What Are the Best Spots for Food in Paris in 2024?

Food In Paris is an experience everyone should have. Finding the best places to eat in Paris can be overwhelming, but FOODS.EDU.VN is here to help. Discover classic French bistros, contemporary cuisine, and multicultural flavors, all in one place.

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1. A La Biche au Bois

Address: 45 Av Ledru Rollin, 12th, tel: 01 43 43 34 38, (M: Gare de Lyon)
Why Visit: A fun, unpretentious spot near Gare de Lyon, A La Biche au Bois offers great food with fixed menus and a memorable cheese course. The salade Perigordine, topped with foie gras, is a must-try. Game dishes are available seasonally.
Note: Closed on weekends.

2. Au Passage

Address: 1 bis Passage Saint-Sébastian, 11th, tel: 01 73 20 23 23, (M: Saint-Sébastian – Froissart)
Why Visit: This youthful restaurant and wine bar features fresh, interesting small plates perfect for sharing. Focusing on quality ingredients and affordable wines, Au Passage is known for its earnest staff and interesting salads. The roasted lamb shoulder is a standout dish.
Website: Au Passage

3. automne

Address: 11 rue Richard Lenoir, 11th, tel: 01 40 09 03 70, (M: Charonne)
Why Visit: Experience Michelin-starred quality without the hefty price tag at automne. Chef Nobuyuki Akishige’s seasonal tasting menus offer exquisite dishes like roasted salsify with truffles and black figs from Provence roasted with sesame. The wine list, curated by sommelier Ulysse Hivroz, is exceptional.
Website: Automne

4. Aux Bons Crus

Address: 54 rue Godefroy Cavaignac, 11th, tel: 01 45 67 21 13, (M: Voltaire)
Why Visit: This cosmopolitan take on French truck stops (“les Routiers”) offers hearty, classic French dishes at modest prices. Enjoy steak frites with Béarnaise sauce, Tête de veau, and massive desserts, accompanied by pitchers of wine. The service is very friendly.
Website: Aux Bons Crus

5. Bellota-Bellota

Address: 18 rue Jean-Nicot, 7th, tel: 01 53 59 96 96, (M: Invalides, or La Tour-Maubourg)
Why Visit: A delightful tapas-style bar, Bellota-Bellota is famous for its fabulous hams from wild acorn-fed pigs. For dessert, visit Secco bakery down the street for an almond-scented financier.
Website: Bellota-Bellota

6. bistrot des tournelles

Address: Marais area, near Place des Vosges
Why Visit: This small, homey bistro offers French standards like œufs mayo and steak-frites, as well as roasted free-range chicken. It’s especially popular with natural wine fans.
Website: Bistrot des Tournelles

7. Breizh Cafe

Address: 109 rue Vieille du Temple, 4th, tel: 01 42 72 13 77, (M: St. Paul or St. Sébastian Froissart); 1 rue de l’Odéon, tel: 01 42 49 34 73 (M; Odéon), 5th; 14 rue des Petits Carreaux (2nd), and other locations.
Why Visit: Breizh Cafe is known for its terrific crêpes and buckwheat galettes in the Marais. Using organic buckwheat and Bordier butter, enjoy your meal with sparkling apple cider or lait ribot. Try the buckwheat galette with seaweed butter and the buckwheat ice cream dessert.
Website: Breizh Café

8. Cafe les deux gares

Address: 1 rue des Deux Gares, (M: Gare du Nord)
Why Visit: Located between two train stations, this charmingly restored café offers a respite with an expansive terrace. Enjoy fresh oysters, tuna with summer fruit, and hazelnut crème brûlée.
Website: Café les Deux Gares

9. Cafe de la Nouvelle Mairie

Address: 19-21 rue des Fossés-Saint-Jacques, tel: 01 44 07 04 41 (M: Cardinal Lemoine or Place Monge)
Why Visit: A local bistro serving fresh, well-sourced food at reasonable prices, Cafe de la Nouvelle Mairie is popular for its seafood and roasted meats. The housemade sausages are a highlight. It’s open from 8 am to 12:30 am Monday through Friday.

10. caluche

Address: 12 rue de Mirbel, tel: 01 45 87 89 40 (M: Censier-Daubentin)
Why Visit: This traditional corner bistro offers remarkably fresh fare, including marinated sardines and hake with braised endive. Vegetarians will appreciate the Assiette de légumes de saison. The restaurant also doubles as a wine cave.
Instagram: Caluche

11. Capitaine

Address: 4 impasse de Guéménée, 4th, (M: Bastille)
Why Visit: Chef Baptiste Day offers high-quality ingredients and impressive cooking at Capitaine. The menu changes daily, with highlights like the exceptional roasted pork and desserts accompanied by just-churned ice cream.
Website: Capitaine

12. chanceux

Address: 57 rue Saint-Maur, 11th, tel: 01 81 69 67 05, (M: St. Maur)
Why Visit: This all-day café features well-sourced, very fresh food in a casual setting. Try the homemade brioche topped with roasted squash. The café also sells homemade jams and cheese. They opened a second location in the 5th arrondissement (63 rue Galande) focusing on sandwiches.

13. Chez Dumonet

Address: 117 rue du Cherche-Midi, 6th, tel: 01 45 48 52 40, (M: Duroc or Falguière)
Why Visit: Chez Dumonet offers reliably good French bistro food with friendly service and enormous portions. The Grand Marnier dessert soufflé and duck confit are highly recommended.

14. chez georges

Address: 1 rue du Mail, 2nd, tel: 01 42 60 07 11, (M: Grands Boulevards or Bourse)
Why Visit: This classic French bistro serves traditional fare, from escargots to steak frites and sole meunière.
Facebook: Chez Georges

15. Chez Omar

Address: 47 rue de Bretagne, 3rd, tel: 01 42 72 36 26, (M: Filles du Calvaire)
Why Visit: Chez Omar offers North African couscous and steak-frites in a lively setting. It’s open every day but doesn’t take reservations.

16. Chez Paul

Address: 13 rue de Charonne, 11th, tel: 01 47 00 34 57, (M: Ledru-Rollin)
Why Visit: A true remaining bistro in Paris, Chez Paul serves well-made French food. Enjoy the giant Côte de Boeuf, dandelion salad, and duck confit.
Website: Chez Paul

17. comice

Address: 31 avenue de Versailles, 16th: tel: 01 42 15 55 70 (M: Jasmin)
Why Visit: Comice offers an exquisite dining experience with dishes using well-chosen ingredients. The fixed menu includes warm cheese-filled gougères and lobster poached in beurre blanc.
Website: Comice

18. Ellsworth

Address: 34 rue de Richelieu, 1st, tel: 01 42 60 59 66, (M: Palais-Royal, Pyramides)
Why Visit: This popular restaurant features excellent contemporary cooking with well-sourced ingredients. The casual, friendly vibe makes it great for lunch or dinner.
Website: Ellsworth

19. Frenchie Wine Bar

Address: 5-6 rue de Nil, 2nd, tel: 01 40 39 96 19, (M: Sentier)
Why Visit: The wine bar of the famed Frenchie restaurant serves excellent small-plate style food. It’s very popular, so arrive early to snag a seat.
Website: Frenchie Wine Bar

20. grand brasserie

Address: 6 rue de la Bastille, 11th, tel: 09 75 80 99 72, (M: Bastille)
Why Visit: Open daily, this classic brasserie offers excellent versions of reliable French fare, including œufs mayonnaise, fresh oysters, and pâté en croûte. Don’t miss the profiteroles and rum baba.
Website: Grand Brasserie

21. Holybelly

Address: 5 and 19 rue Lucien Sampaix, 10th, No telephone (M: Jacques Bonsergent)
Why Visit: This super-friendly café and restaurant is known for its fresh ingredients and locally-roasted coffee beans. It’s a great place for breakfast or lunch, with options ranging from eggs and pancakes to global-inspired lunch plates.
Website: Holybelly

22. Ibrik Kitchen

Address: 9 rue Mulhouse, 2nd, (M: Sentier)
Why Visit: Ibrik Kitchen specializes in Romanian food with a modern twist. The smoked pastrama and polenta dumplings with duck breast are standout dishes.
Website: Ibrik

23. Juveniles

Address: 47 rue de Richelieu, 1st, tel: 01 42 97 46 49, (M: Pyramides)
Why Visit: This intimate wine bar has been a Paris fixture for decades. The menu changes daily, featuring French classics like terrines and braised pork, accompanied by a well-selected wine list.

24. Kubri

Address: 108 rue Amelot, 11th (M: Filles du Calvaire)
Why Visit: A wonderful restaurant exploring Lebanese cuisine by Franco-Lebanese cheffe Rita Higgins. The Labneh appetizer and roast chicken with toum sauce are highly recommended.
Website: Kubri

25. la buvette

Address: 67 rue Saint-Maur, 11th, (M: Voltaire)
Why Visit: This small wine bar is presided over by Camille Fourmont. Enjoy the casual atmosphere and excellent wines by the glass, along with the famous “giant beans” and housemade terrine.
Website: La Buvette

26. l’apibo

Address: 31 rue Tiquetonne, 2nd), (M: Etienne-Marcel)
Why Visit: Chef Anthony Boucher presides over this small, contemporary bistronomique restaurant. The menu changes daily, using very fresh ingredients, and the desserts are especially good.
Website: L’apibo

27. L’Avant Comptoir de la Mer

Address: 3 Carrefour de l’Odeon. 6th, (M: Odeon)
Why Visit: This seafood outpost of chef Yves Cambeborde’s restaurants offers excellent oysters, raw seafood ceviche, and gently cooked seafood.

28. Le Bambou

Address: 70 rue Baudricourt, 13th, tel: 01 45 70 91 75, (M: Tolbiac or Maison Blanche)
Why Visit: A very good, bustling spot for inexpensive and authentic Vietnamese food.

29. Le Bon Georges

Address: 45 rue Saint-Georges, 9th, tel: 01 48 78 40 30, (M: Saint-Georges)
Why Visit: This updated classic bistro offers well-sourced meats and vegetables. The steak tartare and steak frites are highly recommended.
Website: Le Bon Georges

30. le clarence

Address: 31 avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 8th, tel: 01 82 82 10 10 (M: Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau)
Why Visit: For an upscale dining experience, Le Clarence offers modern French cuisine inspired by Brittany roots, with a focus on seafood. It’s situated in a 19th century hôtel particulier.
Website: Le Clarence

31. Le Garde Robe

Address: 41 rue de l’Arbre Sec, 1st, tel: 01 49 26 90 60, (M: Louvre-Rivoli)
Why Visit: This wine bar serves ‘natural’ wines and offers charcuterie and cheeses to make a nice meal.

32. Le Grand Bain

Address: 14 rue Dénoyez, 20th, tel: 09 83 02 72 02 (M: Belleville)
Why Visit: Look to the chalkboard for the daily specials, featuring tasty small plates meant for sharing. The restaurant offers a good list of natural wines and craft beers.
Website: Le Grand Bain

33. Le Petit Vendome

Address: 8, rue des Capucines (2nd), Tél: 01 42 61 05 88
Why Visit: Known for arguably the best sandwiches in Paris, Le Petit Vendome offers freshly-made sandwiches from the blackboard by the counter.

34. Le Relais d’Entrecote

Address: 20 rue Saint-Benoît, 6th, tel: 01 45 49 16 00, (M: St. Germain des Pres), and other addresses
Why Visit: This busy restaurant serves one thing: Entrecôte and French fries. The house red wine is always a good choice.
Website: Le Relais d’Entrecote

35. Le Rigmarole

Address: 10, rue du Grand-Prieuré, 11th, tel: 01 71 24 58 44, (M: Oberkampf)
Why Visit: French ingredients get handled with a Japanese touch at Le Rigmarole. Much of the menu focuses on grilled yakitori-style meats.
Website: Le Rigmarole

36. Le Rubis

Address: 10 rue du Marche Saint-Honoré, 1st, (M: Tuilleries)
Why Visit: Authentic Parisian wine bar and a great place for a rustic lunch or simple sandwich at the zinc counter.

37. Le Saint-Sebastien

Address: 42 rue Saint-Sébastien, 11th (M: Saint-Ambroise or Saint-Sébastien-Froissanrt)
Why Visit: Le Saint Sébastien offers modern, carefully-crafted French cooking with a menu that changes with the seasons.
Website: Le Saint-Sébastien

38. le verre volé

Address: 67 rue de Lancry, 10th, (M: Goncourt)
Why Visit: Le Verre Volé offers fresh, modern French cooking and excellent housemade sausages.
Website: Le Verre Volé

39. Les Arlots

Address: 136 rue du Faubourg Poissonière, 9th, tel: 01 42 82 92 01, (Métro: Gare du Nord)
Why Visit: An unpretentious spot with friendliness, charm, and good food and wine. The best ingredients are used on the menu that changes daily.
Facebook: Les Arlots

40. Le Mermoz

Address: 16, rue Jean Mermoz, 8th, tel: 01 45 63 65 26, (M: Franklin D. Roosevelt)
Why Visit: Vibrant market-fresh cooking surprises at this standard-looking bistro. The menu changes daily, with a terrific wine list.
Website: Le Mermoz

41. Le Trumilou

Address: 84 quai de l’Hôtel de Ville, 4th, tel: 01 42 77 63 98, (M: Hôtel de Ville or Pont Marie)
Why Visit: This hole-in-the-wall bistro serves well-made French classics without the fuss (or price) of other places.
Website: Le Trumilou

42. Little Breizh

Address: 11 Rue Gregoire de Tours, 6th, tel: 01 43 54 60 74, (M: Mabillion or Odéon)
Why Visit: This sweet crêperie makes great buckwheat galettes in a neighborhood where reasonable restaurants are hard to come by.
Facebook: Little Breizh

43. Ma Bourgogne

Address: 19 place des Vosges, 4th, tel: 01 42 78 44 64, (M: Bastille)
Why Visit: Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, this is a well-placed spot to sit under the arches of the gorgeous Place des Vosges.
Website: Ma Bourgogne

44. Oxymore

Address: 60 rue St-Maur, 11th, (M: Parmentier) and 58 rue de Marguerite de Rochechouart, M: Anvers) 9th
Why Visit: For a slice of French life (the French are some of the top pizza eaters in the world) Oxymore is a pizzeria Française offering up pizzas with decidedly French toppings.
Website: Oxymore

45. parcelles

Address: 13 rue Chapon, 3rd (M: Arts et Métiers)
Why Visit: This wonderful addition to the Paris dining scene has become one of the hardest reservations in town.
Website: Parcelles

46. Poulette

Address: 3 rue Étienne Marcel, 1st, tel: 09 53 62 89 17, (M: Étienne Marcel)
Why Visit: This beautifully restored turn-of-the-century restaurant serves cuisine maison (home cooking) using fresh foods, respecting the seasons.
Website: Poulette

47. Saravanaa Bhavan

Address: 170 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 10th, tel: 01 40 05 01 01, (M: Gare du Nord)
Why Visit: This Indian restaurant is completely vegetarian, making it a good choice for folks avoiding meat.
Website: Saravanaa Bhavan

48. Septime

Address: 80 rue de Charonne, 11th, tel: 01 43 67 38 29, (M: Charonne)
Why Visit: By now, everyone has heard about the excellent, vaguely Nordic-inspired cuisine of Bertrand Grébaut and reservations are tough to come by.
Website: Septime

49. Verjus

Address: 52 rue Richelieu, 1st, tel: 01 42 97 54 40, (M: Bourse, Quartre-Septembre, or Pyramides)
Why Visit: Inventive and outstanding cuisine that changes daily, and seasonally. Fixed menus feature a range of ingredients, techniques, and cultures.
Website: Verjus

Dining Tips in Paris

In recent years, Paris restaurants have become more relaxed. A younger generation has revitalized the dining scene, but it’s important to dine as a guest, appreciating the cooks and servers.

Water and Wine

It’s never required that you order a pricey bottle of water in France and every restaurant and café will give you a carafe d’eau (tap water) upon request if you’re dining. If you’re having a drink at a café, they may not offer a carafe, but it’s typical to have a small glass of water served with coffee if you’re having a café express. The tap water in Paris is of high quality and good to drink. If you want to order a bottle of water, ask for gazeuse (with gas) or plat (flat, without gas). Ice is rarely given as the French believe iced drinks are bad for your health. In a café, you can ask your waiter for extra ice, although they may not have it on hand.

Wine by the carafe is inexpensive in Paris and you should not be embarrassed to order it. The house wine sold by the carafe or glass is usually of drinkable quality, which is why many French people order it. You should never feel pressured to order a bottle. (Don’t worry, the waiter won’t think you’re being cheap. If they were dining out, they’d probably order the same thing!) If it’s a café, you’ll likely see carafes of wine on most of the other tables, rather than bottles. At dinner in restaurants, many diners order bottles but some have carafes. Often restaurants have a blackboard so diners can see what the wine of the moment is, which is usually a good value. If you need wine guidance, ask the server, and if you have a budget, ask them to suggest something in your price range. Note that “natural wines” have become popular in Paris, which sometimes have a pronounced less-finished taste, which isn’t for everyone. So if you order one, it may taste fizzy or more acidic than you’re used to.

Ordering

If you order two appetizers or a bowl of soup as a main course, the waiter may be taken aback. Don’t take it as an insult; it’s just not done in restaurants. Proper dining in France is taken seriously, but if you’d rather eat lightly, you could eat in a café and have a salad or soup for dinner, along with bread and wine. Wine bars are excellent places to graze on small plates.

Pro tips: Never call a waiter garçon, which means “boy” and would be considered somewhat insulting. The proper word is serveur for a man, or serveuse for a woman. If you want a menu, ask for la carte. Le menu refers to a fixed several course menu that may be on offer.

Meat and Fish

Ordering meat rare, or bleu, means that you will get raw meat, hardly cooked, which is how many French people eat beef. Saignante is rare, à point (to the point) is medium-rare, and bien cuit or semelle (shoe leather) is well-done. If you like your steak well-done, due to the high quality of the beef, some restaurants that specialize in beef may not allow you to order it that way, so don’t be surprised if they refuse to cook it well-done and steer you toward another item on the menu.

Cuts of meat in France don’t correspond to most cuts of meat in America (and elsewhere) due to different methods of butchering. And the varieties of fish available often aren’t available in other countries and are called by their French name, of course. Waiters sometimes know the translation – but not always – so if you’re very concerned about which cut of meat is which (or which fish is which) when you dine out, you may want to get a French Menu Translation Guide.

Salad versus Salade

The French word salade can either refer to a salad (usually a mix of greens and other items, sometimes served on a bed of greens) or just a piece of lettuce, as the French word for lettuce is salade. So a burger being offered with a “salad” may mean you’re just going to get a leaf or two of lettuce. A salade verte is a mixed green salad and while it’s not common to offer or serve a green salad with a meal in a restaurant, the French often serve a green salad at home after a meal with some cheese. One exception is crêperies, which offer the option of ordering a green salad on the side, but don’t automatically expect a café or restaurant to have one on the menu.

Croissants and Pastries

Although it’s tempting just to sit down and dive in, ask before bringing pastries to a café. Many cafés sell croissants at the bar in the morning, and may (or may not) be amenable to bringing your own goodies. So ask nicely if it’s okay before spreading out your treats across a table. Most places understand if you’re from out-of-town. (And if you want to get on their good side right away, offer them a taste!)

Oh-la-la! Everyone wants a buttery croissant in Paris – and why not? Just be sure when you do go to a pastry shop, to ask for a croissant au beurre, which is made with pure butter, rather than a croissant ordinaire, made with margarine. Pure butter croissants are normally long and straight, whereas the ones made with other fats are usually very curved. Note that some bakeries do not actually make their croissants on the premises (mon dieu!) – butter or otherwise; they buy the pre-formed croissants and bake them in their ovens. A very good bakery will make them from scratch. And, of course, those are always worth seeking out.

Lunch and Dinner Hours

Many folks want to dine in non-touristed restaurants, surrounded by “locals.” If you want to eat amongst Parisians, opt for the later seating. Very few Parisians eat dinner before 8 pm and most will reserve a table for later than that, especially on weekends. Some of the more popular restaurants in Paris now have early seatings (at 7 pm) to accommodate those who don’t mind eating earlier, and it’s easier to obtain reservations for the earlier seatings. (But expect to be with other out-of-towners.) If you get seated in what some refer to as the “English section,” don’t be miffed and assume that they are putting you in Siberia. Sometimes restaurants have one waiter who speaks English, so they will group non-French speaking diners there. If you prefer to be seated at a certain table when you go to a restaurant, you can certainly request that one.

Lunch starts in most restaurants at noon or 12:30, and places start filling up at 1 pm. Tip: If you go to a café and just want coffee or a glass of wine, don’t sit at tables set up with silverware and glasses, especially at mealtime or right before. Those tables are for diners.

Waiters

Don’t assume your waiter is rude just because he or she doesn’t introduce themselves by name and rush over to refill your water after each sip. Unlike American restaurants with large staffs, due to high labor costs, restaurants in Paris often only have one or two people serving an entire dining room with no busboys or hosts. They are busy! When they have to deal with English speakers, or people figuring out menus, that slows down their entire process. Don’t think they’re necessarily impolite but they are doing their best to take care of as many diners as possible. Realize that dining in France is important so relax and enjoy your experience, which may be at a more leisurely pace than you are used to.

As mentioned, you are considered a guest in France when you go to a restaurant, not just a customer. So you should act like you’re in someone’s home, and being demanding or bossy won’t get you very far. If you have a special request, asking nicely and apologizing is your best bet. Special requests and food allergies aren’t as well-known in France and some places aren’t used to adjusting menus for special dietary preferences or serving sauces on the side. (Although it’s certainly not out of line to ask.)

Impoliteness

There is a perception the French are rude which is probably because you never come across anyone rude anywhere else. Paris is a hectic city (like most cities) and Parisians are often in a hurry or under stress. The French are more helpful than people give them credit for although, like any city, there are always people that aren’t.

In Paris, it’s imperative to say “Bonjour Madame/Monsieur” when entering a shop or restaurant, and “Merci Madame/Monsieur” when leaving. There is an equally incorrect perception that Americans are impolite since we don’t have a habit of acknowledging salesclerks in shops in the States, as they do in France. When in Paris, think of it as being invited into someone’s home and stepping inside without saying hello. In Paris, always err on the side of being extra polite. (That said, many shopkeepers tell me they like Americans, so keep it up, folks!)

Bread and Butter

Only in fine dining rooms will you be given a bread plate. Normally you place your bread directly on the table in a café or restaurant, not on your plate. Butter is rarely served with bread, but it’s usually okay to ask for it. This may answer your question, “How do the French stay so thin?”

Ordering Mistakes

Once you place your order in a restaurant, I advise not making any changes, which disrupts the flow of things. For some reason, once that ticket is submitted to the kitchen, you’re pretty much committed to what you’ve ordered. If you have food allergies or intolerances, make that known when you are ordering and ask the waiter for suggestions.

At least once during your stay, you will order some fish that might require a degree in marine biology to eat, or an unimaginable organ, by mistake. When it happens to me I think of it as an instant French lesson. You will also probably get served a steak that’s not cooked exactly the way you expect it, and fish will be served with the head on and bones in. (Taking them out before cooking dries the fish out, they rightly say.) If something is obviously wrong, for example, you ordered a rare steak and it comes to the table gray inside, or the soup or cheese is ice-cold, you should bring it to the attention of the waiter. In lower-priced restaurants and cafés, you should keep your expectations equally modest, though.

Talking vs. Shouting

It’s so notable that restaurant reviews in the United States now include ‘sound’ ratings to denote the volume in restaurants. Out of respect for other diners, it’s considered polite in France to modulate voices so as not to disturb other diners. An unfortunate change in the Paris dining scene, however, is loud locals, too, especially twenty-somethings. I’ve seen older people shush tables of younger folks who are speaking very loudly.

Coffee

Except during the morning hours, each time you order café, you will be served a small cup of dark, espresso-like coffee – a café express or café noir. If you want coffee with milk when ordering ask for a café crème, not after they bring it. You may get a funny look if you ask for a café au lait, which is coffee with milk served in a bowl, at home, for breakfast. Café noisette is an espresso with a touch of milk.

Waiters will not automatically bring milk with coffee