231 Best Restaurants in France

A mere six months after chef Christophe Chiavola’s arrival at this romantic, vine-clad dining room, Michelin bestowed a coveted star. Now the restaurant draws diners from Avignon and far beyond for a refined seasonal menu featuring top-quality local meat, fish, shellfish, and produce in dishes that are prepared with a Mediterranean flair and incorporate luxurious touches. Whether you’re seated inside or out on the flowery garden terrace, you’ll enjoy one of the best meals in town.

Enjoy a drink in the elegant library sitting room or modern dining room before tucking into local specialties that two-Michelin-star chef Michel Kayser transforms into works of art on his seasonal menus. Indulging in scallops from the Camargue coast served with a luscious ravioli stuffed with celery cream and black garlic or thyme-infused Aveyron lamb with root vegetables and kumquat may not leave room for a dessert of tender strawberries from the Gard infused with kaffir lime and served with sage sorbet. The terrace opens to an extensive park with century-old trees, and often apricots and peaches plucked from the overhanging branches will appear on your plate, magically transformed into some delicious creation. Though the restaurant is outside Nîmes proper, it's a favorite Provence pilgrimage spot.

Tucked away in a quiet garden across from the Petit Palais, Ledoyen—open since 1779—is a study in Empire-style elegance (this is where Napoléon first met his eventual wife Joséphine). Star chef Yannick Alléno injects the three-star dining room with a frisson of modernity by putting fresh farmhouse ingredients front and center in his €415, nine-course tasting extravaganza (a seven-course menu is a slightly more reasonable €295, and there are à la carte options). This may seem de trop, but in Alléno's hands dishes like smoked eel soufflé with watercress coulis and candied onion, tender mussels with tart green apple and caviar, or artichoke-and-Parmesan gratin are rendered as light as a feather. The desserts are tiny masterpieces.

Architect, artist, creator, whatever you call him, one thing's for sure—you won't soon forget the master chef who was awarded a Michelin star within nine months of opening his namesake restaurant and now holds three stars—Michelin's top honor. Dishes such as charred satay tuna in tapioca speckled with bright green fish eggs and served with wasabi ice cream showcase his experience working in French, African, and Asian kitchens. While at one of the 24 seats in the minimalist setting, a small card on the table provides you with a choice of four set menus. Following your selection, Mazzia will serve a series of inspired dishes. Dining here will set you back some, but you will not find its likeness anywhere in France. 

A culinary institution since 1861, this warm and welcoming retreat in the heights of Suresnes has served generations of Parisians and locals who flock here for a reliably delicious meal. With a crackling fire in winter and a flower-bedecked terrace in summer, you'll enjoy gastronomic versions of French classics in every season along with fantastic views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower. Chef Guillaume Delage, who's plied his craft in some of France's greatest kitchens, specializes in seasonal dishes with extravagant touches, like the lièvre à la royale (wild rabbit stuffed with foie gras and simmered in red wine), a staple on the menu since 1861. Desserts are equally delicious and an encyclopedic wine list delights aficionados and amateurs alike. Though the restaurant is worth a trip on its own, being a three-minute walk from the American Cemetery makes it the perfect spot before or after a visit.

For anyone who's never dined in one of France's grand old restaurants, this two-star stunner would be a fine start, set in a century-old chalet-inn in the tiny storybook village of Talloires on the incomparably beautiful Lac d'Annecy. From start to finish you'll be pampered in the old style. Although chef Jean Sulpice has updated the cuisine, dishes like veal carpaccio with white caviar and horseradish cream; poulet de Bresse stuffed with truffles and foie gras; and steamed lake fish with scallops, fennel, and ginger beurre blanc feature all the luxe ingredients that distinguish French gastronomy. On a warm day, a table on the gracious terrace overlooking the lake is a must. Prices are not for the fainthearted, but good memories are priceless.

Nadia Sammut, the third generation of female chefs in her family and the second to hold a Michelin star, crafts a cuisine of such sensuality, refinement, and soul that her dedicated fan base stretches well beyond France. Sammut's passion for fresh, local, and "living" foods is backed by the notion that each ingredient expresses itself differently, and she creates extraordinary flavor pairings in the dishes on her prix-fixe tasting menus. Options such as radishes prepared four ways on a melt-in-your mouth buckwheat cake or lightly crusted Camargue oysters perfumed with shiso and yuzu in an iodized gelée are revelations. The Auberge also has five charming, Provençal-style guest rooms in case you want to stay overnight and enjoy a stellar gluten-free breakfast.

Don't expect to be mobbed by tourists at this casual, bright café two minutes from the Champ de Mars. Locals love it for the sidewalk terrace and garden seating in the back—not to mention the good coffee, tea, and stellar brunch. Even if you don't snag a seat outside, the charming interior is a cheerful spot to tuck into a heaping plate of eggs Benedict, smoked salmon tartine, or avocado toast. There are also fresh fruit smoothies and home-baked pastries. Its all-day hours (seven days a week) makes it the perfect place for a well-priced lunch or teatime. Reservations are always a good idea, especially on weekends.

Set inside the gorgeously refurbished Saint James Hotel, one of the city's stand-out lodgings, the beautiful Bellefeuille has quickly become popular thanks to chef Grégory Garimbay's refined menu of inspired dishes with an emphasis on the freshest seafood and vegetables from the hotel's own gardens outside Paris (there's also honey from the hives on-site). The six-course tasting menu (with excellent desserts by pastry chef Coline Doussin and paired with natural and biodynamic wines handpicked by the restaurant's gifted sommelier) is highly recommended, but you'll be wowed no matter which menu you choose. Options like briny oysters paired with beets and tangy mustard, the freshest St-Malo scallops, melt-in-your-mouth squid in its own velvety ink, and salt-marsh lamb from the Mont St-Michel bay deliver subtlety and sweetness. In warm weather, arrive early for a cocktail in the hotel's lovely garden or a glass of Champagne in the British-style library, among the most beautiful in Paris. 

Set in a historic house on a cobbled street in the heart of the old town, this atmospheric dining room—with hardwood beams, a fireplace, a zinc bar, and cozy contemporary decor—serves traditional French classics updated for modern palates: country terrine with tangy cornichons, homemade sausages in a buttery potato puree, lobster spaghetti, or fresh vegetable tart. The chef is also trained as a pâtissier, and his classic Paris Brest, filled with a divine hazelnut praliné, or the ethereal Chartreuse soufflé are a must for those with a sweet tooth.

This handsome historic bistro highlights the extraordinary synergy that can happen when French technique meets Asian flavors. Classics like pigeon or beef come alive with pickled daikon radish, tamarind, or saké. You'll still find dishes firmly anchored in the French repertoire, like trout with trout caviar and whipped anchovy butter with lovage, or a caramel and quince dacquoise for dessert. The six-course dinner menu (€76) provides an excellent introduction to chef Louis de Vicari's outsized talent, and with five wine pairings for €60 you'll get a primer in French wines too. This is a restaurant Parisians in the know will cross town for, and that's saying a lot.

Though this brasserie is less formal (and less expensive) than its sister restaurant, three-star La Villa Madie, its dishes are no less tasty. Depending on what's in season and available from local growers and fishermen, the menu in the handsome dining room or on the terrace might include artisanal sausages and braised fennel with squid-ink gnocchi; tandoori monkfish medallions with asparagus, lime crème Chantilly, and Indian spices; or the catch of the day straight from the wood-fired oven. The three-course €70 menu is a steal, and, unlike many area restaurants, this one is open year-round.

Lodged in one of Paris's most picturesque historic passages, the Italian Caffè Stern—a listed monument updated by designer Philippe Starck—is loaded with the sort of antique charm that makes a cup of coffee and dessert feel like a romantic moment in time. Full meals are a more elegant—and expensive—affair, though teatime (3 pm–6 pm) and the prix-fixe lunch (€30) make for a more manageable splurge.

A picturesque 15th-century carved wood façade and medieval rafters set the scene for happy diners to feast on deeply satisfying French dishes updated to please modern palates. Chef Robin Pasquier, of Paris's legendary Akrame restaurant, serves a meat-centric menu (pigs' feet, veal brains) that does not skimp on the fish or vegetables, all carefully sourced from around Tours and prepared with a golden touch, with a stunning list of hand-picked wines to match.

Set in an 18th-century Provençal mas once owned by the grand-mère of one of the owners, this countrified restaurant is a short drive outside the city but well worth the effort. Sit inside at wooden tables or out under towering plane trees to enjoy delicious dishes made with locally sourced ingredients that mix classic recipes (yes, from Tata Simone) with modern touches. Everything, including the bread, warm from the oven, evokes the hearty home-cooked dishes of old Provence.

The culinary experience here is a progression of delights, from your first luscious sip of carrot vélouté to a light-as-air chocolate soufflé contrasted with a zesty yuzu macaron. In between, the set menu (€120 for four courses; €150 for five) may include dishes like butter-poached lobster with beets, onions, and horseradish cream or foie gras en terrine with quince, walnuts, and dates—all meticulously sourced from the finest producers around France—which will surprise, comfort, and deeply satisfy. Every detail in this Michelin-starred gem, from the stemware to the service, is poised, elegant, and precise.

Since its 2023 opening, the local enthusiasm for Manon Fleury’s minimalist dining room has deepened into devotion for its passionate, conscientious cuisine that not only prioritizes fruits and vegetables, but also addresses every link in the dining chain, from ethical growers and handlers to minimizing food waste. On the plate, this translates to a refined, meticulously prepared and presented experience that highlights texture and color and offers a complexity of flavors that can be subtle or bombastic, but rarely off-key. Vegetarian diners will be at home here, although fish, shellfish and meat are only enhanced by the chef’s exquisite sensitivity to what plants can bring to a dish.

Although two-Michelin-star chef David Toutain's approach may be exasperatingly conceptual for some, others find his earthy, surprising, and inspired concoctions, served in a sleek modern space, utterly thrilling. Each dish is a lesson in contrasts—of temperature, texture, and flavor—as well as a feat of composition: briny oysters, brussels sprouts, and foie gras in a warm potato consommé; creamy raw oysters with tart kiwi and yuzu; crispy pork chips alongside velvety smoked potato puree. Toutain has a particular soft spot for root vegetables and truffles, which he sprinkles liberally throughout dishes like salsify broth with lardo and black truffle. 

Duende, that irresistible magnetic force radiated by a performer to transport an audience, is precisely what chef Nicolas Fontaine (channeling Pierre Gagnaire, who designed the menus) conjures in the two-Michelin–star dining room of the Art Deco–era Hotel L'Imperator. A sophisticated spot to be sure, but it's also expressive of Nîmes's earthy, independent spirit in dishes such as Mediterranean jumbo shrimp à l'Amontillado with local Camargue rice and mango in a passion fruit emulsion or a butter-poached catch of the day with camus artichokes, green olives, and a parsley-anchovy sauce. Lamb comes from the nearby Alpilles, and produce is sourced from the Gard's top organic farmers.

Subtle, delicate, and delectable are just a few words that spring to mind when describing the masterful cuisine of chef Nicolas Aubry, who earned his second Michelin star in 2018 and has now taken the reins of this contemporary dining room. It's become a top dining experience in the area, and if you feel like lingering over the sublime wine pairings, the four chic guest rooms are a great way to top off your evening. A 10-minute drive (and an easy bike ride) to both Blois and Chambord, Ezia is convenient to major sights.

If you think the Pic empire has a lock on Valence gastronomy, think again: the extraordinary precision and refinement of Baptiste Poinot's cooking makes a foodie stopover in Valence an absolute must. Though the dining room itself is a bit on the quirky side, there is nothing to quibble over when it comes to the gorgeous presentation and scintillating tastes in dishes like melt-in-your-mouth trout fillet with salsify puree and crunchy grains of roasted buckwheat all in a cloud of curried foam. Desserts are equally tantalizing and the bountiful cheese cart is a sight to behold. The €38 lunch menu is a good introduction to this marvelous Michelin-starred cuisine.

A mandatory stop for pastry- and chocolate-lovers alike, this master pâtissier excels in classic French confections with all the bells and whistles. Light as air and made with the best ingredients, Cassel's award-winning creations are as beautiful as they are scrumptious. The sinful mille-feuille comes in five flavors, including sweet chestnut and Earl Gray tea; the tarte duo de cerise mixes tart and sweet cherries with almond cream; and some say his classic macaron is one of the best in France. Chocolates are freshly made on the premises. Don't miss the lovely tea salon for lunch or a midday break, where you can choose from a gourmet menu of hot and cold dishes for lunch and a large selection of Dammann Frères teas, coffee, chocolat chaud, and pastries.

Set in a brick- and stone-walled building on a pedestrian street near Rue Montorgueil, Frenchie has quickly become one of the most hard-to-book bistros in town, with tables reserved months in advance, despite two seatings each evening. This success is due to the good-value, €145 five-course dinner menu (prix fixe only); boldly flavored dishes such as calamari gazpacho with squash blossoms or melt-in-the-mouth braised lamb with roasted eggplant and spinach are excellent options. Service can be, shall we say, a tad brusque, but for some that's a small price to pay for food this good.

Elegant and relaxed don’t usually come together so seamlessly in this upscale neighborhood, but this beautiful, cozy dining room—luminous in the daytime and romantic at night—is the perfect setting for a meal that’s ambitious without being pretentious or fussy. Chef Maxime Le Meur, finally on his own after stints in top Parisian kitchens, crafts beautiful dishes with surprising pairings that combine meat and fish, but can be tailored to your desires: tuna ceviche and foie gras with apple, grapefruit, and a vibrant watercress sauce; or velvety veal on a bed of salsify with sweet burnt onion and shaved black truffle. For dessert, the signature chocolate soufflé and Paris Brest are not to be missed. Prices for this quality, especially in this neighborhood, are exceedingly gentle (€90 for 5-course menu, €140 with five wine pairings; 7-course menu €110, €180 with wines). Dining outside on the sidewalk terrace is a delight in summer.

With two Michelin stars under his toque for his tony gastronomic Restaurant Gill, chef Gilles Tournadre jumped at the chance to open a bistro on Rouen's storied Place du Vieux-Marché. Sleek and modern, it specializes in updated bistro fare, offering a great value fixed-price menu.

Worldwide chef sensation Gordon Ramsay brings his conversation-worthy cuisine to this Versailles berth. Picture exemplary entrées like ravioli of langoustines and lobster cooked in a Riesling bisque with Petrossian caviar and lime consommé, or Périgord foie gras done "2 ways," roasted with a beetroot tart and pressed with green apple and Sauternes, all available on an expensive five-course tasting menu at dinner. The Trianon's more casual, 60-seat Véranda restaurant (open for lunch and dinner) is also under Ramsay's sway, and in its black-and-white contemporary setting you can opt for his "light, modern take" on bistro novelties like radicchio and Parmesan risotto with chorizo oil. Teatime provides a delightful (and more reasonable) restorative for weary château-goers, with a French twist on high tea: scones, madeleines, and heavenly macarons.

Within the beautifully restored Monnaie de Paris, you'll find star chef Guy Savoy's hallowed dining room. The market-fresh menu features à la carte classics such as artichoke truffle soup or turbot with fresh herbs, but if you want the ultimate gourmet dining experience, splurge on the 12-course, €680 tasting menu. The more modest seven-course lunch menu will only set you back €260, or an à la carte lunch plate is about €150 (these prices do not include wine). Whatever you order, every dish is a work of art.  

No detective work is needed to find this popular spot—just follow the trail of local gourmands who make a beeline to this classic Périgord restaurant for its delicious cuisine and romantic ambience. Set in Périgeux's old town, you'll dine under vaulted stone walls almost as old as the Saint-Front cathedral a few steps away. Be sure to order the house-made foie gras served with passion fruit confiture or roasted duck breast with caramelized apples and cassis-"perfumed" spring vegetables. Everything here is homemade and seasonal so the menu changes frequently. Be sure to reserve ahead.

At this petite 22-seat dining room conveniently set on a bustling pedestrian street between the cathedral and the river, everything converges to make your dining experience a truly memorable one. Beautiful presentation complements surprising pairings; think cod with celery risotto in a bergamot emulsion, delicious white asparagus gratin with comté cheese, or, for dessert, delectably moist carrot cake with candied carrots served with yuzu-infused salted caramel and savory ice cream. The restaurant really shines at dinnertime (be sure to reserve well ahead), but lunch is a great introduction to this splendid cuisine.