhlmann seek inspiration from locally sourced seasonal produce, and their love for it shows in the savory dishes and tantalizing desserts. The interior blends contemporary comfort with the historical charm of centuries-old wooden beams and stone walls. The fixed-price menus are excellent value.

If all that paddleboarding has made you hungry, this snack bar with a seated terrace overlooking Plage des Marinières has just the thing. The bruschetta is a highlight, served on warm, soft, fresh bread and, if you are salty fish inclined, the anchovy option is delicious. Get here early for summer lunch as it will be packed. 

Self-described as a Maison de Plaisir (House of Pleasure) since 1766, this 17th-century wood-paneled town house flaunts its naughty history with a dark, boudoir-style decor; Émile Zola, George Sand, and Victor Hugo were regulars here, and the restaurant's mirrors still bear diamond scratches from the days when mistresses would use them to double-check the value of their jewels. The classic menu includes caviar and truffle-flavored specials. For a truly intimate meal, reserve one of the legendary private salons where anything can happen (and probably has).

With so many of Paris's fabled brasseries co-opted by upscale chains, the 2013 opening by three-Michelin-star chef Eric Frechon of this modern take on the traditional brasserie in the St-Lazare train station was met with curiosity and joy. Though prices are commensurate with his status, Frechon doesn't skimp on the classics: steak tartare, escargot, and charcuterie all make memorable appearances. Bright and loftlike, Lazare riffs on familiar brasserie themes—think marble-top tables, globe lights, soaring ceilings, and mosaic floors. There's a dish du jour every weekday, like slow-cooked lamb with lemon confit and olives, or crispy grilled pork on a bed of turnip kraut, all well-prepared and comforting (just like grand-mère used to make).

Rough-hewn archways, stone walls, and atmospheric lighting give this chic restaurant a cavernous feel. The chalkboard menu, brought to each table, features an always-changing menu that could include shrimp tempura, seafood pasta, or any number of regional favorites.

Chef Sylvain Nouin's focus at this sleek little eatery is contemporary bistro fare—and what his monthly changing menu lacks in size (it fits on a small blackboard), it more than makes up for in style. The two-course set menu features dishes like a veal tagine with a confit of dates and lemon, roasted quail with celery mousseline, or tête de veau (calf's head) with an herb vinaigrette; it's a steal at €21.80.

A 200-plus wine list is a big highlight of this restaurant and bar à vins, yet the main focus is squarely on the food. Beautiful to behold and even better to eat, the Mediterranean-inspired dishes flaunt the bounty of Provence in options like beef carpaccio, sliced razor-thin and served with shaved Parmesan and crispy house frites; a tender zucchini tartlette with chèvre and herbes de Provence; or a salad of heirloom tomatoes, bufala mozzarella, Serrano ham, and basil sorbet. A laid-back atmosphere, friendly staff, spacious outdoor terrace, and excellent prices make this a top choice.

On one of Collioure's quieter cobblestoned streets you'll find Le 5ème Péché, where the clean-lined decor seems in sync with Japanese owner-chef Masashi Iijima's simple yet innovative dishes showcasing seasonal Catalan produce. With only 18 seats and an open kitchen plan, you'll feel like you know him personally by the time your meal is done.

Regulars grumble about the uneven cooking at Le Balzar, but they continue to come back because they can't resist the waiters' wry humor and the dining room's amazing people-watching possibilities. The restaurant attracts politicians, writers, tourists, and local eccentrics—and remains one of the city's classic brasseries: the perfect stop before or after a film in a local art-house cinema. Don't expect miracles from the kitchen, but stick to evergreens like snails in garlic butter, onion soup, traditional choucroute with sautéed potatoes, and baba au rhum for dessert.

One of Paris's first gastro-bistros, this deeply local restaurant is still one of the city's most beloved and sought-after out-of-the-way tables. The key to its success is the combination of fresh, comforting cooking and a lovingly selected list of organic and natural wines from small producers. The chef learned the art of making bouillons from none other than star Breton chef Olivier Roellinger, and uses them to bring out the best in any ingredient from fish to foie gras.

Next to the Musée Basque, with a dining terrace over the River Nive just short of its confluence with the Adour, this unassuming and unpretentious local favorite serves honest Basque cuisine in a traditional setting. The agneau de lait (suckling lamb) and chipirons en persillade (cuttlefish in chopped parsley and garlic) are classics.

This restaurant, steps from the Hotel Beau Rivage and with an outdoor terrace, focuses on the preservation of French cuisine. The sommelier amazingly seems to know your order before you do; a decent bottle of red will set you back around €50. The service is friendly enough, and the food is elegantly presented. 

La Brouette de Grand'Mère built a following as a charming hole-in-the-wall with a true-blue bistro menu, and although the restaurant has changed its name and location, it has kept its €60 four-course dinner menu that includes a welcome apéritif and wine, as well as surprisingly tasty food. It feels especially right in winter.

Done up in delectable shades of red and orange, hip Le Bistrot de l'Orée sits right across from the main slope that runs through the resort of Méribel. On the lower level of the Hôtel L'Orée du Bois, this eatery is truly a family affair: the grandson of the hotel’s original owner runs the kitchen, turning out modern takes on classics like cream of eggplant soup and veal chops flavored with brandy. Don’t miss the baked tartiflette, a combination of potatoes, bacon, onions, and a local cheese called Reblochon. On a recent afternoon, a survey of the dining room revealed that nearly everyone in the well-dressed crowd had tottered in wearing their ski boots.