6 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Paris, France

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.

This chic, laid-back bar à vins is part of Michelin-starred chef Jean-Baptiste Lavergne Morazzani’s trio of gastronomic outposts set in Versailles’s beautiful Cour des Senteurs, a few minutes' walk from the palace entrance. Here you can sit back and taste wines by the glass or order a bottle chosen from the astute wine list, accompanied by locally sourced gourmet snacks like Bayonne ham, buffalo burrata from the Ile de France, or crème de Camembert from nearby Yvelines. Its early opening hours make it a good spot for a pre-dinner apéro or a quick snack before heading back to Paris.

Back in Monet's day, this pretty-in-pink villa was the favorite hotel of the American painters' colony. Today it remains one of the most charming spots in the Île-de-France (despite the tourists), although the surroundings retain more historic charm than the simple cuisine (mainly salads large enough to count as a main course in their own right, or straightforward, if unremarkable, dishes like an omelet or gigot d'agneau [lamb and mutton]). A decent three-course prix-fixe menu is available at lunch and dinner. Renovated to appear as it did in Monet's time, the dining room is stage-set rustic; and there’s an extraordinarily pretty rose garden out back with embowered paths that lead to the studio Cézanne once used.

A wine shop, gourmet take-out, and restaurant all in one, you can enjoy your meal in the bright, stylish restaurant or choose from a variety of homemade takeout dishes and desserts for a picnic lunch on the beautiful château grounds a five-minute walk away. On the menu expect dishes like Breton oysters on the half shell, tender suprême de volaille, pumpkin vélouté, and roasted veggie flatbread. The restaurant uses only regional products and locally grown vegetables.

If you're looking for a quick, traditional meal a few steps from the cathedral, look no further than this crêperie, a favorite in Chartres. You'll find a full list of savory (made with buckwheat flour) delights—ham, egg, smoked salmon, veggies, potatoes, and cheese—or sweet (made with white flour)—caramel au beurre salé, crêpes suzette, Grand Marnier, and ice cream—all washed down with a delicious Normandy cider. Whether you dine upstairs, downstairs, or on the sidewalk terrace, it's a good choice for a delicious, unfussy meal that's perfect for adults and kids.

Founded in 1822, this renowned pâtissiere has served generations of local families and Parisians alike, who come here for seasonal specialties like fraise des bois tartlets with almond cream and delicious viennoiseries (croissants, pain au chocolat, etc.). Savory specialties are equally delicious and perfect for a picnic in the nearby gardens.